Alex Beam vs. Ben McDonald — Career Comparison

Ben McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Alex Beam as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ben McDonald posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.91 and WHIP 1.271 compared to 6.5 and 1.444 for Alex Beam. By the career numbers, Ben McDonald had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.