Bud Black vs. Larry Crawford — Career Comparison

Bud Black built a career as a starting pitcher and Larry Crawford as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bud Black posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.22 and WHIP 1.688 compared to 15 and 2.167 for Larry Crawford. By the career numbers, Bud Black had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.