Robin Roberts vs Warren Spahn: Career Stats Comparison
Warren Spahn has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 as a pitcher; Warren Spahn played 1942–1965 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 Warren Spahn (1942–1965) — both came up during the 1940s, so the matchup is a direct one. Robin Roberts compiled 286 wins and 2,357 strikeouts; Warren Spahn put up 363 wins and 2,583 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Warren Spahn, with 363 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Warren Spahn, with 2,583 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP? Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Warren Spahn, with 5,243 to Robin Roberts's 4,688.
- Who threw more shutouts? Warren Spahn, with 63 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Warren Spahn, with 63,558 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Robin Roberts
Warren Spahn
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 | Robin Roberts | Warren Spahn |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 286 | Leads: 363 |
| Losses | 245 | 245 |
| Games | 676 | Leads: 750 |
| Games Started | 609 | Leads: 665 |
| Complete Games | 305 | Leads: 382 |
| Shutouts | 45 | Leads: 63 |
| Saves | 25 | Leads: 29 |
| Strikeouts | 2,357 | Leads: 2,583 |
| Walks | 902 | 1,434 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,582 | 4,830 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 505 | 434 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,688 | Leads: 5,243 |
| ERA | 3.41 | Leads: 3.09 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.17 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | Leads: 4.52 | 4.43 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.73 | 2.46 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Warren Spahn leads Robin Roberts 63,558 to 49,794 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,889 vs 2,371 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).
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Warren Spahn — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Warren Spahn leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Robin Roberts owns WHIP and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Warren Spahn. PIV agrees: Warren Spahn grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Robin Roberts vs Warren Spahn: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Robin Roberts or Warren Spahn?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Warren Spahn leads Robin Roberts in 9 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Warren Spahn, with 3.09 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Warren Spahn, with 363 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Warren Spahn, with 2,583 to Robin Roberts's 2,357.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Robin Roberts, with 1.17 to Warren Spahn's 1.19.