Les Backman vs. Red Hoff — Career Comparison

Les Backman built a career as a starting pitcher and Red Hoff as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Red Hoff posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.49 and WHIP 1.265 compared to 3.61 and 1.453 for Les Backman. By the career numbers, Red Hoff had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.