Jim Abbott vs. Con Murphy — Career Comparison

Jim Abbott built a career as a starting pitcher and Con Murphy as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Con Murphy posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.07 and WHIP 1.776 compared to 20.25 and 3.750 for Jim Abbott. By the career numbers, Con Murphy had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.