Kurt Birkins vs. William Sheppard — Career Comparison

William Sheppard 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. William Sheppard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.9 and WHIP 1.226 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, William Sheppard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.