Pete Alexander vs Walter Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Walter Johnson has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Pete Alexander played 1911–1930 as a pitcher; Walter Johnson played 1907–1927 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 Walter Johnson (1907–1927) — they debuted in the 1910s and the 1900s respectively and share 17 seasons. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Walter Johnson finished with 417 wins and 3,509 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Walter Johnson, in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Walter Johnson, with 2.17 to Pete Alexander's 2.56.
- Who won more games? Walter Johnson, with 417 to Pete Alexander's 373.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Walter Johnson, with 3,509 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Walter Johnson, with 1.06 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.
- How many innings did each pitch? Pete Alexander 5,190.0, Walter Johnson 5,914.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Walter Johnson, with 110 to Pete Alexander's 90.
Pete Alexander
Walter Johnson
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Walter Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 373 | Leads: 417 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 279 |
| Games not scored | 696 | 802 |
| Games Started not scored | 599 | 666 |
| Complete Games | 437 | Leads: 531 |
| Shutouts | 90 | Leads: 110 |
| Saves not scored | 32 | 34 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 3,509 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,363 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 4,913 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 97 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 5,190.0 | 5,914.2 |
| ERA | 2.56 | Leads: 2.17 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | Leads: 1.06 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 5.34 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 2.07 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Walter Johnson outpaces Pete Alexander 124,021 to 75,743 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,906 PIV per season to 3,787, across 21 seasons to 20. 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)
Walter Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Walter Johnson leads 7 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: wins, complete games, shutouts, strikeouts, and others. Pete Alexander leads 1: walks per nine. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Walter Johnson. PIV agrees: Walter Johnson 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 Walter Johnson careers compare
Pete Alexander and Walter Johnson were active at the same time between 1911 and 1927. With 696 games against 802 across 20 and 21 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Pete Alexander comes out ahead, it is in walks per nine (1.65 to 2.07). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Walter Johnson struck out 5.34 and walked 2.07. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Walter Johnson was mainly a starter (666 starts in 802 games). In WHIP, Walter Johnson's 1.06 beats Pete Alexander's 1.12.
Pete Alexander vs Walter Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Walter Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Walter Johnson leads Pete Alexander in 7 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Walter Johnson, with 2.17 to Pete Alexander's 2.56.
- Who won more games?
- Walter Johnson, with 417 to Pete Alexander's 373.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Walter Johnson, with 3,509 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Walter Johnson, with 1.06 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.