Gene Garber vs Dan Quisenberry: Career Stats Comparison
Gene Garber has the better career line of the two, leading 7 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; Dan Quisenberry played 1979–1990 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 Dan Quisenberry (1979–1990) — 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; Dan Quisenberry finished with 56 wins and 379 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Gene Garber, with 96 to Dan Quisenberry's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gene Garber, with 940 to Dan Quisenberry's 379.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Gene Garber's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Gene Garber, with 1,510.0 to Dan Quisenberry's 1,043.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dan Quisenberry, with 16,859 career Pitcher PIV to Gene Garber's 15,978.
Gene Garber
Dan Quisenberry
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 | Dan Quisenberry |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 96 | 56 |
| Losses not scored | 113 | 46 |
| Games | Leads: 931 | 674 |
| Games Started | Leads: 9 | 0 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 218 | Leads: 244 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 940 | 379 |
| Walks not scored | 445 | 162 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,464 | 1,064 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 123 | 59 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,510.0 | 1,043.1 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.60 | 3.27 |
| BB/9 | 2.65 | Leads: 1.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dan Quisenberry edges Gene Garber 16,859 to 15,978 — driven by per-season impact — 1,297 PIV per season to 726 — rather than by longevity, since Dan Quisenberry played 13 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)
Dan Quisenberry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Gene Garber leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Dan Quisenberry owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gene Garber. Note that PIV actually grades Dan Quisenberry 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 Dan Quisenberry careers compare
From 1979 through 1988, Gene Garber and Dan Quisenberry were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 931 games for Gene Garber and 674 for Dan Quisenberry across 22 and 13 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Dan Quisenberry comes out ahead, it is in saves (244 to 218), ERA (2.76 to 3.34), and WHIP (1.18 to 1.26). By rate, Gene Garber struck out 5.60 and walked 2.65 per nine innings; Dan Quisenberry struck out 3.27 and walked 1.40. Gene Garber worked mostly in relief (9 starts in 931 games, 218 saves), and Dan Quisenberry worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 674 games, 244 saves).
Gene Garber vs Dan Quisenberry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gene Garber or Dan Quisenberry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gene Garber leads Dan Quisenberry in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Gene Garber's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Gene Garber, with 96 to Dan Quisenberry's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gene Garber, with 940 to Dan Quisenberry's 379.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Gene Garber's 1.26.