Fergie Jenkins vs Dennis Martinez: 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; Dennis Martinez played 1976–1998 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 Dennis Martinez (1976–1998) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Dennis Martinez finished with 245 wins and 2,149 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 Dennis Martinez's 3.70.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Dennis Martinez's 245.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Dennis Martinez's 2,149.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Dennis Martinez's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Dennis Martinez's 3,999.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Dennis Martinez's 30.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Dennis Martinez's 5,904.
Fergie Jenkins
Dennis Martinez
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 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Dennis Martinez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 245 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 193 |
| Games | 664 | Leads: 692 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 562 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 122 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 30 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 8 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,149 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,165 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 3,897 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 372 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 3,999.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.70 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.84 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Dennis Martinez 40,614 to 5,904 — driven by per-season impact — 2,031 PIV per season to 246 — rather than by longevity, since Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Dennis Martinez's 24. 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)
Dennis Martinez — 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 Dennis Martinez owns no headline categories. 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 Dennis Martinez careers compare
Fergie Jenkins and Dennis Martinez were active at the same time between 1976 and 1983. With 664 games against 692 across 20 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Dennis Martinez's edges on the table are games (692 to 664) and saves (8 to 7). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Dennis Martinez struck out 4.84 and walked 2.62. Both had the same role: Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games); Dennis Martinez was mainly a starter (562 starts in 692 games). In WHIP, Fergie Jenkins's 1.14 beats Dennis Martinez's 1.27.
Fergie Jenkins vs Dennis Martinez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Dennis Martinez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Dennis Martinez in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Dennis Martinez's 3.70.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Dennis Martinez's 245.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Dennis Martinez's 2,149.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Dennis Martinez's 1.27.