Kurt Birkins vs. Bill Ricks — Career Comparison

Bill Ricks 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. Bill Ricks posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.23 and WHIP 1.329 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Bill Ricks had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.