Rich Gossage vs Alejandro Peña: Career Stats Comparison
Rich Gossage 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). Rich Gossage played 1972–1994 as a pitcher; Alejandro Peña played 1981–1996 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 Alejandro Peña (1981–1996) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Alejandro Peña finished with 56 wins and 839 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 Alejandro Peña's 3.11.
- Who won more games? Rich Gossage, with 124 to Alejandro Peña's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Alejandro Peña's 839.
- Who had the better WHIP? Alejandro Peña, with 1.22 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Rich Gossage, with 1,809.1 to Alejandro Peña's 1,057.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Alejandro Peña, with 7 to Rich Gossage's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Alejandro Peña's 22,404.
Rich Gossage
Alejandro Peña
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 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rich Gossage | Alejandro Peña |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 124 | 56 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 52 |
| Games | Leads: 1,002 | 503 |
| Games Started | 37 | Leads: 72 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 16 | 12 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 7 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 74 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,502 | 839 |
| Walks not scored | 732 | 331 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,497 | 959 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 119 | 75 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,809.1 | 1,057.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.11 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.22 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 7.14 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 2.82 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage leads Alejandro Peña 28,157 to 22,404 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rich Gossage played 23 seasons to Alejandro Peña's 18, while Alejandro Peña carries the higher per-season figure (1,245 to 1,224). 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)
Alejandro Peña — top 2 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Alejandro Peña owns WHIP. 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 Alejandro Peña careers compare
From 1981 through 1994, Rich Gossage and Alejandro Peña were in the majors together. Rich Gossage has the far longer record, 1,002 games against 503 across 23 and 18 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Alejandro Peña's edges on the table are starts (72 to 37), shutouts (7 to 0), and WHIP (1.22 to 1.23). By rate, Rich Gossage struck out 7.47 and walked 3.64 per nine innings; Alejandro Peña struck out 7.14 and walked 2.82. Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves), and Alejandro Peña worked mostly in relief (72 starts in 503 games, 74 saves).
Rich Gossage vs Alejandro Peña: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Alejandro Peña?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rich Gossage leads Alejandro Peña in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Alejandro Peña's 3.11.
- Who won more games?
- Rich Gossage, with 124 to Alejandro Peña's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Alejandro Peña's 839.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Alejandro Peña, with 1.22 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.