Frank Bates vs. Luther McDonald — Career Comparison

Luther McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Frank Bates as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Luther McDonald posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.28 and WHIP 1.486 compared to 6.33 and 2.082 for Frank Bates. By the career numbers, Luther McDonald had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.