John Bates vs. Charlie Buffinton — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Charlie Buffinton are fairly close on the surface numbers. Charlie Buffinton posted stronger numbers in ERA (2.96 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.234 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.23). By the career numbers, Charlie Buffinton 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.