Fred Archer vs. Jim Blackburn — Career Comparison

Fred Archer built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Blackburn as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Blackburn posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.5 and WHIP 1.722 compared to 6.35 and 1.513 for Fred Archer. By the career numbers, Jim Blackburn had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.