Rich Gossage vs Jim Kaat: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Kaat 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). Rich Gossage played 1972–1994 as a pitcher; Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 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
Rich Gossage (1972–1994) and Jim Kaat (1959–1983) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Jim Kaat, with 283 to Rich Gossage's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Rich Gossage's 1,502.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Kaat, with 4,530.1 to Rich Gossage's 1,809.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Kaat, with 31 to Rich Gossage's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Kaat's 26,792.
Rich Gossage
Jim Kaat
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 1970s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rich Gossage | Jim Kaat |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 124 | Leads: 283 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 237 |
| Games | Leads: 1,002 | 898 |
| Games Started | 37 | Leads: 625 |
| Complete Games | 16 | Leads: 180 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 18 |
| Strikeouts | 1,502 | Leads: 2,461 |
| Walks not scored | 732 | 1,083 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,497 | 4,620 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 119 | 395 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,809.1 | Leads: 4,530.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 4.89 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 2.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage edges Jim Kaat 28,157 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 1,224 PIV per season to 957 — rather than by longevity, since Rich Gossage played 23 seasons to Jim Kaat's 28. 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).
Rich Gossage — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Jim Kaat owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rich Gossage. PIV agrees: Rich Gossage grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rich Gossage and Jim Kaat careers compare
The careers of Rich Gossage (1972–1994) and Jim Kaat (1959–1983) overlapped from 1972 to 1983, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. The two careers are close in length, 1,002 games for Rich Gossage and 898 for Jim Kaat across 23 and 28 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Rich Gossage struck out 7.47 and walked 3.64 per nine innings; Jim Kaat struck out 4.89 and walked 2.15. Their roles differ: Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves); Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games).
Rich Gossage vs Jim Kaat: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Jim Kaat?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Kaat leads Rich Gossage in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Kaat, with 283 to Rich Gossage's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Rich Gossage's 1,502.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.