Joel Johnston vs. Phil Niekro — Career Comparison

Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Phil Niekro
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaAtlanta BravesNational LeagueHall of FameStarting PitcherGold GloveAll-Star

Phil 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. Phil Niekro posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.35 and WHIP 1.284 compared to 4.31 and 1.296 for Joel Johnston. By the career numbers, Phil Niekro had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joel Johnston and Phil Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
24
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
864
1.44
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
716
1.19
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
318
0.53
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
274
0.46
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
53.72
53.72
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82.87
82.87
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
245
0.41
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
45
0.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
29
0.05
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
4.31
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2012
3.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.35
3.35
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.46
3.46
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.246
0.246
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16213
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5404.1
9
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
5044
8.4
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.4
8.4
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
1.05
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
482
0.8
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.8
0.8
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.56
0.56
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
3.89
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1809
3.01
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
86
0.14
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.01
3.01
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
6.41
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3342
5.57
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.41
6.41
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.57
5.57
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.87
3.87
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.144
1.144
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.953
0.953
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.32
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
226
0.38
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
123
0.2
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
42
0.07
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.4
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
22677
37.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
83
0.14
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
4.41
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2337
3.89
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.89
3.89
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
167
0.28
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
87
0.14
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.63
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
292
0.49
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.202
1.202
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.268
1.268
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
20491
34.12
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.7
2.7
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.274
0.274
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.4
37.4
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.76
37.76

Fielding Stats for Joel Johnston and Phil Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
24
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
864
1.44
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
716
1.19
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16213
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5404.1
9
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
386
0.64
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
878
1.46
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
0.06
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
1.58
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1301
2.17
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
1.37
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1264
2.1
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
86.67
86.67
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.16
97.16
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.22
0.22
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.463
1.463
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
82.87
82.87
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
83
0.14
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joel Johnston and Phil Niekro

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
24
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
866
304.39
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1707
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
6
514.29
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1537
540.25
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.169
0.169
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.451
0.451
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
260
91.39
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
210
73.81
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
42
14.76
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
2.46
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
50
17.57
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.192
0.192
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.005
0.005
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.027
0.027
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
55.59
19.54
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
325
114.24
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
289
101.58
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.183
0.183
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.212
0.212
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.395
0.395
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.042
0.042
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.135
0.135
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.27
0.27
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0.206
0.206
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
80
28.12
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
109
38.31
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
182
63.97
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
34.77
12.22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
4.22
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
17
5.98
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
171.43
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PAverified
314
110.37
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
3.5
3.5
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.44
5.44
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
129
45.34
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
4.22
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
35
12.3
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Phil Niekro
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
Phil Niekro
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0