Lefty Grove vs Jesse Haines: Career Stats Comparison
Lefty Grove 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). Lefty Grove played 1925–1941 as a pitcher; Jesse Haines played 1918–1937 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
Lefty Grove (1925–1941) and Jesse Haines (1918–1937) — breaking in during the 1920s and the 1910s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Lefty Grove finished with 300 wins and 2,266 strikeouts; Jesse Haines finished with 210 wins and 981 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Lefty Grove, with 3.06 to Jesse Haines's 3.64.
- Who won more games? Lefty Grove, with 300 to Jesse Haines's 210.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Lefty Grove, with 2,266 to Jesse Haines's 981.
- Who had the better WHIP? Lefty Grove, with 1.28 to Jesse Haines's 1.35.
- Who pitched more innings? Lefty Grove, with 3,940.2 to Jesse Haines's 3,208.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Lefty Grove, with 35 to Jesse Haines's 24.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Lefty Grove, with 81,321 career Pitcher PIV to Jesse Haines's 5,624.
Lefty Grove
Jesse Haines
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 1920s and the 1910s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Lefty Grove | Jesse Haines |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 300 | 210 |
| Losses not scored | 141 | 158 |
| Games | Leads: 616 | 555 |
| Games Started | Leads: 457 | 388 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 298 | 208 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 35 | 24 |
| Saves | Leads: 55 | 10 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,266 | 981 |
| Walks not scored | 1,187 | 871 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 3,849 | 3,460 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 162 | 165 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,940.2 | 3,208.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.06 | 3.64 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.28 | 1.35 |
| K/9 | Leads: 5.18 | 2.75 |
| BB/9 | 2.71 | Leads: 2.44 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Lefty Grove outpaces Jesse Haines 81,321 to 5,624 — driven by per-season impact — 4,784 PIV per season to 296 — rather than by longevity, since Lefty Grove played 17 seasons to Jesse Haines's 19. 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).
Lefty Grove — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Jesse Haines — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Lefty Grove leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Jesse Haines owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Lefty Grove. PIV agrees: Lefty Grove grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Lefty Grove and Jesse Haines careers compare
From 1925 through 1937, Lefty Grove and Jesse Haines were in the majors together. With 616 games against 555 across 17 and 19 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Jesse Haines comes out ahead, it is in walks per nine (2.44 to 2.71). By rate, Lefty Grove struck out 5.18 and walked 2.71 per nine innings; Jesse Haines struck out 2.75 and walked 2.44. Their roles differ: Lefty Grove was mainly a starter (457 starts in 616 games); Jesse Haines split time between starting and relief (388 starts in 555 games). Lefty Grove allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.28 WHIP to Jesse Haines's 1.35.
Lefty Grove vs Jesse Haines: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Lefty Grove or Jesse Haines?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Lefty Grove leads Jesse Haines in 11 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Lefty Grove, with 3.06 to Jesse Haines's 3.64.
- Who won more games?
- Lefty Grove, with 300 to Jesse Haines's 210.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Lefty Grove, with 2,266 to Jesse Haines's 981.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Lefty Grove, with 1.28 to Jesse Haines's 1.35.