Joel Johnston vs. Vern Olsen — Career Comparison

Joel Johnston
Gen XPennsylvaniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPittsburgh PiratesNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Vern Olsen
Greatest GenerationOregonThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Vern Olsen 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. Vern Olsen posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.4 and WHIP 1.432 compared to 4.31 and 1.296 for Joel Johnston. By the career numbers, Vern Olsen had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joel Johnston and Vern Olsen

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
112
1.95
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
60
1.05
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
30
0.52
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
53.57
53.57
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
53.57
53.57
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.4
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.12
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.21
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.03
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
41
4.31
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
195
3.4
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.31
4.31
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.4
3.4
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.07
3.07
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.85
3.85
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.212
0.212
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.267
0.267
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
257
27
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1548
27
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.2
9
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
516
9
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
6.93
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
547
9.54
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.93
6.93
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.54
9.54
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
1.05
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.31
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.31
0.31
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.17
0.17
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.16
0.16
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
3.89
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
192
3.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.84
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.35
3.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
61
6.41
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
201
3.51
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.41
6.41
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.51
3.51
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.03
1.03
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.79
1.79
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.144
1.144
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.762
0.762
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.09
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.32
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.07
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.02
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.4
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2247
39.19
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.89
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
32
0.56
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
4.41
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
226
3.94
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.94
3.94
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.53
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.63
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.202
1.202
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.432
1.432
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
311
32.67
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2051
35.77
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.71
0.71
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.02
2.02
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.233
0.233
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.289
0.289
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.4
37.4
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.19
39.19

Fielding Stats for Joel Johnston and Vern Olsen

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
6.2
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
112
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
257
27
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
85.2
9
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.53
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
26
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.84
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
141
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
1.58
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
169
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
1.37
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
167
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
86.67
86.67
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
98.82
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.22
0.22
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1.491
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Joel Johnston and Vern Olsen

Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
59
5057.14
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
113
364.52
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
7
600
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
186
600
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
6
514.29
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
169
545.16
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.231
0.231
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.857
0.857
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.597
0.597
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
39
125.81
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32
103.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
19.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
3.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
22.58
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.18
0.18
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.006
0.006
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.026
0.026
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
77.5
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13.95
45.01
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
257.14
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
48
154.84
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
171.43
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
50
161.29
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.278
0.278
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.284
0.284
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.562
0.562
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.053
0.053
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.275
0.275
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.196
0.196
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.75
0.75
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.466
0.466
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
0.26
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
16
51.61
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
14
45.16
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
29
93.55
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.97
82.88
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
15.52
50.08
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
35.48
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
171.43
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PAverified
22
70.97
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
3.5
3.5
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8.45
8.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
85.71
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
19.35
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
1
3.23
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
6.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
6.45
Joel Johnston
Career
Per 600 PA
Vern Olsen
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100