Phil Bickford vs. John Ely — Career Comparison

John Ely 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. Phil Bickford posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.62 and WHIP 1.302 compared to 5.7 and 1.552 for John Ely. By the career numbers, Phil Bickford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.