Don Drysdale vs Bob Gibson: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Gibson has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Don Drysdale played 1956–1969 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
Don Drysdale (1956–1969) and Bob Gibson (1959–1975) — both debuted in the 1950s. Don Drysdale finished with 209 wins and 2,486 strikeouts; Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Bob Gibson, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Don Drysdale's 2.95.
- Who won more games? Bob Gibson, with 251 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP? Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
- How many innings did each pitch? Don Drysdale 3,432.0, Bob Gibson 3,884.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Gibson, with 56 to Don Drysdale's 49.
Don Drysdale
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Don Drysdale | Bob Gibson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 209 | Leads: 251 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 174 |
| Games not scored | 518 | 528 |
| Games Started not scored | 465 | 482 |
| Complete Games | 167 | Leads: 255 |
| Shutouts | 49 | Leads: 56 |
| Saves not scored | 6 | 6 |
| Strikeouts | 2,486 | Leads: 3,117 |
| Walks not scored | 855 | 1,336 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,084 | 3,279 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 280 | 257 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,432.0 | 3,884.1 |
| ERA | 2.95 | Leads: 2.91 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.15 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | 6.52 | Leads: 7.22 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.24 | 3.10 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson leads Don Drysdale 69,720 to 57,464 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bob Gibson played 17 seasons to Don Drysdale's 14, while Don Drysdale carries the higher per-season figure (4,105 to 4,101). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Don Drysdale — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Gibson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Bob Gibson leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Don Drysdale leads 2: WHIP and walks per nine. 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 Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson careers compare
From 1959 through 1969, Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson were in the majors together. With 518 games against 528 across 14 and 17 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Don Drysdale are WHIP (1.15 to 1.19) and walks per nine (2.24 to 3.10). By rate, Don Drysdale struck out 6.52 and walked 2.24 per nine innings; Bob Gibson struck out 7.22 and walked 3.10. Both had the same role: Don Drysdale was mainly a starter (465 starts in 518 games); Bob Gibson was mainly a starter (482 starts in 528 games). Don Drysdale allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.15 WHIP to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
Don Drysdale vs Bob Gibson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Gibson leads Don Drysdale in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Don Drysdale's 2.95.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Gibson, with 251 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.