Rick Anderson vs. Tug McGraw — Career Comparison

Rick Anderson built a career as a starting pitcher and Tug McGraw as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tug McGraw posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.14 and WHIP 1.339 compared to 3.75 and 2.083 for Rick Anderson. By the career numbers, Tug McGraw had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.