Bob Friend vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). 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) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1940s respectively and share 16 seasons. Bob Friend finished with 197 wins and 1,734 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Robin Roberts, in 8 of the 8 scored 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.
- How many innings did each pitch? Bob Friend 3,611.0, Robin Roberts 4,688.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Bob Friend's 36.
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Friend | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 197 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 230 | 245 |
| Games not scored | 602 | 676 |
| Games Started not scored | 497 | 609 |
| Complete Games | 163 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 36 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves not scored | 11 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 1,734 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 894 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,772 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 286 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,611.0 | 4,688.2 |
| 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 longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Robin Roberts played 19 seasons to Bob Friend's 16, while Bob Friend carries the higher per-season figure (2,858 to 2,621). 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
Robin Roberts leads 8 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Bob Friend leads 0: no scored category. 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 Bob Friend and Robin Roberts careers compare
Bob Friend and Robin Roberts were active at the same time between 1951 and 1966. The two careers are close in length, 602 games for Bob Friend and 676 for Robin Roberts across 16 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Every scored category on the table goes to Robin Roberts. The per-nine rows read 4.32 strikeouts and 2.23 walks for Bob Friend, 4.52 and 1.73 for Robin Roberts. Both had the same role: Bob Friend was mainly a starter (497 starts in 602 games); Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games). Robin Roberts allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Bob Friend's 1.29.
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 8 of the 8 scored 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.