Bob Feller vs Satchel Paige: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Feller (1936–1956) and Satchel Paige (1948–1965) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Feller compiled 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; Satchel Paige put up 143 wins and 1,695 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Bob Feller
Satchel Paige
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 | Satchel Paige |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 266 | 143 |
| Losses | 162 | 89 |
| Games | 570 | 438 |
| Games Started | 484 | 226 |
| Complete Games | 279 | 116 |
| Shutouts | 44 | 28 |
| Saves | 21 | 47 |
| Strikeouts | 2,581 | 1,695 |
| Walks | 1,764 | 533 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,271 | 1,647 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 224 | 66 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,827 | 1,962 |
| ERA | 3.25 | 2.77 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | 1.11 |
| K/9 | 6.07 | 7.77 |
| BB/9 | 4.15 | 2.44 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Satchel Paige outpaces Bob Feller 77,694 to 48,739 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,775 vs 2,708 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)
Satchel Paige — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Satchel Paige 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 Satchel Paige. PIV agrees: Satchel Paige grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.