Fergie Jenkins vs Mike Scott: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Mike Scott played 1979–1991 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 Mike Scott (1979–1991) — 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; Mike Scott finished with 124 wins and 1,469 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 Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Mike Scott's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Mike Scott's 2,068.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Mike Scott's 22.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Mike Scott's 28,073.
Fergie Jenkins
Mike Scott
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 | Mike Scott |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 124 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 108 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 319 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 45 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 22 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 3 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 1,469 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 627 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 1,858 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 173 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 2,068.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | 6.38 | Leads: 6.39 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Mike Scott 40,614 to 28,073 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Mike Scott's 13, while Mike Scott carries the higher per-season figure (2,159 to 2,031). 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)
Mike Scott — 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 Mike Scott owns 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 Mike Scott careers compare
From 1979 through 1983, Fergie Jenkins and Mike Scott were in the majors together. The table compares 664 games of Fergie Jenkins with 347 of Mike Scott across 20 and 13 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. The green cells for Mike Scott are strikeouts per nine (6.39 to 6.38). By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Mike Scott struck out 6.39 and walked 2.73. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Mike Scott was mainly a starter (319 starts in 347 games). Complete games (267 to 45) show how differently the two eras used starters.
Fergie Jenkins vs Mike Scott: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Mike Scott?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Mike Scott in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Mike Scott's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Mike Scott's 124.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Mike Scott's 1,469.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Mike Scott's 1.20.