Fergie Jenkins vs Early Wynn: Career Stats Comparison
Early Wynn has the better career line of the two, leading 6 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; Early Wynn played 1939–1963 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 Early Wynn (1939–1963) — 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; Early Wynn finished with 300 wins and 2,334 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 Early Wynn's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Early Wynn, with 300 to Fergie Jenkins's 284.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Early Wynn's 2,334.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Early Wynn's 1.33.
- Who pitched more innings? Early Wynn, with 4,564.0 to Fergie Jenkins's 4,500.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 49.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Early Wynn's 25,348.
Fergie Jenkins
Early Wynn
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 | Early Wynn |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 284 | Leads: 300 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 244 |
| Games | 664 | Leads: 691 |
| Games Started | 594 | Leads: 612 |
| Complete Games | 267 | Leads: 290 |
| Shutouts | 49 | 49 |
| Saves | 7 | Leads: 15 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,334 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,775 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 4,291 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 338 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,500.2 | Leads: 4,564.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 4.60 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 3.50 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Early Wynn 40,614 to 25,348 — driven by per-season impact — 2,031 PIV per season to 1,102 — rather than by longevity, since Fergie Jenkins played 20 seasons to Early Wynn'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)
Early Wynn — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Fergie Jenkins leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Early Wynn owns wins and innings pitched. 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 Early Wynn careers compare
Early Wynn (1939–1963) was finished before Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 664 games against 691 across 20 and 23 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 6.38 strikeouts and 1.99 walks for Fergie Jenkins, 4.60 and 3.50 for Early Wynn. Both had the same role: Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games); Early Wynn was mainly a starter (612 starts in 691 games). Fergie Jenkins allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Early Wynn's 1.33.
Fergie Jenkins vs Early Wynn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Early Wynn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Early Wynn leads Fergie Jenkins in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Early Wynn's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Early Wynn, with 300 to Fergie Jenkins's 284.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Early Wynn's 2,334.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Early Wynn's 1.33.