Bob Gibson vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Gibson has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 as a pitcher; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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 Gibson (1959–1975) and Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — both came up during the 1950s, so the matchup is a direct one. Bob Gibson compiled 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts; Sandy Koufax put up 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Bob Gibson's 2.91.
- Who won more games? Bob Gibson, with 251 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Bob Gibson, with 3,884 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Gibson, with 56 to Sandy Koufax's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Gibson, with 69,720 career Pitcher PIV to Sandy Koufax's 63,020.
Bob Gibson
Sandy Koufax
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Bob Gibson | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 251 | 165 |
| Losses | 174 | 87 |
| Games | Leads: 528 | 397 |
| Games Started | Leads: 482 | 314 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 255 | 137 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 56 | 40 |
| Saves | 6 | Leads: 9 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,117 | 2,396 |
| Walks | 1,336 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,279 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 257 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,884 | 2,324 |
| ERA | 2.91 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 7.22 | Leads: 9.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 3.10 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson leads Sandy Koufax 69,720 to 63,020 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,101 vs 5,252 per year). 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)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Gibson leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Sandy Koufax owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bob Gibson. PIV agrees: Bob Gibson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Bob Gibson vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Gibson or Sandy Koufax?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Gibson leads Sandy Koufax in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Bob Gibson's 2.91.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Gibson, with 251 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.