Fred Applegate vs. Bill Williams — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Fred Applegate and Bill Williams are fairly close on the surface numbers. Bill Williams posted stronger numbers in ERA (5.06 vs 6.43) and WHIP (1.313 vs 1.762). Fred Applegate had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 1.69). By the career numbers, Bill Williams had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.