Bob Gibson vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Gibson (1959–1975) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Gibson compiled 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts; Robin Roberts put up 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Bob Gibson
Robin Roberts
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Bob Gibson | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 251 | 286 |
| Losses | 174 | 245 |
| Games | 528 | 676 |
| Games Started | 482 | 609 |
| Complete Games | 255 | 305 |
| Shutouts | 56 | 45 |
| Saves | 6 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 3,117 | 2,357 |
| Walks | 1,336 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,279 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 257 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,884 | 4,688 |
| ERA | 2.91 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | 7.22 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 3.10 | 1.73 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson outpaces Robin Roberts 69,720 to 49,794 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,101 vs 2,371 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)
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Gibson leads in strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Robin Roberts owns wins, WHIP, and innings pitched. 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.