Les Backman vs. Mike Beard — Career Comparison

Les Backman built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Beard as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Les Backman posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.61 and WHIP 1.453 compared to 3.74 and 1.534 for Mike Beard. By the career numbers, Les Backman had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.