Keith Atherton vs. Red Ruffing — Career Comparison

Red Ruffing built a career as a starting pitcher and Keith Atherton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Red Ruffing posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.8 and WHIP 1.341 compared to 3.99 and 1.407 for Keith Atherton. By the career numbers, Red Ruffing had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.