Sandy Koufax vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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
Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sandy Koufax compiled 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts; Robin Roberts put up 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? Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Sandy Koufax's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Sandy Koufax
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. 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 | Sandy Koufax | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 165 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses | 87 | 245 |
| Games | 397 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 314 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 137 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | 40 | Leads: 45 |
| Saves | 9 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,396 | 2,357 |
| Walks | 817 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,754 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 204 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,324 | Leads: 4,688 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.76 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.28 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax leads Robin Roberts 63,020 to 49,794 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (5,252 vs 2,371 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).
Sandy Koufax — 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, Sandy Koufax leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Robin Roberts 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
Sandy Koufax vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Sandy Koufax or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Sandy Koufax in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.