Alex Beam vs. Ensign Cottrell — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Alex Beam and Ensign Cottrell are fairly close on the surface numbers. Alex Beam posted stronger numbers in WHIP (1.444 vs 1.929) and home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.48). Ensign Cottrell had the advantage in ERA (4.82 vs 6.5). By the career numbers, Alex Beam 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.