Fergie Jenkins vs George Kirby: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; George Kirby has played 2022–present 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 George Kirby (2022–present) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 2020s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; George Kirby has 54 wins and 769 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. 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 George Kirby's 3.74.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to George Kirby's 54.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to George Kirby's 769.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to George Kirby's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to George Kirby's 812.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to George Kirby's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to George Kirby's 14,778.
Fergie Jenkins
George Kirby
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 2020s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
George Kirby is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | George Kirby |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 54 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 45 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 142 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 142 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 2 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 769 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 140 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 813 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 94 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 812.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.74 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | 6.38 | Leads: 8.52 |
| BB/9 | 1.99 | Leads: 1.55 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces George Kirby 40,614 to 14,778 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to George Kirby's 4, while George Kirby carries the higher per-season figure (3,695 to 2,031). 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)
George Kirby — 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 George Kirby owns K/9. 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 George Kirby careers compare
No season is shared: Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983, George Kirby 2022–present. Fergie Jenkins has the far longer record, 664 games against 142 across 20 and 4 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. George Kirby's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (8.52 to 6.38) and walks per nine (1.55 to 1.99). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; George Kirby struck out 8.52 and walked 1.55. Both had the same role: Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games); George Kirby was mainly a starter (142 starts in 142 games). Because George Kirby is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Fergie Jenkins vs George Kirby: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or George Kirby?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads George Kirby in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to George Kirby's 3.74.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to George Kirby's 54.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to George Kirby's 769.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to George Kirby's 1.17.