Mike Cuellar vs Bob Gibson: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Gibson has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mike Cuellar played 1959–1977 as a pitcher; Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Mike Cuellar (1959–1977) and Bob Gibson (1959–1975) — both came up during the 1950s, so the matchup is a direct one. Mike Cuellar finished with 185 wins and 1,632 strikeouts; Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Mike Cuellar's 3.14.
- Who won more games? Bob Gibson, with 251 to Mike Cuellar's 185.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Mike Cuellar's 1,632.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bob Gibson, with 1.19 to Mike Cuellar's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Bob Gibson, with 3,884.1 to Mike Cuellar's 2,808.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Gibson, with 56 to Mike Cuellar's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Gibson, with 69,720 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Cuellar's 19,691.
Mike Cuellar
Bob Gibson
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mike Cuellar | Bob Gibson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 185 | Leads: 251 |
| Losses not scored | 130 | 174 |
| Games | 453 | Leads: 528 |
| Games Started | 379 | Leads: 482 |
| Complete Games | 172 | Leads: 255 |
| Shutouts | 36 | Leads: 56 |
| Saves | Leads: 11 | 6 |
| Strikeouts | 1,632 | Leads: 3,117 |
| Walks not scored | 822 | 1,336 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,538 | 3,279 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 222 | 257 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,808.0 | Leads: 3,884.1 |
| ERA | 3.14 | Leads: 2.91 |
| WHIP | 1.20 | Leads: 1.19 |
| K/9 | 5.23 | Leads: 7.22 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.63 | 3.10 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson outpaces Mike Cuellar 69,720 to 19,691 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 4,101 PIV per season to 1,313, across 17 seasons to 15. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Mike Cuellar — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Gibson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Gibson leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Mike Cuellar owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bob Gibson. PIV agrees: Bob Gibson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mike Cuellar and Bob Gibson careers compare
From 1959 through 1975, Mike Cuellar and Bob Gibson were in the majors together. With 453 games against 528 across 15 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Mike Cuellar's edges on the table are saves (11 to 6) and walks per nine (2.63 to 3.10). By rate, Mike Cuellar struck out 5.23 and walked 2.63 per nine innings; Bob Gibson struck out 7.22 and walked 3.10. Both had the same role: Mike Cuellar was mainly a starter (379 starts in 453 games); Bob Gibson was mainly a starter (482 starts in 528 games). Bob Gibson allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.19 WHIP to Mike Cuellar's 1.20.
Mike Cuellar vs Bob Gibson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mike Cuellar or Bob Gibson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Gibson leads Mike Cuellar in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Mike Cuellar's 3.14.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Gibson, with 251 to Mike Cuellar's 185.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Mike Cuellar's 1,632.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bob Gibson, with 1.19 to Mike Cuellar's 1.20.