Jim Kaat vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jim Kaat played 1959–1983 as a pitcher; Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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 Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jim Kaat finished with 283 wins and 2,461 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Jim Kaat's 4,530.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Jim Kaat's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robin Roberts, with 49,794 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Kaat's 26,792.
Jim Kaat
Robin Roberts
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 1950s and the 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jim Kaat | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 283 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 237 | 245 |
| Games | Leads: 898 | 676 |
| Games Started | Leads: 625 | 609 |
| Complete Games | 180 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 31 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | 18 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,461 | 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 1,083 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,620 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 395 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,530.1 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | 3.45 | Leads: 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 4.89 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.15 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Jim Kaat 49,794 to 26,792 — driven by per-season impact — 2,371 PIV per season to 957 — rather than by longevity, since Robin Roberts played 21 seasons to Jim Kaat's 28. 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).
Jim Kaat — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Robin Roberts leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jim Kaat owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robin Roberts. PIV agrees: Robin Roberts grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Kaat and Robin Roberts careers compare
Jim Kaat and Robin Roberts were active at the same time between 1959 and 1966. The two careers are close in length, 898 games for Jim Kaat and 676 for Robin Roberts across 28 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Jim Kaat's edges on the table are games (898 to 676), starts (625 to 609), and strikeouts (2,461 to 2,357). The per-nine rows read 4.89 strikeouts and 2.15 walks for Jim Kaat, 4.52 and 1.73 for Robin Roberts. Their roles differ: Jim Kaat split time between starting and relief (625 starts in 898 games); Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games).
Jim Kaat vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Kaat or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Jim Kaat in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Jim Kaat's 3.45.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Jim Kaat's 283.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Kaat, with 2,461 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Jim Kaat's 1.26.