Steve Bailey vs. Jim Kaat — Career Comparison

Jim Kaat built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Bailey as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Jim Kaat posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.45 and WHIP 1.284 compared to 3.88 and 1.636 for Steve Bailey. By the career numbers, Jim Kaat had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.