Fergie Jenkins vs Jim Kaat: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins 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). Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983 as a pitcher; Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 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 Jim Kaat (1959–1983) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Kaat, with 4,530.1 to Fergie Jenkins's 4,500.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Jim Kaat's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Kaat's 26,792.
Fergie Jenkins
Jim Kaat
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 1960s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Jim Kaat |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 283 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 237 |
| Games | 664 | Leads: 898 |
| Games Started | 594 | Leads: 625 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 180 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 31 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 18 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,461 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,083 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 4,620 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 395 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,500.2 | Leads: 4,530.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.45 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.89 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Jim Kaat 40,614 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 2,031 PIV per season to 957 — rather than by longevity, since Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Jim Kaat's 28. 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).
Fergie Jenkins — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fergie Jenkins leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Jim Kaat owns innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but 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 Jim Kaat careers compare
From 1965 through 1983, Fergie Jenkins and Jim Kaat were in the majors together. With 664 games against 898 across 20 and 28 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jim Kaat comes out ahead, it is in games (898 to 664), starts (625 to 594), and saves (18 to 7). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Jim Kaat struck out 4.89 and walked 2.15. Their roles differ: Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games); Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games). In WHIP, Fergie Jenkins's 1.14 beats Jim Kaat's 1.26.
Fergie Jenkins vs Jim Kaat: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Jim Kaat?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Jim Kaat in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Jim Kaat's 2,461.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.