John Bates vs. Ben Bowden — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Ben Bowden are fairly close on the surface numbers. Ben Bowden posted stronger numbers in ERA (6.02 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.748 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 1.55). By the career numbers, Ben Bowden 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.