Fergie Jenkins vs Hal Newhouser: 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; Hal Newhouser played 1939–1955 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 Hal Newhouser (1939–1955) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1930s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Hal Newhouser finished with 207 wins and 1,796 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Hal Newhouser, with 3.06 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Hal Newhouser's 207.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Hal Newhouser's 1,796.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Hal Newhouser's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Hal Newhouser's 2,993.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Hal Newhouser's 33.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Hal Newhouser, with 43,492 career Pitcher PIV to Fergie Jenkins's 40,614.
Fergie Jenkins
Hal Newhouser
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 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Hal Newhouser |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 207 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 150 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 488 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 374 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 212 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 33 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 26 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 1,796 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,249 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 2,674 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 137 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 2,993.0 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 3.06 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 5.40 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 3.76 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Hal Newhouser edges Fergie Jenkins 43,492 to 40,614 — driven by per-season impact — 2,558 PIV per season to 2,031 — rather than by longevity, since Hal Newhouser played 17 seasons to Fergie Jenkins's 20. 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)
Hal Newhouser — 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 Hal Newhouser owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fergie Jenkins. Note that PIV actually grades Hal Newhouser ahead, which means Fergie Jenkins's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fergie Jenkins and Hal Newhouser careers compare
No season is shared: Hal Newhouser played 1939–1955, Fergie Jenkins 1965–1983. The two careers are close in length, 664 games for Fergie Jenkins and 488 for Hal Newhouser across 20 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. The green cells for Hal Newhouser are saves (26 to 7) and ERA (3.06 to 3.34). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Hal Newhouser struck out 5.40 and walked 3.76. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Hal Newhouser was mainly a starter (374 starts in 488 games). In WHIP, Fergie Jenkins's 1.14 beats Hal Newhouser's 1.31.
Fergie Jenkins vs Hal Newhouser: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Hal Newhouser?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Hal Newhouser in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Hal Newhouser, with 3.06 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Hal Newhouser's 207.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Hal Newhouser's 1,796.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Hal Newhouser's 1.31.