Fergie Jenkins vs Curt Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 12 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; Curt Simmons played 1947–1967 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 Curt Simmons (1947–1967) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 strikeouts; Curt Simmons finished with 193 wins and 1,697 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 Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Curt Simmons's 3,348.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Curt Simmons's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Curt Simmons's 32,211.
Fergie Jenkins
Curt Simmons
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Curt Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 193 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 183 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 569 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 462 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 163 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 36 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 1,697 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,063 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 3,313 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 255 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 3,348.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.56 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 2.86 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins leads Curt Simmons 40,614 to 32,211 — driven by per-season impact — 2,031 PIV per season to 1,400 — rather than by longevity, since Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Curt Simmons's 23. 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)
Curt Simmons — 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 Curt Simmons 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 Curt Simmons careers compare
From 1965 through 1967, Fergie Jenkins and Curt Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 664 games for Fergie Jenkins and 569 for Curt Simmons across 20 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Every scored category on the table goes to Fergie Jenkins. By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Curt Simmons struck out 4.56 and walked 2.86. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Curt Simmons was mainly a starter (462 starts in 569 games). In WHIP, Fergie Jenkins's 1.14 beats Curt Simmons's 1.31.
Fergie Jenkins vs Curt Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Curt Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Curt Simmons in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.