Juan Marichal vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Juan Marichal played 1960–1975 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
Juan Marichal (1960–1975) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Juan Marichal finished with 243 wins and 2,303 strikeouts; Robin Roberts finished with 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? Juan Marichal, with 2.89 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Juan Marichal's 243.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Juan Marichal's 2,303.
- Who had the better WHIP? Juan Marichal, with 1.10 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Juan Marichal's 3,507.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Juan Marichal, with 52 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robin Roberts, with 49,794 career Pitcher PIV to Juan Marichal's 48,870.
Juan Marichal
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. 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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Juan Marichal | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 243 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 142 | 245 |
| Games | 471 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 457 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 244 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 52 | 45 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | 2,303 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 709 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,153 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 320 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,507.1 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.89 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.10 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.91 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 1.82 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts edges Juan Marichal 49,794 to 48,870 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Robin Roberts played 21 seasons to Juan Marichal's 16, while Juan Marichal carries the higher per-season figure (3,054 to 2,371). 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).
Juan Marichal — 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, Robin Roberts leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Juan Marichal owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robin Roberts. PIV agrees: Robin Roberts grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Juan Marichal and Robin Roberts careers compare
The careers of Juan Marichal (1960–1975) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) overlapped from 1960 to 1966, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 471 games against 676 across 16 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. The green cells for Juan Marichal are shutouts (52 to 45), ERA (2.89 to 3.41), and WHIP (1.10 to 1.17). By rate, Juan Marichal struck out 5.91 and walked 1.82 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73. Juan Marichal was mainly a starter (457 starts in 471 games), and Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games).
Juan Marichal vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Juan Marichal or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Juan Marichal in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Juan Marichal, with 2.89 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Juan Marichal's 243.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Juan Marichal's 2,303.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Juan Marichal, with 1.10 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.