Max Lanier vs Billy Pierce: Career Stats Comparison
Max Lanier (1938–1953) and Billy Pierce (1945–1964) — breaking in during the 1930s and the 1940s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Max Lanier compiled 108 wins and 821 strikeouts; Billy Pierce put up 211 wins and 1,999 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Billy Pierce
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 | Max Lanier | Billy Pierce |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 108 | 211 |
| Losses | 82 | 169 |
| Games | 327 | 585 |
| Games Started | 204 | 432 |
| Complete Games | 91 | 193 |
| Shutouts | 21 | 38 |
| Saves | 17 | 32 |
| Strikeouts | 821 | 1,999 |
| Walks | 611 | 1,178 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,490 | 2,989 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 65 | 284 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,619 | 3,306 |
| ERA | 3.01 | 3.27 |
| WHIP | 1.30 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 4.56 | 5.44 |
| BB/9 | 3.40 | 3.21 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Billy Pierce outpaces Max Lanier 39,435 to 23,060 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,191 vs 1,537 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).
Max Lanier — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Billy Pierce — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Billy Pierce leads in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, and K/9, while Max Lanier owns ERA. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Billy Pierce. PIV agrees: Billy Pierce grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.