Mordecai Brown vs Eddie Plank: Career Stats Comparison
Eddie Plank has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Mordecai Brown played 1903–1916 as a pitcher; Eddie Plank played 1901–1917 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
Mordecai Brown (1903–1916) and Eddie Plank (1901–1917) — both came up during the 1900s, so the matchup is a direct one. Mordecai Brown compiled 239 wins and 1,375 strikeouts; Eddie Plank put up 326 wins and 2,246 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Mordecai Brown, with 2.06 to Eddie Plank's 2.35.
- Who won more games? Eddie Plank, with 326 to Mordecai Brown's 239.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Eddie Plank, with 2,246 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mordecai Brown, with 1.07 to Eddie Plank's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Eddie Plank, with 4,495 to Mordecai Brown's 3,172.
- Who threw more shutouts? Eddie Plank, with 69 to Mordecai Brown's 55.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Eddie Plank, with 51,914 career Pitcher PIV to Mordecai Brown's 31,501.
Mordecai Brown
Eddie Plank
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Mordecai Brown | Eddie Plank |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 239 | Leads: 326 |
| Losses | 130 | 194 |
| Games | 481 | Leads: 623 |
| Games Started | 332 | Leads: 529 |
| Complete Games | 271 | Leads: 410 |
| Shutouts | 55 | Leads: 69 |
| Saves | Leads: 49 | 23 |
| Strikeouts | 1,375 | Leads: 2,246 |
| Walks | 673 | 1,072 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,708 | 3,958 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 43 | 42 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,172 | Leads: 4,495 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.06 | 2.35 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.12 |
| K/9 | 3.90 | Leads: 4.50 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.91 | 2.15 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Eddie Plank outpaces Mordecai Brown 51,914 to 31,501 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,054 vs 2,100 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Mordecai Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Eddie Plank — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Eddie Plank leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Mordecai Brown owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Eddie Plank. PIV agrees: Eddie Plank grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Mordecai Brown vs Eddie Plank: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mordecai Brown or Eddie Plank?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Eddie Plank leads Mordecai Brown in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mordecai Brown, with 2.06 to Eddie Plank's 2.35.
- Who won more games?
- Eddie Plank, with 326 to Mordecai Brown's 239.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Eddie Plank, with 2,246 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mordecai Brown, with 1.07 to Eddie Plank's 1.12.