Ron Blackburn vs. Art Smith — Career Comparison

Art Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Ron Blackburn as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ron Blackburn posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.5 and WHIP 1.500 compared to 11.57 and 3.000 for Art Smith. By the career numbers, Ron Blackburn had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.