Phil Bickford vs. Dave Black — Career Comparison

Dave Black built a career as a starting pitcher and Phil Bickford as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dave Black posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.18 and WHIP 1.202 compared to 4.62 and 1.302 for Phil Bickford. By the career numbers, Dave Black had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.