Kurt Birkins vs. Jeff Stember — Career Comparison

Jeff Stember 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. Jeff Stember posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3 and WHIP 1.333 compared to 5.85 and 1.553 for Kurt Birkins. By the career numbers, Jeff Stember had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.