Pete Alexander vs Robin Roberts: 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; Robin Roberts played 1948–1966 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 Robin Roberts (1948–1966) — 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; Robin Roberts finished with 286 wins and 2,357 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 Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Robin Roberts's 4,688.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Robin Roberts's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Robin Roberts's 49,794.
Pete Alexander
Robin Roberts
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 | Robin Roberts |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 286 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 245 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 676 |
| Games Started | 599 | Leads: 609 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 305 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 25 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 2,357 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 902 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 4,582 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 505 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 4,688.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.41 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.17 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 4.52 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 1.73 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander outpaces Robin Roberts 75,743 to 49,794 — driven by per-season impact — 3,607 PIV per season to 2,371 — rather than by longevity, since Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Robin Roberts's 21. 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)
Robin Roberts — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Robin Roberts owns strikeouts 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 Robin Roberts careers compare
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) was finished before Robin Roberts (1948–1966) arrived, so they never shared a league. The two careers are close in length, 696 games for Pete Alexander and 676 for Robin Roberts across 21 and 21 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Robin Roberts's edges on the table are starts (609 to 599), strikeouts (2,357 to 2,198), and strikeouts per nine (4.52 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Robin Roberts struck out 4.52 and walked 1.73.
Pete Alexander vs Robin Roberts: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Robin Roberts?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Robin Roberts in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Robin Roberts's 3.41.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Robin Roberts's 286.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Robin Roberts, with 2,357 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Robin Roberts's 1.17.