Pete Alexander vs Red Ruffing: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander has the better career line of the two, leading 11 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; Red Ruffing played 1924–1947 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 Red Ruffing (1924–1947) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1920s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Red Ruffing finished with 273 wins and 1,987 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 Red Ruffing's 3.80.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Red Ruffing's 273.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Red Ruffing's 1,987.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Red Ruffing's 1.34.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Red Ruffing's 4,344.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Red Ruffing's 45.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Red Ruffing's 17,432.
Pete Alexander
Red Ruffing
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 1920s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Red Ruffing |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 273 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 225 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 624 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 536 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 335 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 45 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 16 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,198 | 1,987 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 1,541 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 4,284 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 254 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 4,344.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 3.80 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.34 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 4.12 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 3.19 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander outpaces Red Ruffing 75,743 to 17,432 — driven by per-season impact — 3,607 PIV per season to 758 — rather than by longevity, since Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Red Ruffing's 23. 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)
Red Ruffing — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Red Ruffing owns 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 Red Ruffing careers compare
Pete Alexander and Red Ruffing were active at the same time between 1924 and 1930. The two careers are close in length, 696 games for Pete Alexander and 624 for Red Ruffing across 21 and 23 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Where Red Ruffing comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts per nine (4.12 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Red Ruffing struck out 4.12 and walked 3.19. Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games), and Red Ruffing was mainly a starter (536 starts in 624 games).
Pete Alexander vs Red Ruffing: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Red Ruffing?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Red Ruffing in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Red Ruffing's 3.80.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Red Ruffing's 273.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Red Ruffing's 1,987.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Red Ruffing's 1.34.