Willie Foster vs Blake Snell: Career Stats Comparison
Willie Foster 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). Willie Foster played ?–1937 as a pitcher; Blake Snell has played 2016–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
Willie Foster (?–1937) and Blake Snell (2016–present) — they pitched in different contexts, so adjusted stats matter. Willie Foster finished with 125 wins and 1,062 strikeouts; Blake Snell has 85 wins and 1,495 strikeouts through October 12, 2026. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Willie Foster, with 2.66 to Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games? Willie Foster, with 125 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Blake Snell, with 1,495 to Willie Foster's 1,062.
- Who had the better WHIP? Willie Foster, with 1.15 to Blake Snell's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Willie Foster, with 1,665.0 to Blake Snell's 1,200.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Willie Foster, with 34 to Blake Snell's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Willie Foster, with 41,672 career Pitcher PIV to Blake Snell's 27,494.
Willie Foster
Blake Snell
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, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Blake Snell is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Willie Foster | Blake Snell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 125 | 85 |
| Losses not scored | 60 | 63 |
| Games | Leads: 262 | 231 |
| Games Started | 185 | Leads: 231 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 142 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 34 | 1 |
| Saves | Leads: 14 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | 1,062 | Leads: 1,495 |
| Walks not scored | 522 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,397 | 922 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 41 | 111 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,665.0 | 1,200.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.66 | 3.10 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.15 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | 5.74 | Leads: 11.21 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.82 | 4.03 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Willie Foster outpaces Blake Snell 41,672 to 27,494 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Willie Foster played 19 seasons to Blake Snell's 10, while Blake Snell carries the higher per-season figure (2,749 to 2,193). 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).
Willie Foster — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Blake Snell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Willie Foster leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Blake Snell owns strikeouts and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Willie Foster. PIV agrees: Willie Foster grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Willie Foster and Blake Snell careers compare
Willie Foster (?–1937) was finished before Blake Snell (2016–present) arrived, so they never shared a league. With 262 games against 231 across 19 and 10 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Blake Snell's edges on the table are starts (231 to 185), strikeouts (1,495 to 1,062), and strikeouts per nine (11.21 to 5.74). By rate, Willie Foster struck out 5.74 and walked 2.82 per nine innings; Blake Snell struck out 11.21 and walked 4.03. Willie Foster was mainly a starter (185 starts in 262 games), and Blake Snell was mainly a starter (231 starts in 231 games). Because Blake Snell is still playing, the totals above will keep moving through the season.
Willie Foster vs Blake Snell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Willie Foster or Blake Snell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Willie Foster leads Blake Snell in 9 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Willie Foster, with 2.66 to Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games?
- Willie Foster, with 125 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Blake Snell, with 1,495 to Willie Foster's 1,062.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Willie Foster, with 1.15 to Blake Snell's 1.22.