Jerry Koosman vs Juan Marichal: Career Stats Comparison
Jerry Koosman and Juan Marichal are close to even, splitting the 12 statistical categories compared on this page 6–6. Jerry Koosman played 1967–1985 as a pitcher; Juan Marichal played 1960–1975 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
Jerry Koosman (1967–1985) and Juan Marichal (1960–1975) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jerry Koosman compiled 222 wins and 2,556 strikeouts; Juan Marichal put up 243 wins and 2,303 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Juan Marichal, with 2.89 to Jerry Koosman's 3.36.
- Who won more games? Juan Marichal, with 243 to Jerry Koosman's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jerry Koosman, with 2,556 to Juan Marichal's 2,303.
- Who had the better WHIP? Juan Marichal, with 1.10 to Jerry Koosman's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jerry Koosman, with 3,839 to Juan Marichal's 3,507.
- Who threw more shutouts? Juan Marichal, with 52 to Jerry Koosman's 33.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Juan Marichal, with 48,870 career Pitcher PIV to Jerry Koosman's 42,939.
Jerry Koosman
Juan Marichal
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Jerry Koosman | Juan Marichal |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 222 | Leads: 243 |
| Losses | 209 | 142 |
| Games | Leads: 612 | 471 |
| Games Started | Leads: 527 | 457 |
| Complete Games | 140 | Leads: 244 |
| Shutouts | 33 | Leads: 52 |
| Saves | Leads: 17 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,556 | 2,303 |
| Walks | 1,198 | 709 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,635 | 3,153 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 290 | 320 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,839 | 3,507 |
| ERA | 3.36 | Leads: 2.89 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.10 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.99 | 5.91 |
| BB/9 | 2.81 | Leads: 1.82 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Juan Marichal leads Jerry Koosman 48,870 to 42,939 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,054 vs 2,147 per year). 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).
Jerry Koosman — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Juan Marichal — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Juan Marichal leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while Jerry Koosman owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Juan Marichal. PIV agrees: Juan Marichal grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Jerry Koosman vs Juan Marichal: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Juan Marichal, with 2.89 to Jerry Koosman's 3.36.
- Who won more games?
- Juan Marichal, with 243 to Jerry Koosman's 222.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jerry Koosman, with 2,556 to Juan Marichal's 2,303.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Juan Marichal, with 1.10 to Jerry Koosman's 1.26.