Phil Bickford vs. Joe Black — Career Comparison

Joe 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. Joe Black posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.72 and WHIP 1.300 compared to 4.62 and 1.302 for Phil Bickford. By the career numbers, Joe Black had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.