Bill Butler vs. Phil Paine — Career Comparison

Bill Butler built a career as a starting pitcher and Phil Paine as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Phil Paine posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.24 and WHIP 1.540 compared to 4.21 and 1.479 for Bill Butler. By the career numbers, Phil Paine had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.