Dizzy Dean vs Jim Palmer: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Palmer has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dizzy Dean played 1930–1947 as a pitcher; Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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
Dizzy Dean (1930–1947) and Jim Palmer (1965–1984) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Dizzy Dean finished with 150 wins and 1,163 strikeouts; Jim Palmer finished with 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Dizzy Dean's 3.02.
- Who won more games? Jim Palmer, with 268 to Dizzy Dean's 150.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Dizzy Dean's 1,163.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Dizzy Dean's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Palmer, with 3,948.0 to Dizzy Dean's 1,967.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Dizzy Dean's 26.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dizzy Dean, with 47,994 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
Dizzy Dean
Jim Palmer
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, and the 1930s and the 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dizzy Dean | Jim Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 150 | Leads: 268 |
| Losses not scored | 83 | 152 |
| Games | 317 | Leads: 558 |
| Games Started | 230 | Leads: 521 |
| Complete Games | 154 | Leads: 211 |
| Shutouts | 26 | Leads: 53 |
| Saves | Leads: 30 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | 1,163 | Leads: 2,212 |
| Walks not scored | 453 | 1,311 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,919 | 3,349 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 95 | 303 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,967.1 | Leads: 3,948.0 |
| ERA | 3.02 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.32 | 5.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.07 | 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dizzy Dean outpaces Jim Palmer 47,994 to 19,502 — driven by per-season impact — 4,000 PIV per season to 1,026 — rather than by longevity, since Dizzy Dean played 12 seasons to Jim Palmer's 19. 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).
Dizzy Dean — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Palmer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Palmer leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Dizzy Dean owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Palmer. Note that PIV actually grades Dizzy Dean ahead, which means Jim Palmer's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dizzy Dean and Jim Palmer careers compare
No season is shared: Dizzy Dean played 1930–1947, Jim Palmer 1965–1984. Jim Palmer has the far longer record, 558 games against 317 across 12 and 19 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Dizzy Dean's edges on the table are saves (30 to 4), strikeouts per nine (5.32 to 5.04), and walks per nine (2.07 to 2.99). By rate, Dizzy Dean struck out 5.32 and walked 2.07 per nine innings; Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99. Dizzy Dean was mainly a starter (230 starts in 317 games), and Jim Palmer was mainly a starter (521 starts in 558 games). In WHIP, Jim Palmer's 1.18 beats Dizzy Dean's 1.21.
Dizzy Dean vs Jim Palmer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dizzy Dean or Jim Palmer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Palmer leads Dizzy Dean in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Dizzy Dean's 3.02.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Palmer, with 268 to Dizzy Dean's 150.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Dizzy Dean's 1,163.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Dizzy Dean's 1.21.