Bob Feller vs Max Lanier: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Feller (1936–1956) and Max Lanier (1938–1953) — both came up during the 1930s, so the matchup is a direct one. Bob Feller compiled 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; Max Lanier put up 108 wins and 821 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Bob Feller | Max Lanier |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 266 | 108 |
| Losses | 162 | 82 |
| Games | 570 | 327 |
| Games Started | 484 | 204 |
| Complete Games | 279 | 91 |
| Shutouts | 44 | 21 |
| Saves | 21 | 17 |
| Strikeouts | 2,581 | 821 |
| Walks | 1,764 | 611 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,271 | 1,490 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 224 | 65 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,827 | 1,619 |
| ERA | 3.25 | 3.01 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | 1.30 |
| K/9 | 6.07 | 4.56 |
| BB/9 | 4.15 | 3.40 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Feller outpaces Max Lanier 48,739 to 23,060 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,708 vs 1,537 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).
Bob Feller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Max Lanier — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Feller leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Max Lanier owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Bob Feller. PIV agrees: Bob Feller grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.