Joe Bitker vs. Rube Waddell — Career Comparison

Rube Waddell 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. Rube Waddell posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.16 and WHIP 1.102 compared to 4.73 and 1.500 for Joe Bitker. By the career numbers, Rube Waddell had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.