Doug Bird vs. Les Sweetland — Career Comparison

Les Sweetland 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 6.1 and 1.823 for Les Sweetland. By the career numbers, Doug Bird had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.