Don Drysdale vs Bob Feller: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Feller has the better career line of the two, leading 7 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Don Drysdale played 1956–1969 as a pitcher; Bob Feller played 1936–1956 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
Don Drysdale (1956–1969) and Bob Feller (1936–1956) — breaking in during the 1950s and the 1930s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Don Drysdale finished with 209 wins and 2,486 strikeouts; Bob Feller finished with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Don Drysdale, with 2.95 to Bob Feller's 3.25.
- Who won more games? Bob Feller, with 266 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP? Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Bob Feller's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Bob Feller, with 3,827.0 to Don Drysdale's 3,432.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Don Drysdale, with 49 to Bob Feller's 44.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Don Drysdale, with 57,464 career Pitcher PIV to Bob Feller's 48,739.
Don Drysdale
Bob Feller
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 1950s and the 1930s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Don Drysdale | Bob Feller |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 209 | Leads: 266 |
| Losses not scored | 166 | 162 |
| Games | 518 | Leads: 570 |
| Games Started | 465 | Leads: 484 |
| Complete Games | 167 | Leads: 279 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 44 |
| Saves | 6 | Leads: 21 |
| Strikeouts | 2,486 | Leads: 2,581 |
| Walks not scored | 855 | 1,764 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,084 | 3,271 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 280 | 224 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,432.0 | Leads: 3,827.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.95 | 3.25 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.15 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.52 | 6.07 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.24 | 4.15 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Don Drysdale leads Bob Feller 57,464 to 48,739 — driven by per-season impact — 4,105 PIV per season to 2,708 — rather than by longevity, since Don Drysdale played 14 seasons to Bob Feller's 18. 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).
Don Drysdale — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Bob Feller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Don Drysdale leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Bob Feller owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Don Drysdale. PIV agrees: Don Drysdale grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Don Drysdale and Bob Feller careers compare
From 1956 through 1956, Don Drysdale and Bob Feller were in the majors together. With 518 games against 570 across 14 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Don Drysdale struck out 6.52 and walked 2.24 per nine innings; Bob Feller struck out 6.07 and walked 4.15. Don Drysdale was mainly a starter (465 starts in 518 games), and Bob Feller was mainly a starter (484 starts in 570 games). In WHIP, Don Drysdale's 1.15 beats Bob Feller's 1.32. Don Drysdale owns the better peak by ERA: 2.15 ERA in 1968 for Don Drysdale against 2.18 ERA in 1946 for Bob Feller.
Don Drysdale vs Bob Feller: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Don Drysdale or Bob Feller?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Feller leads Don Drysdale in 7 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Don Drysdale, with 2.95 to Bob Feller's 3.25.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Feller, with 266 to Don Drysdale's 209.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Don Drysdale's 2,486.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Don Drysdale, with 1.15 to Bob Feller's 1.32.