Doug Bird vs. Tom Sunkel — Career Comparison

Doug Bird
Baby BoomersCaliforniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaKansas City RoyalsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Tom Sunkel
Greatest GenerationIllinoisThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Tom Sunkel 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. Doug Bird posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.99 and WHIP 1.339 compared to 4.53 and 1.593 for Tom Sunkel. By the career numbers, Doug Bird had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Doug Bird and Tom Sunkel

Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
11
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
432
3.2
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
2.57
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
100
0.74
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
1.18
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
73
0.54
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.37
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
60
0.44
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
0.61
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
54.89
54.89
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.5
37.5
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
23.15
23.15
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46.03
46.03
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.06
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.25
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.02
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.08
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
60
0.44
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.08
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
538
3.99
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
111
4.53
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.99
3.99
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.53
4.53
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.75
3.75
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.42
4.42
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.97
3.97
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.47
4.47
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.273
0.273
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.252
0.252
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3641
27
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
661
27
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1213.2
9
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
220.1
9
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
1273
9.44
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
218
8.9
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.44
9.44
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.9
8.9
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
122
0.9
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.45
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.9
0.9
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.45
0.45
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.28
0.28
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
296
2.2
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
133
5.43
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
56
0.42
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.2
2.2
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.43
5.43
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
680
5.04
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
112
4.57
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.04
5.04
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.57
4.57
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.57
1.57
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.78
1.78
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.804
0.804
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.112
1.112
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.17
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
0.41
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
22
0.16
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.08
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5104
37.85
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1001
40.89
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
199
1.48
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
19
0.78
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
590
4.38
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
126
5.15
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.15
5.15
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
51
0.38
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
0.47
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97
0.72
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.293
1.293
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.593
1.593
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4672
34.65
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
866
35.37
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.37
1.37
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.297
0.297
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.279
0.279
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.85
37.85
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.89
40.89

Fielding Stats for Doug Bird and Tom Sunkel

Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
11
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
432
3.2
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
0.74
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3641
27
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1213.2
9
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
94
0.7
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
124
0.92
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
22
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.04
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
223
1.65
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
218
1.62
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.76
97.76
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.55
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.505
0.505
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.46
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23.15
23.15
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.08
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Doug Bird and Tom Sunkel

Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
11
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
6
6
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
432
2880
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
63
547.83
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
90
600
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
69
600
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
82
546.67
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PAverified
66
573.91
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.134
0.134
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.212
0.212
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.356
0.356
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.486
0.486
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
11
73.33
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
14
121.74
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
10
66.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
104.35
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
1
6.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
17.39
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
1
6.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
17.39
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
1.65
10.98
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.45
29.97
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
12
80
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
139.13
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
13
86.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
15
130.43
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.155
0.155
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.224
0.224
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.146
0.146
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.242
0.242
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.301
0.301
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.466
0.466
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.012
0.012
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.03
0.03
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.106
0.106
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.161
0.161
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.194
0.194
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.327
0.327
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0.234
0.234
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.318
0.318
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
1
6.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
69.57
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
20
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
1
8.7
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
4
26.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
78.26
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.41
-2.7
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.56
30.96
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
13.33
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
1
8.7
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
35
233.33
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
191.3
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
2.57
2.57
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.14
3.14
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.06
0.06
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0.05
0.05
Doug Bird
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
40
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
2
17.39
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
1
6.67
Tom Sunkel
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Doug Bird
Career
Per 600 PA
Tom Sunkel
Career
Per 600 PA