Pud Galvin vs Blake Snell: Career Stats Comparison
Pud Galvin has the better career line of the two, leading 11 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Pud Galvin played 1875–1892 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
Pud Galvin (1875–1892) and Blake Snell (2016–present) — breaking in during the 1870s and the 2010s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Pud Galvin finished with 365 wins and 1,807 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? Pud Galvin, with 2.85 to Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games? Pud Galvin, with 365 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Pud Galvin, with 1,807 to Blake Snell's 1,495.
- Who had the better WHIP? Pud Galvin, with 1.19 to Blake Snell's 1.22.
- Who pitched more innings? Pud Galvin, with 6,003.1 to Blake Snell's 1,200.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Pud Galvin, with 57 to Blake Snell's 1.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Pud Galvin, with 27,907 career Pitcher PIV to Blake Snell's 27,494.
Pud Galvin
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, and the 1870s and the 2010s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
Blake Snell is still active — his totals below are current through October 12, 2026.
| Statistic | Pud Galvin | Blake Snell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 365 | 85 |
| Losses not scored | 310 | 63 |
| Games | Leads: 705 | 231 |
| Games Started | Leads: 688 | 231 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 646 | 1 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 57 | 1 |
| Saves | Leads: 2 | 0 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,807 | 1,495 |
| Walks not scored | 745 | 537 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 6,405 | 922 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 121 | 111 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 6,003.1 | 1,200.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 2.85 | 3.10 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.19 | 1.22 |
| K/9 | 2.71 | Leads: 11.21 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.12 | 4.03 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Pud Galvin edges Blake Snell 27,907 to 27,494 — a longevity gap rather than a per-season one: Pud Galvin played 17 seasons to Blake Snell's 10, while Blake Snell carries the higher per-season figure (2,749 to 1,642). 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).
Pud Galvin — 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, Pud Galvin leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Blake Snell owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Pud Galvin. PIV agrees: Pud Galvin grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Pud Galvin and Blake Snell careers compare
No season is shared: Pud Galvin played 1875–1892, Blake Snell 2016–present. Pud Galvin has the far longer record, 705 games against 231 across 17 and 10 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Blake Snell's edges on the table are strikeouts per nine (11.21 to 2.71). The per-nine rows read 2.71 strikeouts and 1.12 walks for Pud Galvin, 11.21 and 4.03 for Blake Snell. Pud Galvin was mainly a starter (688 starts in 705 games), and Blake Snell was mainly a starter (231 starts in 231 games). Complete games (646 to 1) show how differently the two eras used starters. Pud Galvin allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.19 WHIP to Blake Snell's 1.22. Blake Snell's numbers are live and update with each game, so the comparison is a snapshot.
Pud Galvin vs Blake Snell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Pud Galvin or Blake Snell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Pud Galvin leads Blake Snell in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Pud Galvin, with 2.85 to Blake Snell's 3.10.
- Who won more games?
- Pud Galvin, with 365 to Blake Snell's 85.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Pud Galvin, with 1,807 to Blake Snell's 1,495.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Pud Galvin, with 1.19 to Blake Snell's 1.22.