Gaylord Perry vs Tom Seaver: Career Stats Comparison
Tom Seaver has the better career line of the two, leading 5 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Gaylord Perry played 1962–1983 as a pitcher; Tom Seaver played 1967–1986 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 Tom Seaver (1967–1986) — both debuted in the 1960s. Gaylord Perry finished with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts; Tom Seaver finished with 311 wins and 3,640 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Tom Seaver, in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Gaylord Perry's 3.11.
- Who won more games? Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Tom Seaver's 311.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Seaver, with 3,640 to Gaylord Perry's 3,534.
- Who had the better WHIP? Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.
- How many innings did each pitch? Gaylord Perry 5,350.1, Tom Seaver 4,782.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Tom Seaver, with 61 to Gaylord Perry's 53.
Gaylord Perry
Tom Seaver
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Gaylord Perry | Tom Seaver |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 314 | 311 |
| Losses not scored | 265 | 205 |
| Games not scored | 777 | 656 |
| Games Started not scored | 690 | 647 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 303 | 231 |
| Shutouts | 53 | Leads: 61 |
| Saves not scored | 11 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 3,534 | Leads: 3,640 |
| Walks not scored | 1,379 | 1,390 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,938 | 3,971 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 399 | 380 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 5,350.1 | 4,782.2 |
| ERA | 3.11 | Leads: 2.86 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | Leads: 1.12 |
| K/9 | 5.94 | Leads: 6.85 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.32 | 2.62 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Seaver edges Gaylord Perry 79,192 to 78,312 — driven by per-season impact — 3,960 PIV per season to 3,560 — rather than by longevity, since Tom Seaver played 20 seasons to Gaylord Perry's 22. 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).
Gaylord Perry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Tom Seaver — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Tom Seaver leads 5 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and others. Gaylord Perry leads 3: wins, complete games, and walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Seaver. PIV agrees: Tom Seaver 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 Tom Seaver careers compare
The careers of Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) and Tom Seaver (1967–1986) overlapped from 1967 to 1983, so for those seasons they faced the same league conditions. With 777 games against 656 across 22 and 20 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Gaylord Perry comes out ahead, it is in wins (314 to 311), complete games (303 to 231), and walks per nine (2.32 to 2.62). By rate, Gaylord Perry struck out 5.94 and walked 2.32 per nine innings; Tom Seaver struck out 6.85 and walked 2.62. Gaylord Perry was mainly a starter (690 starts in 777 games), and Tom Seaver was mainly a starter (647 starts in 656 games).
Gaylord Perry vs Tom Seaver: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Gaylord Perry or Tom Seaver?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Tom Seaver leads Gaylord Perry in 5 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Tom Seaver, with 2.86 to Gaylord Perry's 3.11.
- Who won more games?
- Gaylord Perry, with 314 to Tom Seaver's 311.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Seaver, with 3,640 to Gaylord Perry's 3,534.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Tom Seaver, with 1.12 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.