John Bates vs. Ben Harris — Career Comparison

Ben Harris built a career as a starting pitcher and John Bates as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ben Harris posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 12.6 and WHIP 2.700 compared to 13.5 and 2.500 for John Bates. By the career numbers, Ben Harris had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.