Ed Appleton vs. Norm McRae — Career Comparison

Ed Appleton built a career as a starting pitcher and Norm McRae as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Norm McRae posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.15 and WHIP 1.573 compared to 3.25 and 1.435 for Ed Appleton. By the career numbers, Norm McRae had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.