Fred Buckingham vs. Sam McDowell — Career Comparison

Sam McDowell built a career as a starting pitcher and Fred Buckingham as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Sam McDowell posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.17 and WHIP 1.338 compared to 6 and 2.667 for Fred Buckingham. By the career numbers, Sam McDowell had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.