Jim Abbott vs. Bill Burdick — Career Comparison

Jim Abbott built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Burdick as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Burdick posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.17 and WHIP 1.272 compared to 4.25 and 1.451 for Jim Abbott. By the career numbers, Bill Burdick had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.