Frank Bates vs. Roy Smith — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Frank Bates and Roy Smith are fairly close on the surface numbers. Roy Smith posted stronger numbers in ERA (5.24 vs 6.33) and WHIP (1.970 vs 2.082). Frank Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.28 per nine innings vs 1.61). By the career numbers, Roy Smith 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.