Red Applegate vs. Jesse Crain — Career Comparison

Red Applegate built a career as a starting pitcher and Jesse Crain as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jesse Crain posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.05 and WHIP 1.282 compared to 3.75 and 1.917 for Red Applegate. By the career numbers, Jesse Crain had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.