Gene Garber vs Tug McGraw: Career Stats Comparison
Tug McGraw has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Tug McGraw played 1965–1984 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 Tug McGraw (1965–1984) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Gene Garber finished with 96 wins and 940 strikeouts; Tug McGraw finished with 96 wins and 1,109 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Tug McGraw, with 3.14 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Neither — both are at 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tug McGraw, with 1,109 to Gene Garber's 940.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tug McGraw, with 1.25 to Gene Garber's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Tug McGraw, with 1,514.2 to Gene Garber's 1,510.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tug McGraw, with 1 to Gene Garber's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tug McGraw, with 16,151 career Pitcher PIV to Gene Garber's 15,978.
Gene Garber
Tug McGraw
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Gene Garber | Tug McGraw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 96 | 96 |
| Losses not scored | 113 | 92 |
| Games | Leads: 931 | 824 |
| Games Started | 9 | Leads: 39 |
| Complete Games | 4 | Leads: 5 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 1 |
| Saves | Leads: 218 | 180 |
| Strikeouts | 940 | Leads: 1,109 |
| Walks not scored | 445 | 582 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,464 | 1,318 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 123 | 108 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,510.0 | Leads: 1,514.2 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 3.14 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.25 |
| K/9 | 5.60 | Leads: 6.59 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.65 | 3.46 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tug McGraw edges Gene Garber 16,151 to 15,978 — driven by per-season impact — 850 PIV per season to 726 — rather than by longevity, since Tug McGraw played 19 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)
Tug McGraw
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tug McGraw leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Gene Garber owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tug McGraw. PIV agrees: Tug McGraw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gene Garber and Tug McGraw careers compare
The careers of Gene Garber (1969–1988) and Tug McGraw (1965–1984) overlapped from 1969 to 1984, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. The two careers are close in length, 931 games for Gene Garber and 824 for Tug McGraw across 22 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Gene Garber comes out ahead, it is in games (931 to 824), saves (218 to 180), and walks per nine (2.65 to 3.46). By rate, Gene Garber struck out 5.60 and walked 2.65 per nine innings; Tug McGraw struck out 6.59 and walked 3.46.
Gene Garber vs Tug McGraw: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gene Garber or Tug McGraw?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tug McGraw leads Gene Garber in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tug McGraw, with 3.14 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Neither — both are at 96.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tug McGraw, with 1,109 to Gene Garber's 940.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tug McGraw, with 1.25 to Gene Garber's 1.26.