Merle Adkins vs. Steve Kline — Career Comparison

Merle Adkins
Pre-GenerationalWisconsinThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaBoston Red SoxAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Steve Kline
Baby BoomersWashingtonThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaNew York YankeesAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Steve Kline built a career as a starting pitcher and Merle Adkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Kline posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.26 and WHIP 1.221 compared to 5 and 1.926 for Merle Adkins. By the career numbers, Steve Kline had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Merle Adkins and Steve Kline

Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
129
1.55
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
105
1.26
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43
0.52
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
45
0.54
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
48.86
48.86
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
50
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
81.4
81.4
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
34
0.41
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.07
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.01
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
5
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
272
3.26
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.26
3.26
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
7.17
7.17
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.1
3.1
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.19
5.19
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.22
4.22
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.342
0.342
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.249
0.249
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
81
27
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2251
27
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
9
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
750.1
9
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
40
13.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
708
8.49
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
13.33
13.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.49
8.49
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.67
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
61
0.73
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.67
0.67
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.73
0.73
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.33
0.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.47
0.47
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
4
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
184
2.21
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
0.29
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.21
2.21
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
240
2.88
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.88
2.88
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.5
0.5
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.86
1.86
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.556
0.556
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.565
0.565
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.11
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.19
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.06
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
130
43.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3086
37.02
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
1
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.11
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
9.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
318
3.81
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.33
9.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
0.32
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.18
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.31
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.926
1.926
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.189
1.189
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
117
39
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2844
34.11
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.67
4.67
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.47
2.47
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.339
0.339
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.254
0.254
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.33
43.33
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.02
37.02

Fielding Stats for Merle Adkins and Steve Kline

Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
129
1.55
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
105
1.26
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
81
27
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2248
27
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
9
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
749.1
9
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
64
0.77
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
144
1.73
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.11
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
2.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
217
2.61
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
2.33
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
208
2.5
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
95.85
95.85
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.167
1.167
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.612
1.612
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
81.4
81.4
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.12
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Merle Adkins and Steve Kline

Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
6
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
6
300
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
129
377.56
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
12
600
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
205
600
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
12
600
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
170
497.56
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0.124
0.124
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0.333
0.333
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.415
0.415
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
100
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
21
61.46
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
100
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
20
58.54
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.93
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.93
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.048
0.048
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.3
14.97
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3.81
11.16
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
100
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
22
64.39
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
2
100
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
35
102.44
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0.167
0.167
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.19
0.19
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.167
0.167
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0.129
0.129
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0.32
0.32
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.006
0.006
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0.117
0.117
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.118
0.118
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0.2
0.2
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.237
0.237
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.182
0.182
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0.172
0.172
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
50
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
14
40.98
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
11.71
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
1
50
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
52.68
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.17
8.41
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1.29
3.77
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
5.85
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
35.12
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
50
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
48
140.49
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
12
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
4.27
4.27
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
61.46
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
3
8.78
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Merle Adkins
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Kline
Career
Per 600 PA