Sandy Koufax vs Curt Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Sandy Koufax and Curt Simmons are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 as a pitcher; Curt Simmons played 1947–1967 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 Curt Simmons (1947–1967) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 strikeouts; Curt Simmons finished with 193 wins and 1,697 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 Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Curt Simmons, with 193 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Curt Simmons, with 3,348.1 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Sandy Koufax, with 40 to Curt Simmons's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Sandy Koufax, with 63,020 career Pitcher PIV to Curt Simmons's 32,211.
Sandy Koufax
Curt Simmons
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 | Sandy Koufax | Curt Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 165 | Leads: 193 |
| Losses not scored | 87 | 183 |
| Games | 397 | Leads: 569 |
| Games Started | 314 | Leads: 462 |
| Complete Games | 137 | Leads: 163 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 40 | 36 |
| Saves | Leads: 9 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,396 | 1,697 |
| Walks not scored | 817 | 1,063 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,754 | 3,313 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 204 | 255 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,324.1 | Leads: 3,348.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.76 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.11 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | Leads: 9.28 | 4.56 |
| BB/9 | 3.16 | Leads: 2.86 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Sandy Koufax outpaces Curt Simmons 63,020 to 32,211 — driven by per-season impact — 5,252 PIV per season to 1,400 — rather than by longevity, since Sandy Koufax played 12 seasons to Curt Simmons's 23. 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)
Curt Simmons — 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 Curt Simmons 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 Curt Simmons careers compare
Sandy Koufax and Curt Simmons were active at the same time between 1955 and 1966. With 397 games against 569 across 12 and 23 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, 4.56 and 2.86 for Curt Simmons. Both had the same role: Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games); Curt Simmons was mainly a starter (462 starts in 569 games). In WHIP, Sandy Koufax's 1.11 beats Curt Simmons's 1.31.
Sandy Koufax vs Curt Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2.76 to Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Curt Simmons, with 193 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.