Les Backman vs. Mike Cather — Career Comparison

Les Backman built a career as a starting pitcher and Mike Cather as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mike Cather posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.42 and WHIP 1.273 compared to 3.61 and 1.453 for Les Backman. By the career numbers, Mike Cather had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.