Pete Alexander vs Chris Sale: 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; Chris Sale has played 2010–present 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 Chris Sale (2010–present) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Chris Sale has 159 wins and 2,779 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. 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 Chris Sale's 2.95.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Chris Sale's 159.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Chris Sale, with 2,779 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP? Chris Sale, with 1.04 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Chris Sale's 2,246.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Chris Sale's 4.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Chris Sale's 65,834.
Pete Alexander
Chris Sale
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 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Chris Sale is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Chris Sale |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 159 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 97 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 420 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 339 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 17 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 4 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 12 |
| Strikeouts | 2,198 | Leads: 2,779 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 518 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 1,821 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 223 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 2,246.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.56 | 2.95 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | Leads: 1.04 |
| K/9 | 3.81 | Leads: 11.13 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.65 | 2.08 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander leads Chris Sale 75,743 to 65,834 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pete Alexander played 21 seasons to Chris Sale's 15, while Chris Sale carries the higher per-season figure (4,389 to 3,607). 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)
Chris Sale — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, ERA, and innings pitched, while Chris Sale owns strikeouts, WHIP, 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 Chris Sale careers compare
Pete Alexander (1911–1930) was finished before Chris Sale (2010–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Pete Alexander appeared in 696 games to Chris Sale's 420. Where Chris Sale comes out ahead, it is in strikeouts (2,779 to 2,198), WHIP (1.04 to 1.12), and strikeouts per nine (11.13 to 3.81). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Chris Sale struck out 11.13 and walked 2.08. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Chris Sale was mainly a starter (339 starts in 420 games). Chris Sale's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Pete Alexander vs Chris Sale: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Chris Sale?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Chris Sale in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pete Alexander, with 2.56 to Chris Sale's 2.95.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Chris Sale's 159.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Chris Sale, with 2,779 to Pete Alexander's 2,198.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Chris Sale, with 1.04 to Pete Alexander's 1.12.