Keith Atherton vs. Joe Niekro — Career Comparison

Keith Atherton
Baby BoomersVirginiaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaMinnesota TwinsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Joe Niekro
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

Joe Niekro built a career as a starting pitcher and Keith Atherton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Keith Atherton led in walk avoidance (BB%+ 111 vs 90), strikeout rate (K%+ 88 vs 69), and run prevention (ERA+ 97 vs 83). Joe Niekro held the edge in home run suppression (HR9+ 79 vs 68). Role difference aside, Keith Atherton holds a clear edge on every meaningful shared measure.

Pitching Stats for Keith Atherton and Joe Niekro

Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
342
5.43
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.52
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
221
0.55
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
0.65
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
204
0.51
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
44.59
44.59
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
0.27
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.07
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.41
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
16
0.04
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
251
3.99
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1431
3.59
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.99
3.99
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.59
3.59
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.97
3.97
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.61
3.61
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.68
4.68
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.14
4.14
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.253
0.253
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.254
0.254
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1699
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
566.1
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
546
8.68
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
3466
8.7
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.68
8.68
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.7
8.7
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
75
1.19
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
276
0.69
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.19
1.19
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.69
0.69
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.22
0.22
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.39
0.39
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
215
3.42
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1262
3.17
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
36
0.57
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.18
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.42
3.42
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.17
3.17
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
349
5.55
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1747
4.39
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.55
5.55
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.39
4.39
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.02
1.02
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.49
2.49
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.996
0.996
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.84
0.84
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.16
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
172
0.43
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
0.16
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
65
0.16
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.02
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.02
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2431
38.63
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15166
38.08
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
158
2.51
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
93
0.23
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
268
4.26
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1620
4.07
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.26
4.26
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.07
4.07
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23
0.37
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
106
0.27
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
27
0.43
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
96
0.24
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
200
0.5
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.344
1.344
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.319
1.319
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2156
34.26
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13637
34.24
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.78
0.78
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.31
2.31
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.272
0.272
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.275
0.275
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.63
38.63
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.08
38.08

Fielding Stats for Keith Atherton and Joe Niekro

Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
342
5.43
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1699
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
566.1
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
26
0.41
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
253
0.64
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
51
0.81
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
532
1.34
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.08
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
0.06
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
82
1.3
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
810
2.03
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
77
1.22
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
785
1.97
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.9
93.9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.91
96.91
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.225
0.225
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.118
1.118
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.02
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.1
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Keith Atherton and Joe Niekro

Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
7
7
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
22
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PAverified
342
205200
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
706
363.61
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
1
600
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1165
600
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
600
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
973
501.12
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.156
0.156
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.47
0.47
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
152
78.28
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
124
63.86
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
13.39
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
14.42
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.184
0.184
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.001
0.001
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32.52
16.75
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
183
94.25
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
191
98.37
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.188
0.188
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.376
0.376
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.131
0.131
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.266
0.266
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.211
0.211
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
55
28.33
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
72
37.08
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
126
64.89
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.11
-66.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21.46
11.05
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
38
19.57
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
600
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PAverified
262
134.94
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.45
4.45
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
147
75.71
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
3.09
Keith Atherton
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
17
8.76
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Keith Atherton
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100