James Atkins vs. Luther Hackman — Career Comparison

James Atkins built a career as a starting pitcher and Luther Hackman 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 5.09 and 1.590 for Luther Hackman. By the career numbers, James Atkins had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.