Rollie Fingers vs Lindy McDaniel: Career Stats Comparison
Lindy McDaniel has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Rollie Fingers played 1968–1985 as a pitcher; Lindy McDaniel played 1955–1975 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
Rollie Fingers (1968–1985) and Lindy McDaniel (1955–1975) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rollie Fingers finished with 114 wins and 1,299 strikeouts; Lindy McDaniel finished with 141 wins and 1,361 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rollie Fingers, with 2.90 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Rollie Fingers's 114.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Rollie Fingers's 1,299.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rollie Fingers, with 1.16 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Lindy McDaniel, with 2,139.1 to Rollie Fingers's 1,701.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rollie Fingers, with 33,082 career Pitcher PIV to Lindy McDaniel's 27,834.
Rollie Fingers
Lindy McDaniel
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 1960s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rollie Fingers | Lindy McDaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 114 | Leads: 141 |
| Losses not scored | 118 | 119 |
| Games | 944 | Leads: 987 |
| Games Started | 37 | Leads: 74 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 18 |
| Shutouts | 2 | 2 |
| Saves | Leads: 341 | 172 |
| Strikeouts | 1,299 | Leads: 1,361 |
| Walks not scored | 492 | 623 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,474 | 2,099 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 123 | 172 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,701.1 | Leads: 2,139.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.90 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.16 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.87 | 5.73 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.60 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rollie Fingers leads Lindy McDaniel 33,082 to 27,834 — driven by per-season impact — 1,946 PIV per season to 1,265 — rather than by longevity, since Rollie Fingers played 17 seasons to Lindy McDaniel's 22. 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).
Rollie Fingers — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Lindy McDaniel — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rollie Fingers leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Lindy McDaniel owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rollie Fingers. PIV agrees: Rollie Fingers grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rollie Fingers and Lindy McDaniel careers compare
From 1968 through 1975, Rollie Fingers and Lindy McDaniel were in the majors together. With 944 games against 987 across 17 and 22 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Rollie Fingers struck out 6.87 and walked 2.60 per nine innings; Lindy McDaniel struck out 5.73 and walked 2.62. Both had the same role: Rollie Fingers worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 944 games, 341 saves); Lindy McDaniel worked mostly in relief (74 starts in 987 games, 172 saves). Rollie Fingers allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.16 WHIP to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
Rollie Fingers vs Lindy McDaniel: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rollie Fingers or Lindy McDaniel?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lindy McDaniel leads Rollie Fingers in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rollie Fingers, with 2.90 to Lindy McDaniel's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 141 to Rollie Fingers's 114.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 1,361 to Rollie Fingers's 1,299.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rollie Fingers, with 1.16 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.