Bob Feller vs Red Ruffing: Career Stats Comparison
Red Ruffing has the better career line of the two, leading 7 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; Red Ruffing played 1924–1947 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 Red Ruffing (1924–1947) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1920s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Feller finished with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; Red Ruffing finished with 273 wins and 1,987 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 Red Ruffing's 3.80.
- Who won more games? Red Ruffing, with 273 to Bob Feller's 266.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Red Ruffing's 1,987.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bob Feller, with 1.32 to Red Ruffing's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Red Ruffing, with 4,344.0 to Bob Feller's 3,827.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Red Ruffing, with 45 to Bob Feller's 44.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Feller, with 48,739 career Pitcher PIV to Red Ruffing's 17,432.
Bob Feller
Red Ruffing
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 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Feller | Red Ruffing |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 266 | Leads: 273 |
| Losses not scored | 162 | 225 |
| Games | 570 | Leads: 624 |
| Games Started | 484 | Leads: 536 |
| Complete Games | 279 | Leads: 335 |
| Shutouts | 44 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 21 | 16 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,581 | 1,987 |
| Walks not scored | 1,764 | 1,541 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,271 | 4,284 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 224 | 254 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,827.0 | Leads: 4,344.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.25 | 3.80 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.32 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.07 | 4.12 |
| BB/9 | 4.15 | Leads: 3.19 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Feller outpaces Red Ruffing 48,739 to 17,432 — driven by per-season impact — 2,708 PIV per season to 758 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Feller played 18 seasons to Red Ruffing's 23. 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)
Red Ruffing — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Feller leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Red Ruffing owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bob Feller. PIV agrees: Bob Feller 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 Red Ruffing careers compare
Bob Feller and Red Ruffing were active at the same time between 1936 and 1947. With 570 games against 624 across 18 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.07 strikeouts and 4.15 walks for Bob Feller, 4.12 and 3.19 for Red Ruffing. Bob Feller was mainly a starter (484 starts in 570 games), and Red Ruffing was mainly a starter (536 starts in 624 games). In WHIP, Bob Feller's 1.32 beats Red Ruffing's 1.34. Best seasons: 1946 for Bob Feller (2.18 ERA, 26-15, 348 K in 371 IP) and 1939 for Red Ruffing (2.93 ERA, 21-7, 95 K in 233 IP).
Bob Feller vs Red Ruffing: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Feller or Red Ruffing?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Red Ruffing leads Bob Feller in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Red Ruffing's 3.80.
- Who won more games?
- Red Ruffing, with 273 to Bob Feller's 266.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Red Ruffing's 1,987.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bob Feller, with 1.32 to Red Ruffing's 1.34.