Bud Black vs. Bill Popp — Career Comparison

Bud Black built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Popp 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 4.92 and 1.873 for Bill Popp. By the career numbers, Bud Black had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.