Eddie Plank vs Joe Williams: Career Stats Comparison
Eddie Plank (1901–1917) and Joe Williams (?–1932) — they pitched in different contexts, so adjusted stats matter. Eddie Plank compiled 326 wins and 2,246 strikeouts; Joe Williams put up 109 wins and 1,033 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Eddie Plank
Joe Williams
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 | Eddie Plank | Joe Williams |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 326 | 109 |
| Losses | 194 | 59 |
| Games | 623 | 207 |
| Games Started | 529 | 172 |
| Complete Games | 410 | 140 |
| Shutouts | 69 | 14 |
| Saves | 23 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 2,246 | 1,033 |
| Walks | 1,072 | 339 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,958 | 1,456 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 42 | 26 |
| Innings Pitched | 4,495 | 1,517 |
| ERA | 2.35 | 2.57 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | 1.18 |
| K/9 | 4.50 | 6.13 |
| BB/9 | 2.15 | 2.01 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Eddie Plank leads Joe Williams 51,914 to 44,974 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (3,054 vs 2,142 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).
Eddie Plank — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Joe Williams — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Eddie Plank leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Joe Williams owns K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Eddie Plank. PIV agrees: Eddie Plank grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.