Jim Kaat vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax are close to even, splitting the 8 scored categories on this page 4–4 (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 as a pitcher; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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
Jim Kaat (1959–1983) and Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — both debuted in the 1950s. Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts; Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Neither — they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Jim Kaat, with 283 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- How many innings did each pitch? Jim Kaat 4,530.1, Sandy Koufax 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Jim Kaat's 31.
Jim Kaat
Sandy Koufax
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. 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 | Jim Kaat | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 283 | 165 |
| Losses not scored | 237 | 87 |
| Games not scored | 898 | 397 |
| Games Started not scored | 625 | 314 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 180 | 137 |
| Shutouts | 31 | Leads: 40 |
| Saves not scored | 18 | 9 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,461 | 2,396 |
| Walks not scored | 1,083 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,620 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 395 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,530.1 | 2,324.1 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 4.89 | Leads: 9.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.15 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Jim Kaat 63,020 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 1,072 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to Jim Kaat's 25. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax split the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card 4-4. On the raw scoreboard neither has the edge. PIV, which is era-adjusted, grades Sandy Koufax higher. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax careers compare
From 1959 through 1966, Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax were in the majors together. Jim Kaat has the far longer record, 898 games against 397 across 25 and 12 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. The green cells for Sandy Koufax are shutouts (40 to 31), ERA (2.76 to 3.45), and WHIP (1.11 to 1.26). The per-nine rows read 4.89 strikeouts and 2.15 walks for Jim Kaat, 9.28 and 3.16 for Sandy Koufax. Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games), while Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Jim Kaat's 1.26.
Jim Kaat vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Kaat or Sandy Koufax?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, neither leads: they split the 8 scored categories 4–4.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Kaat, with 283 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Sandy Koufax's 2,396.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.