George Blackburn vs. Charlie Smith — Career Comparison

Charlie Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and George Blackburn as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Charlie Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.81 and WHIP 1.232 compared to 6.82 and 1.394 for George Blackburn. By the career numbers, Charlie Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.