Joe Bitker vs. Larry Gowell — Career Comparison

Larry Gowell built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Bitker as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Larry Gowell posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.29 and WHIP 0.714 compared to 4.73 and 1.500 for Joe Bitker. By the career numbers, Larry Gowell had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.