Turk Farrell vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts 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). Turk Farrell played 1956–1969 as a pitcher; Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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
Turk Farrell (1956–1969) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Turk Farrell finished with 106 wins and 1,177 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Turk Farrell's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Turk Farrell's 106.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Turk Farrell's 1,177.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Turk Farrell's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Turk Farrell's 1,705.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Turk Farrell's 5.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robin Roberts, with 49,794 career Pitcher PIV to Turk Farrell's 21,059.
Turk Farrell
Robin Roberts
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 1950s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Turk Farrell | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 106 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 111 | 245 |
| Games | 590 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 134 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 41 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 5 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 83 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 1,177 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 468 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,628 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 152 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,705.0 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.21 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.47 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Turk Farrell 49,794 to 21,059 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,371 PIV per season to 1,316, across 21 seasons to 16. 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).
Turk Farrell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robin Roberts leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Turk Farrell owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robin Roberts. PIV agrees: Robin Roberts grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Turk Farrell and Robin Roberts careers compare
From 1956 through 1966, Turk Farrell and Robin Roberts were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 590 games for Turk Farrell and 676 for Robin Roberts across 16 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Turk Farrell comes out ahead, it is in saves (83 to 25) and strikeouts per nine (6.21 to 4.52). By rate, Turk Farrell struck out 6.21 and walked 2.47 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73. Turk Farrell split time between starting and relief (134 starts in 590 games), while Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games).
Turk Farrell vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Turk Farrell or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Turk Farrell in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Turk Farrell's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Turk Farrell's 106.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Turk Farrell's 1,177.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Turk Farrell's 1.23.