Rich Barnes vs. Ham Iburg — Career Comparison

Rich Barnes built a career as a starting pitcher and Ham Iburg as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ham Iburg posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.89 and WHIP 1.475 compared to 5.65 and 1.919 for Rich Barnes. By the career numbers, Ham Iburg had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.