Sandy Koufax vs Jim Palmer: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Palmer has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 as a pitcher; Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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
Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) and Jim Palmer (1965–1984) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts; Jim Palmer finished with 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Jim Palmer's 2.86.
- Who won more games? Jim Palmer, with 268 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Palmer, with 3,948.0 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Sandy Koufax's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
Sandy Koufax
Jim Palmer
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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Sandy Koufax | Jim Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 165 | Leads: 268 |
| Losses not scored | 87 | 152 |
| Games | 397 | Leads: 558 |
| Games Started | 314 | Leads: 521 |
| Complete Games | 137 | Leads: 211 |
| Shutouts | 40 | Leads: 53 |
| Saves | Leads: 9 | 4 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,396 | 2,212 |
| Walks not scored | 817 | 1,311 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,754 | 3,349 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 204 | 303 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,324.1 | Leads: 3,948.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.76 | 2.86 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.28 | 5.04 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Jim Palmer 63,020 to 19,502 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 1,026 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to Jim Palmer's 19. 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).
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Palmer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Sandy Koufax leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Jim Palmer owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Sandy Koufax. PIV agrees: Sandy Koufax grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Sandy Koufax and Jim Palmer careers compare
From 1965 through 1966, Sandy Koufax and Jim Palmer were in the majors together. With 397 games against 558 across 12 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The per-nine rows read 9.28 strikeouts and 3.16 walks for Sandy Koufax, 5.04 and 2.99 for Jim Palmer. Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games), and Jim Palmer was mainly a starter (521 starts in 558 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Jim Palmer's 1.18. On the peak-season lists, Sandy Koufax's best year is 1966 at 1.73 ERA and Jim Palmer's is 1972 at 2.07 ERA; Sandy Koufax has the stronger single season.
Sandy Koufax vs Jim Palmer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Sandy Koufax or Jim Palmer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Palmer leads Sandy Koufax in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Jim Palmer's 2.86.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Palmer, with 268 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.