Brian Barkley vs. Happy Townsend — Career Comparison

Happy Townsend built a career as a starting pitcher and Brian Barkley as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Happy Townsend posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.59 and WHIP 1.380 compared to 9.82 and 2.364 for Brian Barkley. By the career numbers, Happy Townsend had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.