Al Atkinson vs. Jimmy Key — Career Comparison

Jimmy Key built a career as a starting pitcher and Al Atkinson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jimmy Key posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.51 and WHIP 1.241 compared to 3.96 and 1.259 for Al Atkinson. By the career numbers, Jimmy Key had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.