Pete Alexander vs Al Spalding: Career Stats Comparison
Pete Alexander has the better career line of the two, leading 10 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; Al Spalding played 1871–1878 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 Al Spalding (1871–1878) — breaking in during the 1910s and the 1870s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pete Alexander finished with 373 wins and 2,198 strikeouts; Al Spalding finished with 251 wins and 248 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Al Spalding, with 2.13 to Pete Alexander's 2.56.
- Who won more games? Pete Alexander, with 373 to Al Spalding's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Al Spalding's 248.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Al Spalding's 1.19.
- Who pitched more innings? Pete Alexander, with 5,190.0 to Al Spalding's 2,886.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pete Alexander, with 90 to Al Spalding's 24.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pete Alexander, with 75,743 career Pitcher PIV to Al Spalding's 8,952.
Pete Alexander
Al Spalding
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 1870s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Pete Alexander | Al Spalding |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 373 | 251 |
| Losses not scored | 208 | 65 |
| Games | Leads: 696 | 347 |
| Games Started | Leads: 599 | 325 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 437 | 279 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 90 | 24 |
| Saves | Leads: 32 | 13 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,198 | 248 |
| Walks not scored | 951 | 164 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,868 | 3,280 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 164 | 15 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 5,190.0 | 2,886.1 |
| ERA | 2.56 | Leads: 2.13 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.12 | 1.19 |
| K/9 | Leads: 3.81 | 0.77 |
| BB/9 | 1.65 | Leads: 0.51 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pete Alexander outpaces Al Spalding 75,743 to 8,952 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 3,607 PIV per season to 1,279, across 21 seasons to 7. 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)
Al Spalding — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Pete Alexander leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Al Spalding owns ERA. 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 Al Spalding careers compare
The two careers never overlapped: Al Spalding's ended in 1878, and Pete Alexander debuted in 1911. The table compares 696 games of Pete Alexander with 347 of Al Spalding across 21 and 7 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. Where Al Spalding comes out ahead, it is in ERA (2.13 to 2.56) and walks per nine (0.51 to 1.65). By rate, Pete Alexander struck out 3.81 and walked 1.65 per nine innings; Al Spalding struck out 0.77 and walked 0.51. Both had the same role: Pete Alexander was mainly a starter (599 starts in 696 games); Al Spalding was mainly a starter (325 starts in 347 games).
Pete Alexander vs Al Spalding: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pete Alexander or Al Spalding?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pete Alexander leads Al Spalding in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Al Spalding, with 2.13 to Pete Alexander's 2.56.
- Who won more games?
- Pete Alexander, with 373 to Al Spalding's 251.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Pete Alexander, with 2,198 to Al Spalding's 248.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pete Alexander, with 1.12 to Al Spalding's 1.19.