Bill Atkinson vs. Pete Smith — Career Comparison

Pete Smith 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. Bill Atkinson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.42 and WHIP 1.412 compared to 6.75 and 1.500 for Pete Smith. By the career numbers, Bill Atkinson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.