Pete Alexander vs Jim Bunning: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Pete Alexander played 1911–1930 as a pitcher; Jim Bunning played 1955–1971 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
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) and Jim Bunning (1955–1971) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1950s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Jim Bunning finished with 224 wins and 2,855 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Jim Bunning's 3.27.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Jim Bunning's 224.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Jim Bunning's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Jim Bunning's 3,760.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Jim Bunning's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Jim Bunning's 44,929.
Pete Alexander
Jim Bunning
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. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. 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, and the 1910s and the 1950s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Jim Bunning |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 224 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 184 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 591 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 519 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 151 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 40 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 16 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 2,855 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,000 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 3,433 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 372 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 3,760.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.27 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 6.83 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 2.39 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander outpaces Jim Bunning 75,743 to 44,929 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,607 PIV per season to 2,496, across 21 seasons to 18. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Pete Alexander — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jim Bunning — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Jim Bunning owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Alexander. PIV agrees: Pete Alexander grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Pete Alexander and Jim Bunning careers compare
No season is shared: Pete Alexander played 1911–1930, Jim Bunning 1955–1971. With 696 games against 591 across 21 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Jim Bunning's edges on the table are strikeouts (2,855 to 2,198) and strikeouts per nine (6.83 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Jim Bunning struck out 6.83 and walked 2.39. Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games), and Jim Bunning was mainly a starter (519 starts in 591 games). In WHIP, Pete Alexander's 1.12 beats Jim Bunning's 1.18.
Pete Alexander vs Jim Bunning: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Jim Bunning?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Jim Bunning in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Jim Bunning's 3.27.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Jim Bunning's 224.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jim Bunning, with 2,855 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Jim Bunning's 1.18.