Steve Bechler vs. Duke Shirey — Career Comparison

Duke Shirey built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Bechler as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Duke Shirey posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.75 and WHIP 1.750 compared to 13.5 and 2.143 for Steve Bechler. By the career numbers, Duke Shirey had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.