Fred Buckingham vs. Unknown Patterson — Career Comparison

Unknown Patterson 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. Fred Buckingham posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6 and WHIP 2.667 compared to 7.71 and 1.714 for Unknown Patterson. By the career numbers, Fred Buckingham had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.