Ed Appleton vs. Kent Mercker — Career Comparison

Ed Appleton built a career as a starting pitcher and Kent Mercker as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ed Appleton posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.25 and WHIP 1.435 compared to 4.16 and 1.480 for Kent Mercker. By the career numbers, Ed Appleton had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.