Al Atkinson vs. Wally Whitehurst — Career Comparison

Wally Whitehurst 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. Al Atkinson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.96 and WHIP 1.259 compared to 4.02 and 1.382 for Wally Whitehurst. By the career numbers, Al Atkinson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.