Jim Palmer vs Curt Simmons: Career Stats Comparison
Jim Palmer 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; Curt Simmons played 1947–1967 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 Curt Simmons (1947–1967) — 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; Curt Simmons finished with 193 wins and 1,697 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 Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Jim Palmer, with 268 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Jim Palmer, with 3,948.0 to Curt Simmons's 3,348.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Jim Palmer, with 53 to Curt Simmons's 36.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Curt Simmons, with 32,211 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Palmer's 19,502.
Jim Palmer
Curt Simmons
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 | Curt Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 268 | 193 |
| Losses not scored | 152 | 183 |
| Games | 558 | Leads: 569 |
| Games Started | Leads: 521 | 462 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 211 | 163 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 53 | 36 |
| Saves | 4 | Leads: 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,212 | 1,697 |
| Walks not scored | 1,311 | 1,063 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,349 | 3,313 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 303 | 255 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,948.0 | 3,348.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.86 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.18 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.04 | 4.56 |
| BB/9 | 2.99 | Leads: 2.86 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Curt Simmons outpaces Jim Palmer 32,211 to 19,502 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,400 PIV per season to 1,026, across 23 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)
Curt Simmons — 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 Curt Simmons owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jim Palmer. Note that PIV actually grades Curt Simmons ahead, which means Jim Palmer's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jim Palmer and Curt Simmons careers compare
Jim Palmer and Curt Simmons were active at the same time between 1965 and 1967. The two careers are close in length, 558 games for Jim Palmer and 569 for Curt Simmons across 19 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Curt Simmons comes out ahead, it is in games (569 to 558), saves (5 to 4), and walks per nine (2.86 to 2.99). By rate, Jim Palmer struck out 5.04 and walked 2.99 per nine innings; Curt Simmons struck out 4.56 and walked 2.86.
Jim Palmer vs Curt Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jim Palmer or Curt Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jim Palmer leads Curt Simmons in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jim Palmer, with 2.86 to Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Jim Palmer, with 268 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Palmer, with 2,212 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jim Palmer, with 1.18 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.