Mordecai Brown vs Ed Walsh: Career Stats Comparison
Ed Walsh has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 8 scored categories on this page (8 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Mordecai Brown played 1903–1916 as a pitcher; Ed Walsh played 1904–1917 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 Ed Walsh (1904–1917) — both debuted in the 1900s. Mordecai Brown finished with 239 wins and 1,375 strikeouts; Ed Walsh finished with 195 wins and 1,736 strikeouts. The table below sets out their careers line by line.
Quick answer
- Who leads the career comparison? Ed Walsh, in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA? Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Mordecai Brown's 2.06.
- Who won more games? Mordecai Brown, with 239 to Ed Walsh's 195.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Ed Walsh, with 1,736 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP? Ed Walsh, with 1.00 to Mordecai Brown's 1.07.
- How many innings did each pitch? Mordecai Brown 3,172.1, Ed Walsh 2,964.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Ed Walsh, with 57 to Mordecai Brown's 55.
Mordecai Brown
Ed Walsh
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. 8 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 8 are shown but not scored. Games, starts and innings measure playing time, and losses, walks and hits allowed track how long someone pitched, so they are left unmarked, as is any line where both players are at zero. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Mordecai Brown | Ed Walsh |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 239 | 195 |
| Losses not scored | 130 | 126 |
| Games not scored | 481 | 430 |
| Games Started not scored | 332 | 315 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 271 | 250 |
| Shutouts | 55 | Leads: 57 |
| Saves not scored | 49 | 35 |
| Strikeouts | 1,375 | Leads: 1,736 |
| Walks not scored | 673 | 617 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,708 | 2,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 43 | 23 |
| Innings Pitched not scored | 3,172.1 | 2,964.1 |
| ERA | 2.06 | Leads: 1.82 |
| WHIP | 1.07 | Leads: 1.00 |
| K/9 | 3.90 | Leads: 5.27 |
| BB/9 | 1.91 | Leads: 1.87 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ed Walsh outpaces Mordecai Brown 62,631 to 31,501 — driven by per-season impact — 4,474 PIV per season to 2,250 — rather than by longevity, since Ed Walsh played 14 seasons to Mordecai Brown's 14. 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)
Ed Walsh — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
Ed Walsh leads 6 of the 8 scored categories on the head-to-head card: shutouts, strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and others. Mordecai Brown leads 2: wins and complete games. On the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ed Walsh. PIV agrees: Ed Walsh 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 Ed Walsh careers compare
From 1904 through 1916, Mordecai Brown and Ed Walsh were in the majors together. With 481 games against 430 across 14 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Mordecai Brown comes out ahead, it is in wins (239 to 195) and complete games (271 to 250). By rate, Mordecai Brown struck out 3.90 and walked 1.91 per nine innings; Ed Walsh struck out 5.27 and walked 1.87. Their roles differ: Mordecai Brown split time between starting and relief (332 starts in 481 games); Ed Walsh was mainly a starter (315 starts in 430 games). Ed Walsh allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.00 WHIP to Mordecai Brown's 1.07.
Mordecai Brown vs Ed Walsh: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Mordecai Brown or Ed Walsh?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Ed Walsh leads Mordecai Brown in 6 of the 8 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Ed Walsh, with 1.82 to Mordecai Brown's 2.06.
- Who won more games?
- Mordecai Brown, with 239 to Ed Walsh's 195.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Ed Walsh, with 1,736 to Mordecai Brown's 1,375.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Ed Walsh, with 1.00 to Mordecai Brown's 1.07.