Fergie Jenkins vs Jim Palmer: 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; Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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 Jim Palmer (1965–1984) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Jim Palmer finished with 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Jim Palmer's 3,948.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Fergie Jenkins's 49.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
Fergie Jenkins
Jim Palmer
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 | Jim Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 268 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 152 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 558 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 521 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 211 |
| Shutouts | 49 | Leads: 53 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,212 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,311 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 3,349 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 303 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 3,948.0 |
| ERA | 3.34 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 5.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Jim Palmer 40,614 to 19,502 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,031 PIV per season to 1,026, across 20 seasons to 19. 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)
Jim Palmer — 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 Jim Palmer 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 Jim Palmer careers compare
From 1965 through 1983, Fergie Jenkins and Jim Palmer were in the majors together. With 664 games against 558 across 20 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jim Palmer's edges on the table are shutouts (53 to 49) and ERA (2.86 to 3.34). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Jim Palmer was mainly a starter (521 starts in 558 games). Fergie Jenkins allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Jim Palmer's 1.18.
Fergie Jenkins vs Jim Palmer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Jim Palmer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Jim Palmer in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Fergie Jenkins's 3.34.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.