Fergie Jenkins vs Bob Lemon: 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; Bob Lemon played 1941–1958 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 Bob Lemon (1941–1958) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Bob Lemon finished with 207 wins and 1,277 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Lemon, with 3.23 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Bob Lemon's 207.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Bob Lemon's 1,277.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Bob Lemon's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Bob Lemon's 2,850.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Bob Lemon's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Lemon's 14,410.
Fergie Jenkins
Bob Lemon
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Bob Lemon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 207 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 128 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 460 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 350 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 188 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 31 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 22 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 1,277 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,251 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 2,559 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 181 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 2,850.0 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 3.23 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.03 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 3.95 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Bob Lemon 40,614 to 14,410 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,031 PIV per season to 1,108, across 20 seasons to 13. 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)
Bob Lemon — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fergie Jenkins leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Bob Lemon owns ERA. 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 Bob Lemon careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Bob Lemon's ended in 1958, and Fergie Jenkins debuted in 1965. With 664 games against 460 across 20 and 13 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Bob Lemon comes out ahead, it is in saves (22 to 7) and ERA (3.23 to 3.34). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Bob Lemon struck out 4.03 and walked 3.95. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Bob Lemon was mainly a starter (350 starts in 460 games). In WHIP, Fergie Jenkins's 1.14 beats Bob Lemon's 1.34.
Fergie Jenkins vs Bob Lemon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Bob Lemon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Bob Lemon in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Lemon, with 3.23 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Bob Lemon's 207.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Bob Lemon's 1,277.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Bob Lemon's 1.34.