Jim Palmer vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts 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). Jim Palmer played 1965–1984 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
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 finished with 268 wins and 2,212 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? Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Robin Roberts, with 4,688.2 to Jim Palmer's 3,948.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Robin Roberts, with 49,794 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
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. 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 | Jim Palmer | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 268 | Leads: 286 |
| Losses not scored | 152 | 245 |
| Games | 558 | Leads: 676 |
| Games Started | 521 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | 211 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 53 | 45 |
| Saves | 4 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | 2,212 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 1,311 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,349 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 303 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,948.0 | Leads: 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.86 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.04 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.99 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Jim Palmer 49,794 to 19,502 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,371 PIV per season to 1,026, across 21 seasons to 19. 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).
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.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Palmer and Robin Roberts careers compare
The careers of Jim Palmer (1965–1984) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) overlapped from 1965 to 1966, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 558 games against 676 across 19 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jim Palmer comes out ahead, it is in shutouts (53 to 45), ERA (2.86 to 3.41), and strikeouts per nine (5.04 to 4.52). By rate, Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73.
Jim Palmer vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Palmer or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Jim Palmer in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Jim Palmer's 268.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Jim Palmer's 2,212.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Jim Palmer's 1.18.