Walter Johnson vs. Al Spalding — Career Comparison

Walter Johnson
Lost GenerationKansasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaWashington SenatorsAmerican LeagueHall of FameStarting PitcherMVP
Al Spalding
Pre-GenerationalIllinoisThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaBoston Red StockingsUnknownHall of FameStarting Pitcher

Looking at the career totals, Walter Johnson and Al Spalding are fairly close on the surface numbers. Walter Johnson had the edge in WHIP (1.061 vs 1.193). By the career numbers, Walter Johnson had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.

Pitching Stats for Walter Johnson and Al Spalding

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
21
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
7
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
1.22
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
347
1.08
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
666
1.01
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
325
1.01
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
417
0.63
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
251
0.78
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
279
0.42
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
65
0.2
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
59.91
59.91
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
79.43
79.43
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
83.04
83.04
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93.66
93.66
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
531
0.81
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
279
0.87
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
110
0.17
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
0.07
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
34
0.05
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.04
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1424
2.17
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
684
2.13
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.17
2.17
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.13
2.13
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.19
2.19
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.64
2.64
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.82
2.82
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.07
3.07
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.223
0.223
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.261
0.261
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
17744
27
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
8659
27
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5914.2
9
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
2886.1
9
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4913
7.48
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3280
10.23
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.48
7.48
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.23
10.23
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
97
0.15
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.05
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.15
0.15
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.05
0.05
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.12
0.12
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.04
0.04
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1363
2.07
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
164
0.51
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.07
2.07
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.51
0.51
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3509
5.34
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
248
0.77
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.34
5.34
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.77
0.77
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.71
0.71
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.824
0.824
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.143
0.143
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
155
0.24
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
104
0.32
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
203
0.31
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.01
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.01
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
23642
35.97
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12724
39.68
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
129
0.2
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
0.1
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1902
2.89
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1790
5.58
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.89
2.89
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.58
5.58
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.061
1.061
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.193
1.193
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
22076
33.59
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12560
39.16
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.37
2.37
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.16
5.16
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.261
0.261
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.266
0.266
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
35.97
35.97
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.68
39.68

Fielding Stats for Walter Johnson and Al Spalding

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
21
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
8
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
815
7.07
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
480
1.18
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
120
1.04
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
150
0.37
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
3114
27
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11022
27
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1038
9
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3674
9
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
292
2.53
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
789
1.93
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1352
11.72
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
726
1.78
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
53
0.46
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
157
0.38
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1697
14.71
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
1672
4.1
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1644
14.25
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
1515
3.71
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.88
96.88
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
90.61
90.61
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.017
2.017
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.156
3.156
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
14.72
14.72
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
31.25
31.25
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
0.62
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
58
0.14
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Walter Johnson and Al Spalding

Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
21
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
8
8
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
933
222.41
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
411
124.04
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2517
600
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
1988
600
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2324
553.99
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1959
591.25
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.235
0.235
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.313
0.313
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.637
0.637
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.71
0.71
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
547
130.39
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
613
185.01
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
388
92.49
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
506
152.72
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
94
22.41
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PAverified
86
25.96
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
9.77
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
19
5.73
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
5.72
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
2
0.6
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
159
37.9
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
107
32.29
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.291
0.291
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0.175
0.175
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.01
0.01
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0.001
0.001
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.044
0.044
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0.003
0.003
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
225.36
53.72
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
229.38
69.23
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
795
189.51
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PAverified
743
224.25
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
670
159.71
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PAverified
642
193.76
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.274
0.274
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.323
0.323
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.342
0.342
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.379
0.379
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.616
0.616
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.702
0.702
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.107
0.107
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0.066
0.066
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.209
0.209
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.24
0.24
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.523
0.523
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.584
0.584
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.278
0.278
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.316
0.316
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
241
57.45
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
417
125.86
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
255
60.79
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
338
102.01
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
472
112.51
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
753
227.26
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
241.78
57.63
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
272.01
82.1
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
3.1
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
110
26.22
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
29
8.75
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
419
99.88
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
7.85
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
6.01
6.01
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
76.46
76.46
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
0.26
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.12
1.12
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
70
16.69
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
5
1.51
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
13
3.1
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
5.43
Walter Johnson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
0.95
Al Spalding
Career
Per 600 PA
3
0.91
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
17
4.05
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
6.34
Walter Johnson
Career
Per 600 PA
76.47
76.47
Al Spalding
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
85.71
85.71