Rich Barnes vs. John Ward — Career Comparison

Rich Barnes built a career as a starting pitcher and John Ward as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Ward posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.5 and WHIP 1.375 compared to 5.65 and 1.919 for Rich Barnes. By the career numbers, John Ward had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.