Pete Alexander vs Phil Niekro: 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; Phil Niekro played 1964–1987 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 Phil Niekro (1964–1987) — 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; Phil Niekro finished with 318 wins and 3,342 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 Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Phil Niekro's 318.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
- Who pitched more innings? Phil Niekro, with 5,404.1 to Pete Alexander's 5,190.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Phil Niekro's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Phil Niekro's 13,102.
Pete Alexander
Phil Niekro
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 | Phil Niekro |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 318 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 274 |
| Games | 696 | Leads: 864 |
| Games Started | 599 | Leads: 716 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 245 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 29 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 3,342 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,809 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 5,044 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 482 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,190.0 | Leads: 5,404.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.35 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.27 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 5.57 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander outpaces Phil Niekro 75,743 to 13,102 — driven by per-season impact — 3,607 PIV per season to 504 — rather than by longevity, since Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Phil Niekro's 26. 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)
Phil Niekro — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, ERA, and WHIP, while Phil Niekro owns strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched. 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 Phil Niekro careers compare
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) was finished before Phil Niekro (1964–1987) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 696 games against 864 across 21 and 26 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Phil Niekro struck out 5.57 and walked 3.01. Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games), and Phil Niekro was mainly a starter (716 starts in 864 games). Pete Alexander allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.12 WHIP to Phil Niekro's 1.27.
Pete Alexander vs Phil Niekro: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Phil Niekro?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Phil Niekro in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Phil Niekro's 3.35.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Phil Niekro's 318.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Phil Niekro, with 3,342 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Phil Niekro's 1.27.