Joe Bitker vs. Smoky Owens — Career Comparison

Joe Bitker
Baby BoomersCaliforniaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaTexas RangersAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Smoky Owens
Greatest GenerationSouth CarolinaThrows RightNorth AmericaCleveland BearsNegro American LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

Smoky Owens 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. Smoky Owens posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.58 and WHIP 1.184 compared to 4.73 and 1.500 for Joe Bitker. By the career numbers, Smoky Owens had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Bitker and Smoky Owens

Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
5.06
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
26
1.68
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
1.1
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.34
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.71
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.39
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
64.71
64.71
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
65.38
65.38
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.78
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.06
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.13
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14
4.73
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
2.58
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.73
4.73
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.58
2.58
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.15
4.15
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.86
2.86
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.61
4.61
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.87
3.87
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.24
0.24
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.24
0.24
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
80
27
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
418
27
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
26.2
9
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
139.1
9
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
25
8.44
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
122
7.88
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.44
8.44
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.88
7.88
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
1.35
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.32
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.35
1.35
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.32
0.32
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.27
0.27
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.19
0.19
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
4.05
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
43
2.78
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1.01
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.05
4.05
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.78
2.78
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
8.1
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
47
3.04
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.1
8.1
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.04
3.04
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.6
1.6
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.81
1.81
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.35
1.35
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.646
0.646
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.68
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.06
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.34
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.45
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
118
39.83
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
573
37.01
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.36
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.45
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14
4.73
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
55
3.55
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.73
4.73
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.55
3.55
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
0.9
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.34
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.68
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.45
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.388
1.388
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.184
1.184
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
104
35.1
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
509
32.88
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.93
0.93
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.12
2.12
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.276
0.276
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.83
39.83
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.01
37.01

Fielding Stats for Joe Bitker and Smoky Owens

Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
5.06
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
1.75
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
1.12
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
80
27
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
433
27
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
26.2
9
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
144.1
9
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.34
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.37
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1.01
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
2.62
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.12
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
1.35
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
3.12
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
1.35
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
48
2.99
Joe Bitker
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
96
96
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.267
0.267
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.714
1.714
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
64.29
64.29
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.34
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.06
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Bitker and Smoky Owens

Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
2
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
4
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
15
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
29
290
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
60
600
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
54
540
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.241
0.241
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.567
0.567
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
130
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
110
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
20
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
20
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.154
0.154
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.4
34
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
15
150
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
130
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.241
0.241
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.278
0.278
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.519
0.519
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.037
0.037
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.178
0.178
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.366
0.366
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.241
0.241
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
30
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
40
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
70
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.17
41.72
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
60
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Bitker
Career
Per 600 PA
Smoky Owens
Career
Per 600 PA