Rich Gossage vs Bobby Shantz: Career Stats Comparison
Rich Gossage 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; Bobby Shantz played 1949–1964 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 Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Bobby Shantz finished with 119 wins and 1,072 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 Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Rich Gossage, with 124 to Bobby Shantz's 119.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Bobby Shantz's 1,072.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Bobby Shantz, with 1,935.2 to Rich Gossage's 1,809.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bobby Shantz, with 15 to Rich Gossage's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Bobby Shantz's 24,845.
Rich Gossage
Bobby Shantz
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rich Gossage | Bobby Shantz |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 124 | 119 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 99 |
| Games | Leads: 1,002 | 537 |
| Games Started | 37 | Leads: 171 |
| Complete Games | 16 | Leads: 78 |
| Shutouts | 0 | Leads: 15 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 48 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,502 | 1,072 |
| Walks not scored | 732 | 643 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,497 | 1,795 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 119 | 151 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,809.1 | Leads: 1,935.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 4.98 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage leads Bobby Shantz 28,157 to 24,845 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rich Gossage played 23 seasons to Bobby Shantz's 19, while Bobby Shantz carries the higher per-season figure (1,308 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)
Bobby Shantz — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Bobby Shantz owns 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 Bobby Shantz careers compare
Bobby Shantz (1949–1964) was finished before Rich Gossage (1972–1994) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Rich Gossage appeared in 1,002 games to Bobby Shantz's 537. By rate, Rich Gossage struck out 7.47 and walked 3.64 per nine innings; Bobby Shantz struck out 4.98 and walked 2.99. Their roles differ: Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves); Bobby Shantz split time between starting and relief (171 starts in 537 games). Complete games (16 to 78) show how differently the two eras used starters. Rich Gossage allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.
Rich Gossage vs Bobby Shantz: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Bobby Shantz?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rich Gossage leads Bobby Shantz in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Bobby Shantz's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Rich Gossage, with 124 to Bobby Shantz's 119.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Bobby Shantz's 1,072.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Bobby Shantz's 1.26.