Lefty Grove vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts 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). Lefty Grove played 1925–1941 as a pitcher; Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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
Lefty Grove (1925–1941) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1920s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Lefty Grove finished with 300 wins and 2,266 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Lefty Grove, with 3.06 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Lefty Grove, with 300 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Lefty Grove's 2,266.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Lefty Grove's 1.28.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Lefty Grove's 3,940.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Lefty Grove's 35.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lefty Grove, with 81,321 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Lefty Grove
Robin Roberts
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 1920s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lefty Grove | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 300 | 286 |
| Losses not scored | 141 | 245 |
| Games | 616 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 457 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 298 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 35 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 55 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 2,266 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 1,187 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,849 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 162 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,940.2 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.06 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.28 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.18 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.71 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lefty Grove outpaces Robin Roberts 81,321 to 49,794 — driven by per-season impact — 4,784 PIV per season to 2,371 — rather than by longevity, since Lefty Grove played 17 seasons to Robin Roberts's 21. 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).
Lefty Grove — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lefty Grove leads in wins, ERA, and K/9, while Robin Roberts owns strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lefty Grove. PIV agrees: Lefty Grove grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lefty Grove and Robin Roberts careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Lefty Grove's ended in 1941, and Robin Roberts debuted in 1948. With 616 games against 676 across 17 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Lefty Grove are wins (300 to 286), saves (55 to 25), and ERA (3.06 to 3.41). By rate, Lefty Grove struck out 5.18 and walked 2.71 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73. Both had the same role: Lefty Grove was mainly a starter (457 starts in 616 games); Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games). Robin Roberts allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Lefty Grove's 1.28.
Lefty Grove vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lefty Grove or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Lefty Grove in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Lefty Grove, with 3.06 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Lefty Grove, with 300 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Lefty Grove's 2,266.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Lefty Grove's 1.28.