Mordecai Brown vs Blake Snell: Career Stats Comparison
Mordecai Brown 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). Mordecai Brown played 1903–1916 as a pitcher; Blake Snell has played 2016–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
Mordecai Brown (1903–1916) and Blake Snell (2016–present) — breaking in during the 1900s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Mordecai Brown finished with 239 wins and 1,375 strikeouts; Blake Snell has 85 wins and 1,495 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. 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 Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games? Mordecai Brown, with 239 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Blake Snell, with 1,495 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP? Mordecai Brown, with 1.07 to Blake Snell's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Mordecai Brown, with 3,172.1 to Blake Snell's 1,200.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Mordecai Brown, with 55 to Blake Snell's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Mordecai Brown, with 31,501 career Pitcher PIV to Blake Snell's 27,494.
Mordecai Brown
Blake Snell
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 1900s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Blake Snell is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Mordecai Brown | Blake Snell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 239 | 85 |
| Losses not scored | 130 | 63 |
| Games | Leads: 481 | 231 |
| Games Started | Leads: 332 | 231 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 271 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 55 | 1 |
| Saves | Leads: 49 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,375 | Leads: 1,495 |
| Walks not scored | 673 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,708 | 922 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 43 | 111 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,172.1 | 1,200.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.06 | 3.10 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.07 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | 3.90 | Leads: 11.21 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.91 | 4.03 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Mordecai Brown leads Blake Snell 31,501 to 27,494 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Mordecai Brown played 15 seasons to Blake Snell's 10, while Blake Snell carries the higher per-season figure (2,749 to 2,100). 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).
Mordecai Brown — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Blake Snell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Mordecai Brown leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Blake Snell owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Mordecai Brown. PIV agrees: Mordecai Brown grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Mordecai Brown and Blake Snell careers compare
Mordecai Brown (1903–1916) was finished before Blake Snell (2016–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. The table compares 481 games of Mordecai Brown with 231 of Blake Snell across 15 and 10 PIV seasons; totals favor the longer career by default. The green cells for Blake Snell are strikeouts (1,495 to 1,375) and strikeouts per nine (11.21 to 3.90). By rate, Mordecai Brown struck out 3.90 and walked 1.91 per nine innings; Blake Snell struck out 11.21 and walked 4.03. Mordecai Brown split time between starting and relief (332 starts in 481 games), while Blake Snell was mainly a starter (231 starts in 231 games). Blake Snell's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Mordecai Brown vs Blake Snell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mordecai Brown or Blake Snell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Mordecai Brown leads Blake Snell in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Mordecai Brown, with 2.06 to Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games?
- Mordecai Brown, with 239 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Blake Snell, with 1,495 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Mordecai Brown, with 1.07 to Blake Snell's 1.22.