Frank Bates vs. Kirk McCarty — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Frank Bates and Kirk McCarty are fairly close on the surface numbers. Kirk McCarty posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.54 vs 6.33) and WHIP (1.354 vs 2.082). Frank Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.28 per nine innings vs 2.63). By the career numbers, Kirk McCarty 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.