Robin Roberts vs Curt Simmons: 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; Curt Simmons played 1947–1967 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 Curt Simmons (1947–1967) — both debuted in the 1940s. Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts; Curt Simmons finished with 193 wins and 1,697 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 Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Robin Roberts, with 286 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.
- How many innings did each pitch? Robin Roberts 4,688.2, Curt Simmons 3,348.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Robin Roberts, with 45 to Curt Simmons's 36.
Robin Roberts
Curt Simmons
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 | Curt Simmons |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 286 | 193 |
| Losses not scored | 245 | 183 |
| Games not scored | 676 | 569 |
| Games Started not scored | 609 | 462 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 305 | 163 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 45 | 36 |
| Saves not scored | 25 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,357 | 1,697 |
| Walks not scored | 902 | 1,063 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,582 | 3,313 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 505 | 255 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 4,688.2 | 3,348.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.41 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.31 |
| K/9 | 4.52 | Leads: 4.56 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.73 | 2.86 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Robin Roberts outpaces Curt Simmons 49,794 to 32,211 — driven by per-season impact — 2,621 PIV per season to 1,611 — rather than by longevity, since Robin Roberts played 19 seasons to Curt Simmons's 20. 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)
Curt Simmons — 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. Curt Simmons 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 Curt Simmons careers compare
From 1948 through 1966, Robin Roberts and Curt Simmons were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 676 games for Robin Roberts and 569 for Curt Simmons across 19 and 20 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Curt Simmons's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (4.56 to 4.52). The per-nine rows read 4.52 strikeouts and 1.73 walks for Robin Roberts, 4.56 and 2.86 for Curt Simmons. Robin Roberts was mainly a starter (609 starts in 676 games), and Curt Simmons was mainly a starter (462 starts in 569 games). In WHIP, Robin Roberts's 1.17 beats Curt Simmons's 1.31.
Robin Roberts vs Curt Simmons: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robin Roberts or Curt Simmons?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Robin Roberts leads Curt Simmons in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Robin Roberts, with 3.41 to Curt Simmons's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Robin Roberts, with 286 to Curt Simmons's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Curt Simmons's 1,697.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Curt Simmons's 1.31.