Rich Gossage vs Ron Reed: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Reed has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Rich Gossage played 1972–1994 as a pitcher; Ron Reed played 1966–1984 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 Ron Reed (1966–1984) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rich Gossage compiled 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Ron Reed put up 146 wins and 1,481 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 Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Ron Reed, with 146 to Rich Gossage's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Ron Reed's 1,481.
- Who had the better WHIP? Ron Reed, with 1.21 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.
- Who pitched more innings? Ron Reed, with 2,477 to Rich Gossage's 1,809.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ron Reed, with 8 to Rich Gossage's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ron Reed, with 29,032 career Pitcher PIV to Rich Gossage's 28,157.
Rich Gossage
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 | Rich Gossage | Ron Reed |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 124 | Leads: 146 |
| Losses | 107 | 140 |
| Games | Leads: 1,002 | 751 |
| Games Started | 37 | Leads: 236 |
| Complete Games | 16 | Leads: 55 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 8 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 103 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,502 | 1,481 |
| Walks | 732 | 633 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,497 | 2,374 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 119 | 182 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,809 | Leads: 2,477 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | 1.23 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 5.38 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 2.30 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ron Reed edges Rich Gossage 29,032 to 28,157 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,452 vs 1,224 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).
Rich Gossage — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Ron Reed — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ron Reed leads in wins, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Rich Gossage owns strikeouts, ERA, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ron Reed. PIV agrees: Ron Reed grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Rich Gossage vs Ron Reed: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Ron Reed?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ron Reed leads Rich Gossage in 7 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Ron Reed, with 146 to Rich Gossage's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Ron Reed's 1,481.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Ron Reed, with 1.21 to Rich Gossage's 1.23.