Pete Alexander vs Sandy Koufax: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander has the better career line of the two, leading 9 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; Sandy Koufax played 1955–1966 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 Sandy Koufax (1955–1966) — 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; Sandy Koufax finished with 165 wins and 2,396 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 Sandy Koufax's 2.76.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Sandy Koufax's 2,324.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Sandy Koufax's 40.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Sandy Koufax's 63,020.
Pete Alexander
Sandy Koufax
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 | Sandy Koufax |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 165 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 87 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 397 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 314 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 137 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 40 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 9 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 2,396 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 817 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 1,754 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 204 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 2,324.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 9.28 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 3.16 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander leads Sandy Koufax 75,743 to 63,020 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Sandy Koufax's 12, while Sandy Koufax carries the higher per-season figure (5,252 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)
Sandy Koufax — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Sandy Koufax owns strikeouts, WHIP, 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 Sandy Koufax careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Pete Alexander's ended in 1930, and Sandy Koufax debuted in 1955. The table compares 696 games of Pete Alexander with 397 of Sandy Koufax across 21 and 12 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Sandy Koufax's edges on the table are strikeouts (2,396 to 2,198), WHIP (1.11 to 1.12), and strikeouts per nine (9.28 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Sandy Koufax struck out 9.28 and walked 3.16. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Sandy Koufax was mainly a starter (314 starts in 397 games).
Pete Alexander vs Sandy Koufax: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Sandy Koufax?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Sandy Koufax in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Sandy Koufax's 2.76.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Sandy Koufax's 165.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Sandy Koufax, with 2,396 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Sandy Koufax, with 1.11 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.