Pete Alexander vs Gaylord Perry: 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; Gaylord Perry played 1962–1983 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 Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) — 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; Gaylord Perry finished with 314 wins and 3,534 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 Gaylord Perry's 3.11.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Gaylord Perry's 314.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.
- Who pitched more innings? Gaylord Perry, with 5,350.1 to Pete Alexander's 5,190.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Gaylord Perry's 53.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Gaylord Perry, with 78,312 career Pitcher PIV to Pete Alexander's 75,743.
Pete Alexander
Gaylord Perry
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 | Gaylord Perry |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 314 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 265 |
| Games | 696 | Leads: 777 |
| Games Started | 599 | Leads: 690 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 303 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 53 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 11 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 3,534 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,379 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 4,938 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 399 |
| Innings Pitched | 5,190.0 | Leads: 5,350.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.11 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 5.94 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 2.32 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Gaylord Perry edges Pete Alexander 78,312 to 75,743 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Gaylord Perry played 25 seasons to Pete Alexander's 21, while Pete Alexander carries the higher per-season figure (3,607 to 3,132). 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)
Gaylord Perry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Gaylord Perry leads in strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Pete Alexander owns wins, ERA, and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Gaylord Perry. PIV agrees: Gaylord Perry 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 Gaylord Perry careers compare
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) was finished before Gaylord Perry (1962–1983) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 696 games against 777 across 21 and 25 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; Gaylord Perry struck out 5.94 and walked 2.32. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Gaylord Perry was mainly a starter (690 starts in 777 games). In WHIP, Pete Alexander's 1.12 beats Gaylord Perry's 1.18. Pete Alexander owns the better peak by ERA: 1.22 ERA in 1915 for Pete Alexander against 1.92 ERA in 1972 for Gaylord Perry.
Pete Alexander vs Gaylord Perry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Gaylord Perry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Gaylord Perry in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Gaylord Perry's 3.11.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Gaylord Perry's 314.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Gaylord Perry, with 3,534 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Gaylord Perry's 1.18.