Pete Alexander vs Bob Gibson: 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; Bob Gibson played 1959–1975 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 Bob Gibson (1959–1975) — 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; Bob Gibson finished with 251 wins and 3,117 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 Bob Gibson's 2.91.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Bob Gibson's 3,884.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Bob Gibson's 56.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Gibson's 69,720.
Pete Alexander
Bob Gibson
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 | Bob Gibson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 251 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 174 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 528 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 482 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 255 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 56 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 6 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 3,117 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,336 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 3,279 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 257 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 3,884.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 2.91 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 7.22 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 3.10 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander edges Bob Gibson 75,743 to 69,720 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Bob Gibson's 17, while Bob Gibson carries the higher per-season figure (4,101 to 3,607). 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)
Bob Gibson — 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 Bob Gibson 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 Bob Gibson careers compare
No season is shared: Pete Alexander played 1911–1930, Bob Gibson 1959–1975. The two careers are close in length, 696 games for Pete Alexander and 528 for Bob Gibson across 21 and 17 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Bob Gibson comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (3,117 to 2,198) and strikeouts per nine (7.22 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Bob Gibson struck out 7.22 and walked 3.10. Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games), and Bob Gibson was mainly a starter (482 starts in 528 games).
Pete Alexander vs Bob Gibson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Bob Gibson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Bob Gibson in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Bob Gibson's 2.91.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Bob Gibson's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Gibson, with 3,117 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Bob Gibson's 1.19.