Fergie Jenkins vs Sam McDowell: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Sam McDowell played 1961–1975 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 Sam McDowell (1961–1975) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Sam McDowell finished with 141 wins and 2,453 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sam McDowell, with 3.17 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Sam McDowell's 141.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Sam McDowell's 2,453.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Sam McDowell's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Sam McDowell's 2,492.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Sam McDowell's 23.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Sam McDowell's 29,989.
Fergie Jenkins
Sam McDowell
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Sam McDowell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 141 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 134 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 425 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 346 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 103 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 23 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 14 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,453 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,312 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 1,948 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 164 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 2,492.1 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 3.17 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | 6.38 | Leads: 8.86 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 4.74 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Sam McDowell 40,614 to 29,989 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,031 PIV per season to 1,874, across 20 seasons to 16. 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)
Sam McDowell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fergie Jenkins leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Sam McDowell owns ERA and 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 Sam McDowell careers compare
From 1965 through 1975, Fergie Jenkins and Sam McDowell were in the majors together. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Fergie Jenkins appeared in 664 games to Sam McDowell's 425. Sam McDowell's edges on the table are saves (14 to 7), ERA (3.17 to 3.34), and strikeouts per nine (8.86 to 6.38). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Sam McDowell struck out 8.86 and walked 4.74. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Sam McDowell was mainly a starter (346 starts in 425 games). Fergie Jenkins allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Sam McDowell's 1.31.
Fergie Jenkins vs Sam McDowell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Sam McDowell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Sam McDowell in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sam McDowell, with 3.17 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Sam McDowell's 141.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Sam McDowell's 2,453.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Sam McDowell's 1.31.