Mickey Lolich vs Rick Reuschel: Career Stats Comparison
Mickey Lolich has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mickey Lolich played 1963–1979 as a pitcher; Rick Reuschel played 1972–1991 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
Mickey Lolich (1963–1979) and Rick Reuschel (1972–1991) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mickey Lolich finished with 217 wins and 2,832 strikeouts; Rick Reuschel finished with 214 wins and 2,015 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rick Reuschel, with 3.37 to Mickey Lolich's 3.44.
- Who won more games? Mickey Lolich, with 217 to Rick Reuschel's 214.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Mickey Lolich, with 2,832 to Rick Reuschel's 2,015.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mickey Lolich, with 1.23 to Rick Reuschel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Mickey Lolich, with 3,638.1 to Rick Reuschel's 3,548.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mickey Lolich, with 41 to Rick Reuschel's 26.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rick Reuschel, with 52,650 career Pitcher PIV to Mickey Lolich's 32,209.
Mickey Lolich
Rick Reuschel
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 1960s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mickey Lolich | Rick Reuschel |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 217 | 214 |
| Losses not scored | 191 | 191 |
| Games | Leads: 586 | 557 |
| Games Started | 496 | Leads: 529 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 195 | 102 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 41 | 26 |
| Saves | Leads: 11 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,832 | 2,015 |
| Walks not scored | 1,099 | 935 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,366 | 3,588 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 347 | 221 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,638.1 | 3,548.1 |
| ERA | 3.44 | Leads: 3.37 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.01 | 5.11 |
| BB/9 | 2.72 | Leads: 2.37 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rick Reuschel outpaces Mickey Lolich 52,650 to 32,209 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,507 PIV per season to 2,013, across 21 seasons to 16. 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).
Mickey Lolich — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Rick Reuschel — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mickey Lolich leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Rick Reuschel owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mickey Lolich. Note that PIV actually grades Rick Reuschel ahead, which means Mickey Lolich's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mickey Lolich and Rick Reuschel careers compare
From 1972 through 1979, Mickey Lolich and Rick Reuschel were in the majors together. With 586 games against 557 across 16 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Rick Reuschel comes out ahead, it is in starts (529 to 496), ERA (3.37 to 3.44), and walks per nine (2.37 to 2.72). By rate, Mickey Lolich struck out 7.01 and walked 2.72 per nine innings; Rick Reuschel struck out 5.11 and walked 2.37. Mickey Lolich was mainly a starter (496 starts in 586 games), and Rick Reuschel was mainly a starter (529 starts in 557 games). Mickey Lolich allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Rick Reuschel's 1.27.
Mickey Lolich vs Rick Reuschel: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mickey Lolich or Rick Reuschel?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mickey Lolich leads Rick Reuschel in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rick Reuschel, with 3.37 to Mickey Lolich's 3.44.
- Who won more games?
- Mickey Lolich, with 217 to Rick Reuschel's 214.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Mickey Lolich, with 2,832 to Rick Reuschel's 2,015.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mickey Lolich, with 1.23 to Rick Reuschel's 1.27.