Pete Alexander vs Satchel Paige: 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; Satchel Paige played 1948–1965 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 Satchel Paige (1948–1965) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Satchel Paige finished with 143 wins and 1,695 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 Satchel Paige's 2.77.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Satchel Paige's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Satchel Paige's 1,695.
- Who had the better WHIP? Satchel Paige, with 1.11 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Satchel Paige's 1,962.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Satchel Paige's 28.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Satchel Paige, with 77,694 career Pitcher PIV to Pete Alexander's 75,743.
Pete Alexander
Satchel Paige
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 1940s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Satchel Paige |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 143 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 89 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 438 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 226 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 116 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 28 |
| Saves | 32 | Leads: 47 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,198 | 1,695 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 533 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 1,647 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 66 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 1,962.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 2.77 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | Leads: 1.11 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 7.77 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 2.44 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Satchel Paige edges Pete Alexander 77,694 to 75,743 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Satchel Paige played 28 seasons to Pete Alexander's 21, while Pete Alexander carries the higher per-season figure (3,607 to 2,775). 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)
Satchel Paige — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Satchel Paige owns WHIP 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 Satchel Paige ahead, which means Pete Alexander's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Pete Alexander and Satchel Paige careers compare
No season is shared: Pete Alexander played 1911–1930, Satchel Paige 1948–1965. Pete Alexander has the far longer record, 696 games against 438 across 21 and 28 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Satchel Paige comes out ahead, it is in saves (47 to 32), WHIP (1.11 to 1.12), and strikeouts per nine (7.77 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Satchel Paige struck out 7.77 and walked 2.44. Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games), while Satchel Paige split time between starting and relief (226 starts in 438 games).
Pete Alexander vs Satchel Paige: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Satchel Paige?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Satchel Paige in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Satchel Paige's 2.77.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Satchel Paige's 143.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Satchel Paige's 1,695.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Satchel Paige, with 1.11 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.