Bob Gibson vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts 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). Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 as a pitcher; Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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 Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Bob Gibson's 3,884.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Gibson, with 56 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Gibson, with 69,720 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
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. 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 1950s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Bob Gibson | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 251 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 174 | 245 |
| Games | 528 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 482 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 255 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 56 | 45 |
| Saves | 6 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,117 | 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 1,336 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,279 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 257 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,884.1 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.91 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.19 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.22 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 3.10 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Gibson outpaces Robin Roberts 69,720 to 49,794 — driven by per-season impact — 4,101 PIV per season to 2,371 — rather than by longevity, since Bob Gibson played 17 seasons to Robin Roberts's 21. 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).
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.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Gibson and Robin Roberts careers compare
From 1959 through 1966, Bob Gibson and Robin Roberts were in the majors together. With 528 games against 676 across 17 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bob Gibson comes out ahead, it is in shutouts (56 to 45), strikeouts (3,117 to 2,357), and ERA (2.91 to 3.41). By rate, Bob Gibson struck out 7.22 and walked 3.10 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73. Both had the same role: Bob Gibson was mainly a starter (482 starts in 528 games); Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games). Robin Roberts allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
Bob Gibson vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Gibson or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Bob Gibson in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Gibson, with 2.91 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.