Doug Bird vs. Frank Lange — Career Comparison

Frank Lange built a career as a starting pitcher and Doug Bird as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Frank Lange posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.96 and WHIP 1.353 compared to 3.99 and 1.339 for Doug Bird. By the career numbers, Frank Lange had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.