Brandon Backe vs. Red Gunkel — Career Comparison

Brandon Backe built a career as a starting pitcher and Red Gunkel as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Red Gunkel posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 0 and WHIP 1.000 compared to 5.23 and 1.563 for Brandon Backe. By the career numbers, Red Gunkel had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.