Brian Bannister vs. Buz Phillips — Career Comparison

Brian Bannister built a career as a starting pitcher and Buz Phillips as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Brian Bannister posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.08 and WHIP 1.433 compared to 8.04 and 1.969 for Buz Phillips. By the career numbers, Brian Bannister had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.