Jim Palmer vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Palmer (1965–1984) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jim Palmer compiled 268 wins and 2,212 strikeouts; Robin Roberts put up 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Jim Palmer
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Jim Palmer | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 268 | 286 |
| Losses | 152 | 245 |
| Games | 558 | 676 |
| Games Started | 521 | 609 |
| Complete Games | 211 | 305 |
| Shutouts | 53 | 45 |
| Saves | 4 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 2,212 | 2,357 |
| Walks | 1,311 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,349 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 303 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,948 | 4,688 |
| ERA | 2.86 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | 5.04 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.99 | 1.73 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Jim Palmer 49,794 to 19,502 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,371 vs 1,026 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).
Jim Palmer — 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, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jim Palmer owns ERA 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.