Ben Bowden vs. Harold Hairston — Career Comparison

Harold Hairston built a career as a starting pitcher and Ben Bowden as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ben Bowden posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.02 and WHIP 1.748 compared to 6.42 and 1.390 for Harold Hairston. By the career numbers, Ben Bowden had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.