Jerry Akers vs. Robert Ray — Career Comparison

Robert Ray built a career as a starting pitcher and Jerry Akers as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Robert Ray posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.18 and WHIP 1.357 compared to 4.87 and 1.918 for Jerry Akers. By the career numbers, Robert Ray had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.