John Clarkson vs. Ben McDonald — Career Comparison

Ben McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and John Clarkson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Clarkson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.81 and WHIP 1.209 compared to 3.91 and 1.271 for Ben McDonald. By the career numbers, John Clarkson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.