Bob Locker vs Tug McGraw: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Locker (1965–1975) and Tug McGraw (1965–1984) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Bob Locker compiled 57 wins and 577 strikeouts; Tug McGraw put up 96 wins and 1,109 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Tug McGraw
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Bob Locker | Tug McGraw |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 57 | 96 |
| Losses | 39 | 92 |
| Games | 576 | 824 |
| Games Started | 0 | 39 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 5 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 1 |
| Saves | 95 | 180 |
| Strikeouts | 577 | 1,109 |
| Walks | 257 | 582 |
| Hits Allowed | 776 | 1,318 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 40 | 108 |
| Innings Pitched | 879 | 1,514 |
| ERA | 2.75 | 3.14 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | 5.91 | 6.59 |
| BB/9 | 2.63 | 3.46 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tug McGraw edges Bob Locker 16,151 to 15,544 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (850 vs 1,295 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).
Bob Locker — top 1 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tug McGraw — top 0 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Tug McGraw leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Bob Locker owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tug McGraw. PIV agrees: Tug McGraw grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.