Frank Bates vs. John Fitzgerald — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Frank Bates and John Fitzgerald are fairly close on the surface numbers. John Fitzgerald posted stronger numbers in ERA (5.63 vs 6.33) and WHIP (1.875 vs 2.082). Frank Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.28 per nine innings vs 0.56). By the career numbers, John Fitzgerald had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.