John Bates vs. Mike Cather — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Mike Cather are fairly close on the surface numbers. Mike Cather posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.42 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.273 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 1.1). By the career numbers, Mike Cather 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.