Lindy McDaniel vs Ron Reed: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Reed 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). Lindy McDaniel played 1955–1975 as a pitcher; Ron Reed played 1966–1984 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
Lindy McDaniel (1955–1975) and Ron Reed (1966–1984) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Lindy McDaniel finished with 141 wins and 1,361 strikeouts; Ron Reed finished with 146 wins and 1,481 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Lindy McDaniel, with 3.45 to Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Ron Reed, with 146 to Lindy McDaniel's 141.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Ron Reed, with 1,481 to Lindy McDaniel's 1,361.
- Who had the better WHIP? Ron Reed, with 1.21 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Ron Reed, with 2,477.1 to Lindy McDaniel's 2,139.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ron Reed, with 8 to Lindy McDaniel's 2.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ron Reed, with 29,032 career Pitcher PIV to Lindy McDaniel's 27,834.
Lindy McDaniel
Ron Reed
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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lindy McDaniel | Ron Reed |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 141 | Leads: 146 |
| Losses not scored | 119 | 140 |
| Games | Leads: 987 | 751 |
| Games Started | 74 | Leads: 236 |
| Complete Games | 18 | Leads: 55 |
| Shutouts | 2 | Leads: 8 |
| Saves | Leads: 172 | 103 |
| Strikeouts | 1,361 | Leads: 1,481 |
| Walks not scored | 623 | 633 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,099 | 2,374 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 172 | 182 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,139.1 | Leads: 2,477.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.45 | 3.46 |
| WHIP | 1.27 | Leads: 1.21 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.73 | 5.38 |
| BB/9 | 2.62 | Leads: 2.30 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ron Reed edges Lindy McDaniel 29,032 to 27,834 — driven by per-season impact — 1,452 PIV per season to 1,265 — rather than by longevity, since Ron Reed played 20 seasons to Lindy McDaniel's 22. 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).
Lindy McDaniel — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Ron Reed — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ron Reed leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Lindy McDaniel owns ERA and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ron Reed. PIV agrees: Ron Reed grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lindy McDaniel and Ron Reed careers compare
From 1966 through 1975, Lindy McDaniel and Ron Reed were in the majors together. With 987 games against 751 across 22 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Lindy McDaniel comes out ahead, it is in games (987 to 751), saves (172 to 103), and ERA (3.45 to 3.46). The per-nine rows read 5.73 strikeouts and 2.62 walks for Lindy McDaniel, 5.38 and 2.30 for Ron Reed. Their roles differ: Lindy McDaniel worked mostly in relief (74 starts in 987 games, 172 saves); Ron Reed split time between starting and relief (236 starts in 751 games).
Lindy McDaniel vs Ron Reed: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lindy McDaniel or Ron Reed?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ron Reed leads Lindy McDaniel in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Lindy McDaniel, with 3.45 to Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Ron Reed, with 146 to Lindy McDaniel's 141.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Ron Reed, with 1,481 to Lindy McDaniel's 1,361.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Ron Reed, with 1.21 to Lindy McDaniel's 1.27.