Bob Gibson vs Fergie Jenkins: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 as a pitcher; Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983 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 Gibson (1959–1975) and Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) — they debuted in the 1950s and the 1960s respectively and share 11 seasons. Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts; Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Fergie Jenkins, in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Bob Gibson's 3,117.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
- How many innings did each pitch? Bob Gibson 3,884.1, Fergie Jenkins 4,500.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Gibson, with 56 to Fergie Jenkins's 49.
Bob Gibson
Fergie Jenkins
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 Gibson | Fergie Jenkins |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 251 | Leads: 284 |
| Losses not scored | 174 | 226 |
| Games not scored | 528 | 664 |
| Games Started not scored | 482 | 594 |
| Complete Games | 255 | Leads: 267 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 56 | 49 |
| Saves not scored | 6 | 7 |
| Strikeouts | 3,117 | Leads: 3,192 |
| Walks not scored | 1,336 | 997 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,279 | 4,142 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 257 | 484 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,884.1 | 4,500.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.91 | 3.34 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.22 | 6.38 |
| BB/9 | 3.10 | Leads: 1.99 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson outpaces Fergie Jenkins 69,720 to 40,614 — driven by per-season impact — 4,101 PIV per season to 2,138 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Gibson played 17 seasons to Fergie Jenkins's 19. 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 Gibson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Fergie Jenkins — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Fergie Jenkins leads 5 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, strikeouts, WHIP, and others. Bob Gibson leads 3: shutouts, ERA, and strikeouts per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fergie Jenkins. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Bob Gibson higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Gibson and Fergie Jenkins careers compare
The careers of Bob Gibson (1959–1975) and Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) overlapped from 1965 to 1975, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. The two careers are close in length, 528 games for Bob Gibson and 664 for Fergie Jenkins across 17 and 19 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Bob Gibson's edges on the table are shutouts (56 to 49), ERA (2.91 to 3.34), and strikeouts per nine (7.22 to 6.38). The per-nine rows read 7.22 strikeouts and 3.10 walks for Bob Gibson, 6.38 and 1.99 for Fergie Jenkins.
Bob Gibson vs Fergie Jenkins: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Gibson or Fergie Jenkins?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Bob Gibson in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Bob Gibson's 3,117.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.