Bob Friend vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Bob Friend played 1951–1966 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
Bob Friend (1951–1966) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Friend compiled 197 wins and 1,734 strikeouts; Robin Roberts put up 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 Bob Friend's 3.58.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Friend's 197.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Bob Friend's 1,734.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Friend's 1.29.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688 to Bob Friend's 3,611.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Bob Friend's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robin Roberts, with 49,794 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Friend's 45,735.
Bob Friend
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Bob Friend | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 197 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses | 230 | 245 |
| Games | 602 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 497 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 163 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 36 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | 11 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | 1,734 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks | 894 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,772 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 286 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,611 | Leads: 4,688 |
| ERA | 3.58 | Leads: 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.29 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 4.32 | Leads: 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.23 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts leads Bob Friend 49,794 to 45,735 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,371 vs 2,690 per year). 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).
Bob Friend — 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 Bob Friend owns no headline categories. 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
Bob Friend vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Friend or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Bob Friend in 12 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Bob Friend's 3.58.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Friend's 197.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Bob Friend's 1,734.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Friend's 1.29.