Earl Whitehill

Pitcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1923-1939)

Earl Whitehill was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1923 to 1939 for 4 teams, including the Detroit Tigers, a span of 17 seasons. Across 541 career appearances, he went 218-185 with a 4.36 ERA and 1,350 strikeouts. He also batted .204 with 4 home runs.

W (Wins):
Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
ERA (Earned Run Average):
Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
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

W–L 218–185
ERA 4.36
WHIP 1.50
SO 1,350
Pitcher PIV -13866.3
Position
Pitcher
Bats / Throws
L / L
Height / Weight
5'9" / 174 lb
Born
2/7/1899 in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
Died
10/22/1954 in Omaha, NE, USA
MLB Debut
1923-09-15
Last Game
1939-09-30

Full name: Earl Oliver Whitehill

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Career Pitching Statistics

Earl Whitehill — Career Pitching Statistics
W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
218 185 541 473 226 16 11 3564.2 3,917 1,726 192 1,431 1,350 4.36 -13866.3

Career ERA 4.36 vs. league average 4.28 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Pitching Career Arc

Click a stat to plot it across every season.

Earl Whitehill Stats, Bio & Career Records
Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1923 DET AL 2 0 8 3 1 0 0 33.0 22 10 15 19 2.73 4.03 (+32%) -225.9
1924 DET AL 17 9 35 32 16 2 0 233.0 260 100 79 65 3.86 4.13 (+6%) -885.2
1925 DET AL 11 11 35 33 15 1 2 239.1 267 124 88 83 4.66 4.55 (-2%) -1742.5
1926 DET AL 16 13 36 34 13 0 0 252.1 271 112 79 109 3.99 4.11 (+3%) 3370.4
1927 DET AL 16 14 41 31 17 3 3 236.0 238 88 105 95 3.36 4.08 (+18%) 793.5
1928 DET AL 11 16 31 30 12 1 0 196.1 214 94 78 93 4.31 4.13 (-4%) 1280.7
1929 DET AL 14 15 38 28 18 1 1 245.1 267 126 96 103 4.62 4.60 (-1%) 241.3
1930 DET AL 17 13 34 31 16 0 1 220.2 248 104 80 109 4.24 4.80 (+12%) 2964.6
1931 DET AL 13 16 34 34 22 0 0 271.1 287 123 118 81 4.08 4.10 (+1%) -5807.2
1932 DET AL 16 12 33 31 17 3 0 244.0 255 123 93 81 4.54 4.13 (-10%) -2727.3
1933 WS1 AL 22 8 39 37 19 2 1 270.0 271 100 100 96 3.33 3.86 (+14%) 479.9
1934 WS1 AL 14 11 32 31 15 0 0 235.0 269 118 94 96 4.52 4.29 (-5%) 595.1
1935 WS1 AL 14 13 34 34 19 1 0 279.1 318 133 104 102 4.29 4.35 (+1%) -346.6
1936 WS1 AL 14 11 28 28 14 0 0 212.1 252 115 89 63 4.87 4.59 (-6%) -2675.4
1937 CLE AL 8 8 33 22 6 1 2 147.0 189 106 80 53 6.49 4.34 (-50%) -2550.6
1938 CLE AL 9 8 26 23 4 0 0 160.1 187 99 83 60 5.56 4.35 (-28%) -4720.9
1939 CHN NL 4 7 24 11 2 1 1 89.1 102 51 50 42 5.14 4.28 (-20%) -1910.2
Career · 17 seasons 218 185 541 473 226 16 11 3,564.2 3,917 1,726 1,431 1,350 4.36 — -13,866

Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.

Career Batting Statistics

Earl Whitehill — Career Batting Statistics
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
548 1,291 107 264 23 7 4 98 3 97 216 .204 .261 .242 .503 -6,406

Career AVG .204 vs. league average .281 across their career seasons — 27.2% below league average.

Career OBP .261 vs. league average .344 across their career seasons — 24.2% below league average.

Career SLG .242 vs. league average .397 across their career seasons — 39.0% below league average.

Career OPS .503 vs. league average .741 across their career seasons — 32.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Career Arc

Click a stat to plot it across every season.

