Gaylord Perry vs Robin Roberts: Career Stats Comparison
Gaylord Perry has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Gaylord Perry played 1962–1983 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
Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) and Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Gaylord Perry finished with 314 wins and 3,534 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? Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Gaylord Perry, with 5,350.1 to Robin Roberts's 4,688.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Gaylord Perry, with 53 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Gaylord Perry, with 78,312 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Gaylord Perry
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 | Gaylord Perry | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 314 | 286 |
| Losses not scored | 265 | 245 |
| Games | Leads: 777 | 676 |
| Games Started | Leads: 690 | 609 |
| Complete Games | 303 | Leads: 305 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 53 | 45 |
| Saves | 11 | Leads: 25 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,534 | 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 1,379 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,938 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 399 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,350.1 | 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.11 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.94 | 4.52 |
| BB/9 | 2.32 | Leads: 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gaylord Perry outpaces Robin Roberts 78,312 to 49,794 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,132 PIV per season to 2,371, across 25 seasons to 21. 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).
Gaylord Perry — 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, Gaylord Perry leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Robin Roberts owns WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gaylord Perry. PIV agrees: Gaylord Perry grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Gaylord Perry and Robin Roberts careers compare
From 1962 through 1966, Gaylord Perry and Robin Roberts were in the majors together. With 777 games against 676 across 25 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Robin Roberts comes out ahead, it is in complete games (305 to 303), saves (25 to 11), and WHIP (1.17 to 1.18). The per-nine rows read 5.94 strikeouts and 2.32 walks for Gaylord Perry, 4.52 and 1.73 for Robin Roberts. Both had the same role: Gaylord Perry was mainly a starter (690 starts in 777 games); Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games). In WHIP, Robin Roberts's 1.17 beats Gaylord Perry's 1.18.
Gaylord Perry vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gaylord Perry or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Gaylord Perry leads Robin Roberts in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3.11 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.