John Bates vs. Mutt Williams — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, John Bates and Mutt Williams are fairly close on the surface numbers. Mutt Williams posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.91 vs 13.5) and WHIP (1.364 vs 2.500). John Bates had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.82). By the career numbers, Mutt Williams 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.