Fergie Jenkins vs Tommy John: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983 as a pitcher; Tommy John played 1963–1989 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
Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) and Tommy John (1963–1989) — both debuted in the 1960s. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Tommy John finished with 288 wins and 2,245 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Fergie Jenkins, in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Neither — both are at 3.34.
- Who won more games? Tommy John, with 288 to Fergie Jenkins's 284.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Tommy John's 2,245.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Tommy John's 1.28.
- How many innings did each pitch? Fergie Jenkins 4,500.2, Tommy John 4,710.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Tommy John's 46.
Fergie Jenkins
Tommy John
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Fergie Jenkins | Tommy John |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 284 | Leads: 288 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 231 |
| Games not scored | 664 | 760 |
| Games Started not scored | 594 | 700 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 162 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 46 |
| Saves not scored | 7 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,245 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,259 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 4,783 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 302 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,500.2 | 4,710.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.34 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.29 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.41 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins edges Tommy John 40,614 to 39,802 — driven by per-season impact — 2,138 PIV per season to 1,531 — rather than by longevity, since Fergie Jenkins played 19 seasons to Tommy John's 26. 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).
Fergie Jenkins — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tommy John — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Fergie Jenkins leads 7 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, and others. Tommy John leads 1: wins. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fergie Jenkins. PIV agrees: Fergie Jenkins grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fergie Jenkins and Tommy John careers compare
From 1965 through 1983, Fergie Jenkins and Tommy John were in the majors together. With 664 games against 760 across 19 and 26 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Tommy John are wins (288 to 284). The per-nine rows read 6.38 strikeouts and 1.99 walks for Fergie Jenkins, 4.29 and 2.41 for Tommy John. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Tommy John was mainly a starter (700 starts in 760 games). Fergie Jenkins allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Tommy John's 1.28.
Fergie Jenkins vs Tommy John: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Tommy John?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Tommy John in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Neither — both are at 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Tommy John, with 288 to Fergie Jenkins's 284.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Tommy John's 2,245.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Tommy John's 1.28.