John Bates vs. Eddie Matteson — Career Comparison

Eddie Matteson 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. Eddie Matteson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.36 and WHIP 1.218 compared to 13.5 and 2.500 for John Bates. By the career numbers, Eddie Matteson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.