Pete Alexander vs Lefty Grove: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) and Lefty Grove (1925–1941) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1920s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander compiled 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Lefty Grove put up 300 wins and 2,266 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Pete Alexander
Lefty Grove
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Lefty Grove |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 373 | 300 |
| Losses | 208 | 141 |
| Games | 696 | 616 |
| Games Started | 599 | 457 |
| Complete Games | 437 | 298 |
| Shutouts | 90 | 35 |
| Saves | 32 | 55 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | 2,266 |
| Walks | 951 | 1,187 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,868 | 3,849 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 164 | 162 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,190 | 3,940 |
| ERA | 2.56 | 3.06 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | 1.28 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | 5.18 |
| BB/9 | 1.65 | 2.71 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lefty Grove edges Pete Alexander 81,321 to 75,743 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,784 vs 3,607 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
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)
Lefty Grove — 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 Lefty Grove owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pete Alexander. Note that PIV actually grades Lefty Grove ahead, which means Pete Alexander's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.