John Bates vs. Mike Marshall — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Mike Marshall are fairly close on the surface numbers. Mike Marshall posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.14 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.332 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.51). By the career numbers, Mike Marshall 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.