Bob Feller vs Zack Wheeler: Career Stats Comparison
Bob Feller has the better career line of the two, leading 9 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Bob Feller played 1936–1956 as a pitcher; Zack Wheeler has played 2013–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
Bob Feller (1936–1956) and Zack Wheeler (2013–present) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Bob Feller finished with 266 wins and 2,581 strikeouts; Zack Wheeler has 127 wins and 2,013 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games? Bob Feller, with 266 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP? Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Bob Feller's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Bob Feller, with 3,827.0 to Zack Wheeler's 1,890.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Bob Feller, with 44 to Zack Wheeler's 3.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Bob Feller, with 48,739 career Pitcher PIV to Zack Wheeler's 39,270.
Bob Feller
Zack Wheeler
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 1930s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Zack Wheeler is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Bob Feller | Zack Wheeler |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 266 | 127 |
| Losses not scored | 162 | 80 |
| Games | Leads: 570 | 311 |
| Games Started | Leads: 484 | 311 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 279 | 5 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 44 | 3 |
| Saves | Leads: 21 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,581 | 2,013 |
| Walks not scored | 1,764 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,271 | 1,598 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 224 | 187 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,827.0 | 1,890.1 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.25 | 3.26 |
| WHIP | 1.32 | Leads: 1.13 |
| K/9 | 6.07 | Leads: 9.58 |
| BB/9 | 4.15 | Leads: 2.56 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Bob Feller leads Zack Wheeler 48,739 to 39,270 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Bob Feller played 18 seasons to Zack Wheeler's 11, while Zack Wheeler carries the higher per-season figure (3,570 to 2,708). 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).
Bob Feller — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Zack Wheeler — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Bob Feller leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and innings pitched, while Zack Wheeler owns WHIP and K/9. 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.
Related Matchups
How the Bob Feller and Zack Wheeler careers compare
Bob Feller (1936–1956) was finished before Zack Wheeler (2013–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. Playing time explains much of the gap in the counting rows: Bob Feller appeared in 570 games to Zack Wheeler's 311. Where Zack Wheeler comes out ahead, it is in WHIP (1.13 to 1.32), strikeouts per nine (9.58 to 6.07), and walks per nine (2.56 to 4.15). By rate, Bob Feller struck out 6.07 and walked 4.15 per nine innings; Zack Wheeler struck out 9.58 and walked 2.56. Both had the same role: Bob Feller was mainly a starter (484 starts in 570 games); Zack Wheeler was mainly a starter (311 starts in 311 games). Zack Wheeler's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Bob Feller vs Zack Wheeler: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Bob Feller or Zack Wheeler?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Bob Feller leads Zack Wheeler in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Bob Feller, with 3.25 to Zack Wheeler's 3.26.
- Who won more games?
- Bob Feller, with 266 to Zack Wheeler's 127.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Bob Feller, with 2,581 to Zack Wheeler's 2,013.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Zack Wheeler, with 1.13 to Bob Feller's 1.32.