Les Backman vs. Ron Willis — Career Comparison

Les Backman
Lost GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher
Ron Willis
Silent GenerationTennesseeThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Les Backman built a career as a starting pitcher and Ron Willis as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ron Willis posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.32 and WHIP 1.544 compared to 3.61 and 1.453 for Les Backman. By the career numbers, Ron Willis had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Les Backman and Ron Willis

Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
1.73
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.96
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.33
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.42
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
0.66
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.45
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
33.33
33.33
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
47.83
47.83
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
55.32
55.32
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.48
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.07
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.72
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
98
3.61
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88
3.32
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.61
3.61
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.11
4.11
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.36
3.36
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.83
3.83
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.36
4.36
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.284
0.284
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.232
0.232
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
733
27
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
715
27
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
244.1
9
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
238.1
9
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
263
9.69
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
209
7.89
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.69
9.69
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.89
7.89
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.57
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.18
0.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.11
0.11
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.08
0.08
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92
3.39
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
119
4.49
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
40
1.51
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.39
3.39
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
2.8
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
128
4.83
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.8
2.8
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.83
4.83
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.62
1.62
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.688
0.688
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.036
1.036
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.26
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.49
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.34
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1023
37.68
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1037
39.16
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.63
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
74
2.79
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
124
4.57
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
101
3.81
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.57
4.57
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.15
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.11
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.453
1.453
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.376
1.376
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
926
34.11
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
902
34.06
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.64
2.64
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.54
0.54
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.305
0.305
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.68
37.68
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.16
39.16

Fielding Stats for Les Backman and Ron Willis

Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
1.73
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
0.96
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
732
27
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
715
27
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
244
9
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
238.1
9
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.26
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.91
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
2.43
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
56
2.11
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.15
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
77
2.84
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
80
3.02
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
73
2.69
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
80
3.02
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
94.81
94.81
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.553
1.553
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.426
0.426
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
55.32
55.32
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.04
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.23
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Les Backman and Ron Willis

Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
5
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
47
331.76
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
188
4338.46
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
85
600
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
26
600
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
74
522.35
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
25
576.92
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.108
0.108
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.16
0.16
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.412
0.412
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.404
0.404
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8
56.47
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
42.35
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
1
7.06
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.06
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
14.12
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.25
0.25
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.25
0.25
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.92
20.58
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.8
18.42
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
11
77.65
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
115.38
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
127.06
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
5
115.38
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.214
0.214
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.192
0.192
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.149
0.149
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.363
0.363
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.392
0.392
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.041
0.041
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.04
0.04
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.134
0.134
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.137
0.137
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.318
0.318
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.273
0.273
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0.174
0.174
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.235
0.235
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
21.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5
35.29
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8
56.47
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.7
12.02
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.27
6.2
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
14.12
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
56.47
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
28
197.65
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
184.62
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
3.04
3.04
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.25
3.25
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.29
0.29
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.13
0.13
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.06
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Les Backman
Career
Per 600 PA
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA