Bob Feller vs Randy Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bob Feller played 1936–1956 as a pitcher; Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 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
Bob Feller (1936–1956) and Randy Johnson (1988–2009) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Feller finished with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Bob Feller's 266.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Bob Feller's 2,581.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Bob Feller's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Bob Feller's 3,827.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Feller, with 44 to Randy Johnson's 37.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Feller's 48,739.
Bob Feller
Randy Johnson
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Feller | Randy Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 266 | Leads: 303 |
| Losses not scored | 162 | 166 |
| Games | 570 | Leads: 618 |
| Games Started | 484 | Leads: 603 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 279 | 100 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 44 | 37 |
| Saves | Leads: 21 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,581 | Leads: 4,875 |
| Walks not scored | 1,764 | 1,497 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,271 | 3,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 224 | 411 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,827.0 | Leads: 4,135.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.25 | 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 6.07 | Leads: 10.61 |
| BB/9 | 4.15 | Leads: 3.26 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Bob Feller 122,530 to 48,739 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 2,708, across 24 seasons to 18. 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).
Bob Feller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Bob Feller owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Feller and Randy Johnson careers compare
Bob Feller (1936–1956) was finished before Randy Johnson (1988–2009) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 570 games against 618 across 18 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bob Feller comes out ahead, it is in complete games (279 to 100), shutouts (44 to 37), and saves (21 to 2). By rate, Bob Feller struck out 6.07 and walked 4.15 per nine innings; Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26. Both had the same role: Bob Feller was mainly a starter (484 starts in 570 games); Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games).
Bob Feller vs Randy Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Feller or Randy Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Bob Feller in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Randy Johnson's 3.29.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Bob Feller's 266.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Bob Feller's 2,581.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Bob Feller's 1.32.