James Atkins vs. Ralph Erickson — Career Comparison

James Atkins built a career as a starting pitcher and Ralph Erickson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. James Atkins posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.6 and WHIP 1.733 compared to 8.4 and 2.333 for Ralph Erickson. By the career numbers, James Atkins had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.