Rufe Clarke vs. Phil Hughes — Career Comparison

Phil Hughes built a career as a starting pitcher and Rufe Clarke as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rufe Clarke posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.97 and WHIP 1.765 compared to 4.52 and 1.324 for Phil Hughes. By the career numbers, Rufe Clarke had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.