Ed Cole vs. Dwight Gooden — Career Comparison

Dwight Gooden built a career as a starting pitcher and Ed Cole as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dwight Gooden posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.51 and WHIP 1.271 compared to 5.31 and 1.874 for Ed Cole. By the career numbers, Dwight Gooden had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.