Kurt Birkins vs. Darrell May — Career Comparison

Darrell May built a career as a starting pitcher and Kurt Birkins as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Darrell May posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 5.16 and WHIP 1.467 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Darrell May had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.