Joel Johnston vs. Joe Niekro — Career Comparison

Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Joe Niekro
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

Joe Niekro built a career as a starting pitcher and Joel Johnston as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Niekro posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.59 and WHIP 1.339 compared to 4.31 and 1.296 for Joel Johnston. By the career numbers, Joe Niekro had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joel Johnston and Joe Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
221
0.55
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
204
0.51
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
0.27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
0.04
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
4.31
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1431
3.59
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.59
3.59
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.61
3.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.14
4.14
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.254
0.254
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
3466
8.7
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.7
8.7
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
1.05
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
276
0.69
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.69
0.69
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.39
0.39
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
3.89
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1262
3.17
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.18
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.17
3.17
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
6.41
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1747
4.39
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.41
6.41
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.39
4.39
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.49
2.49
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.144
1.144
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.84
0.84
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.32
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
172
0.43
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
65
0.16
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15166
38.08
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
93
0.23
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
4.41
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1620
4.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.07
4.07
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
106
0.27
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
96
0.24
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.63
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
200
0.5
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.202
1.202
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.319
1.319
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13637
34.24
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.31
2.31
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.275
0.275
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.4
37.4
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.08
38.08

Fielding Stats for Joel Johnston and Joe Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
702
1.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
500
1.26
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10752
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3584
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
253
0.64
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
532
1.34
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
0.06
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
1.58
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
810
2.03
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
1.37
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
785
1.97
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
86.67
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.91
96.91
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.22
0.22
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.118
1.118
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71.23
71.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.1
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joel Johnston and Joe Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
706
363.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1165
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
514.29
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
973
501.12
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.156
0.156
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.47
0.47
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
152
78.28
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
124
63.86
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
26
13.39
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
28
14.42
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.184
0.184
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.001
0.001
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
32.52
16.75
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
183
94.25
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
191
98.37
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.188
0.188
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.188
0.188
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.376
0.376
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.032
0.032
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.131
0.131
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.266
0.266
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.211
0.211
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
55
28.33
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
72
37.08
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
126
64.89
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
21.46
11.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
38
19.57
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
171.43
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PAverified
262
134.94
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
3.5
3.5
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.45
4.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
147
75.71
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
3.09
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
17
8.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100