Jonathan Papelbon vs Jeff Reardon: Career Stats Comparison
Jonathan Papelbon has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jonathan Papelbon played 2005–2016 as a pitcher; Jeff Reardon played 1979–1994 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
Jonathan Papelbon (2005–2016) and Jeff Reardon (1979–1994) — breaking in during the 2000s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Jonathan Papelbon finished with 41 wins and 808 strikeouts; Jeff Reardon finished with 73 wins and 877 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to Jeff Reardon's 3.16.
- Who won more games? Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jeff Reardon, with 877 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Jeff Reardon's 1.20.
- Who pitched more innings? Jeff Reardon, with 1,132.1 to Jonathan Papelbon's 725.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Jonathan Papelbon, with 24,416 career Pitcher PIV to Jeff Reardon's 11,952.
Jonathan Papelbon
Jeff Reardon
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 2000s and the 1970s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Jonathan Papelbon | Jeff Reardon |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 41 | Leads: 73 |
| Losses not scored | 36 | 77 |
| Games | 689 | Leads: 880 |
| Games Started | Leads: 3 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 368 | 367 |
| Strikeouts | 808 | Leads: 877 |
| Walks not scored | 185 | 358 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 572 | 1,000 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 57 | 109 |
| Innings Pitched | 725.2 | Leads: 1,132.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.44 | 3.16 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.04 | 1.20 |
| K/9 | Leads: 10.02 | 6.97 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.29 | 2.85 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Jonathan Papelbon outpaces Jeff Reardon 24,416 to 11,952 — driven by per-season impact — 1,878 PIV per season to 664 — rather than by longevity, since Jonathan Papelbon played 13 seasons to Jeff Reardon's 18. 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).
Jonathan Papelbon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Jeff Reardon
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jonathan Papelbon leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Jeff Reardon owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jonathan Papelbon. PIV agrees: Jonathan Papelbon grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jonathan Papelbon and Jeff Reardon careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Jeff Reardon's ended in 1994, and Jonathan Papelbon debuted in 2005. With 689 games against 880 across 13 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jeff Reardon comes out ahead, it is in wins (73 to 41), games (880 to 689), and strikeouts (877 to 808). By rate, Jonathan Papelbon struck out 10.02 and walked 2.29 per nine innings; Jeff Reardon struck out 6.97 and walked 2.85. Both had the same role: Jonathan Papelbon worked mostly in relief (3 starts in 689 games, 368 saves); Jeff Reardon worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 880 games, 367 saves).
Jonathan Papelbon vs Jeff Reardon: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jonathan Papelbon or Jeff Reardon?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jonathan Papelbon leads Jeff Reardon in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 2.44 to Jeff Reardon's 3.16.
- Who won more games?
- Jeff Reardon, with 73 to Jonathan Papelbon's 41.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jeff Reardon, with 877 to Jonathan Papelbon's 808.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jonathan Papelbon, with 1.04 to Jeff Reardon's 1.20.