Earl Whitehill Stats, Bio & Career Records
Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1923 DET AL 8 11 2 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 .364 — — — — 0.0
1924 DET AL 37 89 11 19 1 1 0 7 0 9 18 .213 .283 (-25%) .345 (-17%) .389 (-37%) .734 (-27%) -385.4
1925 DET AL 36 87 7 19 1 0 0 7 1 8 11 .218 .288 (-24%) .349 (-19%) .407 (-44%) .756 (-32%) -445.0
1926 DET AL 36 91 6 23 1 3 0 10 0 6 24 .253 .279 (-10%) .345 (-14%) .390 (-15%) .735 (-15%) -231.8
1927 DET AL 41 78 4 16 2 1 0 3 0 5 9 .205 .282 (-27%) .344 (-24%) .392 (-35%) .736 (-30%) -377.8
1928 DET AL 31 67 4 13 0 0 0 3 0 5 11 .194 .280 (-31%) .342 (-27%) .395 (-51%) .737 (-40%) -421.5
1929 DET AL 38 90 10 23 2 0 3 11 0 6 17 .256 .289 (-12%) .353 (-15%) .415 (-9%) .769 (-12%) -180.9
1930 DET AL 34 83 3 16 1 0 0 7 0 3 14 .193 .293 (-34%) .354 (-38%) .429 (-52%) .784 (-46%) -644.1
1931 DET AL 34 97 7 15 0 1 0 5 0 3 10 .155 .276 (-44%) .338 (-47%) .388 (-55%) .726 (-51%) -798.8
1932 DET AL 33 90 9 22 4 0 0 7 0 4 19 .244 .275 (-11%) .335 (-18%) .391 (-26%) .726 (-22%) -320.8
1933 WS1 AL 40 108 7 24 2 1 0 11 0 6 14 .222 .270 (-18%) .329 (-20%) .377 (-31%) .707 (-26%) -440.9
1934 WS1 AL 35 85 12 17 2 0 1 8 0 11 17 .200 .278 (-28%) .340 (-14%) .392 (-34%) .733 (-25%) -323.3
1935 WS1 AL 34 104 10 19 4 0 0 3 0 8 11 .183 .279 (-35%) .342 (-30%) .399 (-45%) .742 (-38%) -640.1
1936 WS1 AL 28 77 8 13 2 0 0 4 0 8 11 .169 .283 (-41%) .349 (-29%) .404 (-52%) .753 (-41%) -522.8
1937 CLE AL 33 49 6 11 1 0 0 6 1 5 7 .224 — — — — -203.7
1938 CLE AL 26 56 0 7 0 0 0 6 0 7 13 .125 .272 (-54%) .341 (-35%) .392 (-68%) .734 (-53%) -468.8
1939 CHN NL 24 29 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 .103 — — — — 0.0
Career · 17 seasons 548 1,291 107 264 23 7 4 98 3 97 216 .204 — — — — -6,406

Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

Earl Whitehill — Playoff Career Batting
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Batting by Year

Earl Whitehill — Playoff Batting by Year
Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1933 WS WS1 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Playoff Career Pitching

Earl Whitehill — Playoff Career Pitching
W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1 0 1 1 0 9.0 5 0 2 2 0.00

Playoff Pitching by Year

Earl Whitehill — Playoff Pitching by Year
Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1933 WS WS1 1 0 1 1 0 9.0 5 0 2 2 0.00

Game Log & Splits

View full game log (1089 games) →

Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).

Batting — Home / Away

Earl Whitehill — Batting — Home / Away
SplitGABRHHRRBIAVG
Home26357847119051.206
Away28571360145452.203

Pitching — Home / Away

Earl Whitehill — Pitching — Home / Away
SplitGIPHERBBSOERA
Home2611766.219027776807193.96
Away2801797.020159517536364.76

Last 10 Games — Batting

Earl Whitehill — Last 10 Games — Batting
DateTmOppResABRH2B3BHRRBIBBSO
1939-09-30 CHCSTLL 000000000
1939-09-27 CHCPITW 000000000
1939-09-24 CHCSTLL 000000000
1939-09-23 CHCSTLL 000000000
1939-09-17 CHCBROL 200000000
1939-09-08 CHCSTLL 000000000
1939-09-04 CHCPITL 000000000
1939-09-01 CHCBROL 000000000
1939-08-22 CHCNY1L 000000000
1939-08-20 CHCPITL 100000000

Last 10 Games — Pitching

Earl Whitehill — Last 10 Games — Pitching
DateTmOppDecIPHRERBBSOHR
1939-09-30 CHCSTL L 1.1442120
1939-09-27 CHCPIT SV 1.0000000
1939-09-24 CHCSTL — 0.0433000
1939-09-23 CHCSTL — 0.1122000
1939-09-17 CHCBRO L 5.1866420
1939-09-08 CHCSTL — 0.1100000
1939-09-04 CHCPIT — 0.2000020
1939-09-01 CHCBRO — 0.2000110
1939-08-22 CHCNY1 — 3.0100100
1939-08-20 CHCPIT L 4.0643511

