Gene Garber vs Gary Lavelle: Career Stats Comparison
Gene Garber has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Gene Garber played 1969–1988 as a pitcher; Gary Lavelle played 1974–1987 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
Gene Garber (1969–1988) and Gary Lavelle (1974–1987) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Gene Garber finished with 96 wins and 940 strikeouts; Gary Lavelle finished with 80 wins and 769 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Gary Lavelle, with 2.93 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Gene Garber, with 96 to Gary Lavelle's 80.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gene Garber, with 940 to Gary Lavelle's 769.
- Who had the better WHIP? Gene Garber, with 1.26 to Gary Lavelle's 1.33.
- Who pitched more innings? Gene Garber, with 1,510.0 to Gary Lavelle's 1,085.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Gary Lavelle, with 18,454 career Pitcher PIV to Gene Garber's 15,978.
Gene Garber
Gary Lavelle
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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Gene Garber | Gary Lavelle |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 96 | 80 |
| Losses not scored | 113 | 77 |
| Games | Leads: 931 | 745 |
| Games Started | Leads: 9 | 3 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 218 | 136 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 940 | 769 |
| Walks not scored | 445 | 440 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,464 | 1,004 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 123 | 51 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,510.0 | 1,085.0 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 2.93 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.26 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | 5.60 | Leads: 6.38 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.65 | 3.65 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gary Lavelle leads Gene Garber 18,454 to 15,978 — driven by per-season impact — 1,318 PIV per season to 726 — rather than by longevity, since Gary Lavelle played 14 seasons to Gene Garber'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).
Gene Garber — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Gary Lavelle
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Gene Garber leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Gary Lavelle owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gene Garber. Note that PIV actually grades Gary Lavelle ahead, which means Gene Garber's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gene Garber and Gary Lavelle careers compare
Gene Garber and Gary Lavelle were active at the same time between 1974 and 1987. The two careers are close in length, 931 games for Gene Garber and 745 for Gary Lavelle across 22 and 14 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Gary Lavelle's edges on the table are ERA (2.93 to 3.34) and strikeouts per nine (6.38 to 5.60). By rate, Gene Garber struck out 5.60 and walked 2.65 per nine innings; Gary Lavelle struck out 6.38 and walked 3.65. Gene Garber worked mostly in relief (9 starts in 931 games, 218 saves), and Gary Lavelle worked mostly in relief (3 starts in 745 games, 136 saves).
Gene Garber vs Gary Lavelle: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gene Garber or Gary Lavelle?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gene Garber leads Gary Lavelle in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Gary Lavelle, with 2.93 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Gene Garber, with 96 to Gary Lavelle's 80.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gene Garber, with 940 to Gary Lavelle's 769.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Gene Garber, with 1.26 to Gary Lavelle's 1.33.