Kurt Birkins vs. Bill Stafford — Career Comparison

Bill Stafford 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 Stafford posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.52 and WHIP 1.278 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Bill Stafford had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.