Rich Gossage vs Kent Tekulve: 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; Kent Tekulve played 1974–1989 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 Kent Tekulve (1974–1989) — both came up during the 1970s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Kent Tekulve finished with 94 wins and 779 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Kent Tekulve, with 2.85 to Rich Gossage's 3.01.
- Who won more games? Rich Gossage, with 124 to Kent Tekulve's 94.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Kent Tekulve's 779.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Kent Tekulve's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Rich Gossage, with 1,809.1 to Kent Tekulve's 1,436.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Kent Tekulve's 22,171.
Rich Gossage
Kent Tekulve
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Rich Gossage | Kent Tekulve |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 124 | 94 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 90 |
| Games | 1,002 | Leads: 1,050 |
| Games Started | Leads: 37 | 0 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 16 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 184 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,502 | 779 |
| Walks not scored | 732 | 491 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,497 | 1,305 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 119 | 63 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,809.1 | 1,436.2 |
| ERA | 3.01 | Leads: 2.85 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 4.88 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 3.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage leads Kent Tekulve 28,157 to 22,171 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Rich Gossage played 23 seasons to Kent Tekulve's 17, while Kent Tekulve carries the higher per-season figure (1,304 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)
Kent Tekulve — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Kent Tekulve owns ERA. 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 Kent Tekulve careers compare
From 1974 through 1989, Rich Gossage and Kent Tekulve were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 1,002 games for Rich Gossage and 1,050 for Kent Tekulve across 23 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Kent Tekulve comes out ahead, it is in games (1,050 to 1,002), ERA (2.85 to 3.01), and walks per nine (3.08 to 3.64). The per-nine rows read 7.47 strikeouts and 3.64 walks for Rich Gossage, 4.88 and 3.08 for Kent Tekulve. Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves), and Kent Tekulve worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 1,050 games, 184 saves).
Rich Gossage vs Kent Tekulve: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Kent Tekulve?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rich Gossage leads Kent Tekulve in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Kent Tekulve, with 2.85 to Rich Gossage's 3.01.
- Who won more games?
- Rich Gossage, with 124 to Kent Tekulve's 94.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Kent Tekulve's 779.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Kent Tekulve's 1.25.