Ed Cole vs. Unknown Gardner — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Ed Cole and Unknown Gardner are fairly close on the surface numbers. Ed Cole posted stronger numbers in ERA (5.31 vs 18) and WHIP (1.874 vs 3.250). Unknown Gardner had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.85). By the career numbers, Ed Cole had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.