Ernie Alten vs. Jim Elam — Career Comparison

Jim Elam built a career as a starting pitcher and Ernie Alten as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Elam posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.39 and WHIP 2.161 compared to 9 and 2.130 for Ernie Alten. By the career numbers, Jim Elam had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.