Robin Roberts vs Bob Rush: Career Stats Comparison
Robin Roberts has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 as a pitcher; Bob Rush played 1948–1960 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
Robin Roberts (1948–1966) and Bob Rush (1948–1960) — both debuted in the 1940s. Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts; Bob Rush finished with 127 wins and 1,244 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Robin Roberts, in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Bob Rush's 3.65.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Rush's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Bob Rush's 1,244.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Rush's 1.29.
- How many innings did each pitch? Robin Roberts 4,688.2, Bob Rush 2,410.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Bob Rush's 16.
Robin Roberts
Bob Rush
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 | Robin Roberts | Bob Rush |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 286 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 245 | 152 |
| Games not scored | 676 | 417 |
| Games Started not scored | 609 | 321 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 305 | 118 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 45 | 16 |
| Saves not scored | 25 | 8 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,357 | 1,244 |
| Walks not scored | 902 | 789 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,582 | 2,327 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 505 | 177 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,688.2 | 2,410.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.41 | 3.65 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.29 |
| K/9 | 4.52 | Leads: 4.64 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.73 | 2.95 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Bob Rush 49,794 to 35,739 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Robin Roberts played 19 seasons to Bob Rush's 13, while Bob Rush carries the higher per-season figure (2,749 to 2,621). 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).
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Rush — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Robin Roberts leads 7 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Bob Rush leads 1: strikeouts per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Robin Roberts. PIV agrees: Robin Roberts grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Robin Roberts and Bob Rush careers compare
Robin Roberts and Bob Rush were active at the same time between 1948 and 1960. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Robin Roberts appeared in 676 games to Bob Rush's 417. Where Bob Rush comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts per nine (4.64 to 4.52). The per-nine rows read 4.52 strikeouts and 1.73 walks for Robin Roberts, 4.64 and 2.95 for Bob Rush. Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games), and Bob Rush was mainly a starter (321 starts in 417 games). Robin Roberts allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Bob Rush's 1.29.
Robin Roberts vs Bob Rush: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robin Roberts or Bob Rush?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Bob Rush in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Bob Rush's 3.65.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Bob Rush's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Bob Rush's 1,244.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Bob Rush's 1.29.