Ron Reed vs Bruce Sutter: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Reed has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Ron Reed played 1966–1984 as a pitcher; Bruce Sutter played 1976–1988 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
Ron Reed (1966–1984) and Bruce Sutter (1976–1988) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1970s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Ron Reed compiled 146 wins and 1,481 strikeouts; Bruce Sutter put up 68 wins and 861 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games? Ron Reed, with 146 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Ron Reed, with 1,481 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP? Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Ron Reed's 1.21.
- Who pitched more innings? Ron Reed, with 2,477 to Bruce Sutter's 1,042.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ron Reed, with 8 to Bruce Sutter's 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Ron Reed, with 29,032 career Pitcher PIV to Bruce Sutter's 23,292.
Bruce Sutter
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Ron Reed | Bruce Sutter |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 146 | 68 |
| Losses | 140 | 71 |
| Games | Leads: 751 | 661 |
| Games Started | Leads: 236 | 0 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 55 | 0 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 8 | 0 |
| Saves | 103 | Leads: 300 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,481 | 861 |
| Walks | 633 | 309 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,374 | 879 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 182 | 77 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 2,477 | 1,042 |
| ERA | 3.46 | Leads: 2.83 |
| WHIP | 1.21 | Leads: 1.14 |
| K/9 | 5.38 | Leads: 7.44 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.30 | 2.67 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ron Reed leads Bruce Sutter 29,032 to 23,292 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,452 vs 1,941 per year). 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).
Ron Reed — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bruce Sutter — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Ron Reed leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Bruce Sutter owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ron Reed. PIV agrees: Ron Reed grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Ron Reed vs Bruce Sutter: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Ron Reed or Bruce Sutter?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ron Reed leads Bruce Sutter in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bruce Sutter, with 2.83 to Ron Reed's 3.46.
- Who won more games?
- Ron Reed, with 146 to Bruce Sutter's 68.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Ron Reed, with 1,481 to Bruce Sutter's 861.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Bruce Sutter, with 1.14 to Ron Reed's 1.21.