Dave McNally vs Jim Palmer: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Palmer has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Dave McNally played 1962–1975 as a pitcher; Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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
Dave McNally (1962–1975) and Jim Palmer (1965–1984) — both came up during the 1960s, so the matchup is a direct one. Dave McNally finished with 184 wins and 1,512 strikeouts; Jim Palmer finished with 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Dave McNally's 3.24.
- Who won more games? Jim Palmer, with 268 to Dave McNally's 184.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Dave McNally's 1,512.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Dave McNally's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Palmer, with 3,948.0 to Dave McNally's 2,730.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Dave McNally's 33.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jim Palmer, with 19,502 career Pitcher PIV to Dave McNally's 1,727.
Dave McNally
Jim Palmer
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Dave McNally | Jim Palmer |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 184 | Leads: 268 |
| Losses not scored | 119 | 152 |
| Games | 424 | Leads: 558 |
| Games Started | 396 | Leads: 521 |
| Complete Games | 120 | Leads: 211 |
| Shutouts | 33 | Leads: 53 |
| Saves | 2 | Leads: 4 |
| Strikeouts | 1,512 | Leads: 2,212 |
| Walks not scored | 826 | 1,311 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,488 | 3,349 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 230 | 303 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,730.0 | Leads: 3,948.0 |
| ERA | 3.24 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | 4.98 | Leads: 5.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.72 | 2.99 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jim Palmer outpaces Dave McNally 19,502 to 1,727 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,026 PIV per season to 123, across 19 seasons to 14. 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).
Dave McNally — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Palmer — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jim Palmer leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Dave McNally owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Palmer. PIV agrees: Jim Palmer grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Dave McNally and Jim Palmer careers compare
Dave McNally and Jim Palmer were active at the same time between 1965 and 1975. With 424 games against 558 across 14 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Dave McNally comes out ahead, it is in walks per nine (2.72 to 2.99). By rate, Dave McNally struck out 4.98 and walked 2.72 per nine innings; Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99. Dave McNally was mainly a starter (396 starts in 424 games), and Jim Palmer was mainly a starter (521 starts in 558 games). Jim Palmer allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.18 WHIP to Dave McNally's 1.21.
Dave McNally vs Jim Palmer: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Dave McNally or Jim Palmer?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Palmer leads Dave McNally in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Dave McNally's 3.24.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Palmer, with 268 to Dave McNally's 184.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Dave McNally's 1,512.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Dave McNally's 1.21.