Satchel Paige vs Early Wynn: Career Stats Comparison
Satchel Paige (1948–1965) and Early Wynn (1939–1963) — breaking in during the 1940s and the 1930s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Satchel Paige compiled 143 wins and 1,695 strikeouts; Early Wynn put up 300 wins and 2,334 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Satchel Paige
Early Wynn
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 | Satchel Paige | Early Wynn |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 143 | 300 |
| Losses | 89 | 244 |
| Games | 438 | 691 |
| Games Started | 226 | 612 |
| Complete Games | 116 | 290 |
| Shutouts | 28 | 49 |
| Saves | 47 | 15 |
| Strikeouts | 1,695 | 2,334 |
| Walks | 533 | 1,775 |
| Hits Allowed | 1,647 | 4,291 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 66 | 338 |
| Innings Pitched | 1,962 | 4,564 |
| ERA | 2.77 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.11 | 1.33 |
| K/9 | 7.77 | 4.60 |
| BB/9 | 2.44 | 3.50 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Satchel Paige outpaces Early Wynn 77,694 to 25,348 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,775 vs 1,102 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).
Satchel Paige — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Early Wynn — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Satchel Paige leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Early Wynn owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Satchel Paige. PIV agrees: Satchel Paige grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.