Hayden Birdsong vs. Al McBean — Career Comparison

Hayden Birdsong built a career as a starting pitcher and Al McBean as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Al McBean posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.13 and WHIP 1.379 compared to 4.77 and 1.438 for Hayden Birdsong. By the career numbers, Al McBean had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.