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Earl Whitehill — Career Fielding Totals by Position
Position G GS PO A E DP
OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
P 541 0 166 701 47 31

Season-by-Season Fielding

Earl Whitehill — Season-by-Season Fielding
Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1923 DET P 8 0 1 7 2 0
1924 DET P 35 0 14 53 4 3
1925 DET P 35 0 13 52 5 2
1926 DET P 36 0 12 54 2 2
1927 DET P 41 0 5 47 7 3
1928 DET P 31 0 17 40 1 3
1929 DET P 38 0 15 49 4 0
1930 DET P 34 0 8 32 1 1
1931 DET P 34 0 20 62 2 5
1932 DET P 33 0 9 44 2 1
1933 WS1 OF 1 0 0 0 0 0
1933 WS1 P 39 0 8 51 7 2
1934 WS1 P 32 0 2 47 1 2
1935 WS1 P 34 0 13 60 3 4
1936 WS1 P 28 0 10 35 2 0
1937 CLE P 33 0 9 33 2 0
1938 CLE P 26 0 9 21 2 3
1939 CHN P 24 0 1 14 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Diamond

Circle size = games played at each position.

Earl Whitehill Stats, Bio & Career Records
Position Games
Pitcher 541
Right Field 1

Awards & Honors

Earl Whitehill — Awards & Honors
Year Award Notes
1933 Baseball Magazine All-Star P2
1933 Baseball Magazine All-Star P3

Award Voting History

Earl Whitehill — Award Voting History
Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1933 Most Valuable Player AL 9th 18.0 80 0
1924 Most Valuable Player AL 17th 4.0 64 0

Most Similar Players

Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.

Career Spans

Earl Whitehill (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.

  1. 98
    Mike Torrez
    185-160, 3.96 ERA
  2. 90
    Mel Harder
    223-186, 3.80 ERA
  3. 89
    Bobo Newsom
    211-222, 3.98 ERA
  4. 89
    Bump Hadley
    161-165, 4.24 ERA
  5. 89
    Mike Moore
    161-176, 4.39 ERA
  6. 87
    Livan Hernandez
    178-177, 4.44 ERA

Earl Whitehill: the record in brief

The profile opens with Earl Whitehill's first major league game on September 15, 1923; the last one listed came on September 30, 1939. The team column moves through the Detroit Tigers (1923 through 1932), the Washington Senators (1933 to 1936), the Cleveland Indians (1937 through 1938), and the Chicago Cubs (1939). Whitehill played primarily as a pitcher and both batted and threw left-handed. The bio adds a birth date on February 7, 1899, in Cedar Rapids, IA, USA and a listed size of 5'9" and 174 pounds. Whitehill's death is recorded on October 22, 1954, in Omaha, NE, USA. Whitehill's full given name, per the bio, is Earl Oliver Whitehill.

Whitehill's career pitching line is 218 wins, 185 losses and a 4.36 ERA over 541 appearances. The totals include 1,350 strikeouts, 226 complete games, 16 shutouts, and 11 saves. Whitehill's 4.36 ERA was close to the 4.28 league figure for those seasons. No season topped the 22 wins of 1933. 1926 produced Whitehill's most strikeouts, 109.

Frequently Asked Questions about Earl Whitehill

What years did Earl Whitehill play?
Earl Whitehill played in Major League Baseball from 1923 to 1939.
Was Earl Whitehill a pitcher?
Yes. Earl Whitehill pitched in the major leagues, recording 218 wins and 1350 strikeouts.
How many home runs did Earl Whitehill hit?
Earl Whitehill hit 4 career home runs with 264 hits.
What teams did Earl Whitehill play for?
Earl Whitehill played for 4 teams: the Detroit Tigers (1923–1932), the Washington Senators (1933–1936), the Cleveland Indians (1937–1938), and the Chicago Cubs (1939).
What were Earl Whitehill's career stats?
In 541 games, Earl Whitehill went 218-185 with a 4.36 ERA, 1,350 strikeouts, 3,564.2 innings pitched, and 11 saves. At the plate he had 264 hits and 4 home runs.
What position did Earl Whitehill play?
Earl Whitehill played primarily as a pitcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
How tall was Earl Whitehill and how much did he weigh?
Earl Whitehill was listed at 5 feet 9 inches and 174 pounds.
What was Earl Whitehill's career ERA?
Earl Whitehill finished with a 4.36 career ERA, going 218-185 with 1,350 strikeouts.
How many strikeouts did Earl Whitehill have?
Earl Whitehill recorded 1,350 career strikeouts.
Is Earl Whitehill in the Hall of Fame?
No. Earl Whitehill has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.