Jim Bethke vs. Rube Wiggins — Career Comparison

Rube Wiggins built a career as a starting pitcher and Jim Bethke as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rube Wiggins posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.6 and WHIP 1.600 compared to 4.28 and 1.625 for Jim Bethke. By the career numbers, Rube Wiggins had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.