Pete Alexander vs Steve Carlton: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander has the better career line of the two, leading 7 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; Steve Carlton played 1965–1988 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 Steve Carlton (1965–1988) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1960s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Steve Carlton finished with 329 wins and 4,136 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 Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Steve Carlton's 329.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Steve Carlton, with 5,217.1 to Pete Alexander's 5,190.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Steve Carlton's 55.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Steve Carlton, with 76,502 career Pitcher PIV to Pete Alexander's 75,743.
Pete Alexander
Steve Carlton
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 1960s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Steve Carlton |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 329 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 244 |
| Games | 696 | Leads: 741 |
| Games Started | 599 | Leads: 709 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 254 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 55 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 4,136 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,833 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 4,672 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 414 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,190.0 | Leads: 5,217.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.22 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 7.13 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Steve Carlton edges Pete Alexander 76,502 to 75,743 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Steve Carlton played 27 seasons to Pete Alexander's 21, while Pete Alexander carries the higher per-season figure (3,607 to 2,833). 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)
Steve Carlton — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Steve Carlton leads in strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Pete Alexander owns wins, ERA, and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Steve Carlton. PIV agrees: Steve Carlton 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 Steve Carlton careers compare
No season is shared: Pete Alexander played 1911–1930, Steve Carlton 1965–1988. The two careers are close in length, 696 games for Pete Alexander and 741 for Steve Carlton across 21 and 27 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Steve Carlton struck out 7.13 and walked 3.16. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Steve Carlton was mainly a starter (709 starts in 741 games). Pete Alexander allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.12 WHIP to Steve Carlton's 1.25.
Pete Alexander vs Steve Carlton: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Steve Carlton?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Steve Carlton in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Steve Carlton's 3.22.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Steve Carlton's 329.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Steve Carlton, with 4,136 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Steve Carlton's 1.25.