Bill Atkinson vs. Connelly Early — Career Comparison

Connelly Early built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Atkinson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Connelly Early posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.33 and WHIP 1.086 compared to 3.42 and 1.412 for Bill Atkinson. By the career numbers, Connelly Early had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.