Hugh Blackburn vs. Matt Foster — Career Comparison

Hugh Blackburn built a career as a starting pitcher and Matt Foster as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Matt Foster posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.3 and WHIP 1.274 compared to 13.5 and 3.000 for Hugh Blackburn. By the career numbers, Matt Foster had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.