Joe Connors vs. Kelly Downs — Career Comparison

Joe Connors
Pre-GenerationalNew JerseyNorth AmericaAltoona Mountain CityUnion AssociationRelief Pitcher
Kelly Downs
Baby BoomersUtahThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSan Francisco GiantsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Kelly Downs built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Connors as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Kelly Downs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.86 and WHIP 1.389 compared to 5.57 and 2.238 for Joe Connors. By the career numbers, Kelly Downs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Connors and Kelly Downs

Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1.29
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
237
2.21
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
135
1.26
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
57
0.53
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
53
0.49
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.82
51.82
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66.67
66.67
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
56.96
56.96
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.86
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.1
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.06
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.01
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
5.57
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
413
3.86
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.57
5.57
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.86
3.86
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.82
8.82
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.56
3.56
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.24
4.24
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.98
3.98
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.393
0.393
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.25
0.25
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
27
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2891
27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
9
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
963.2
9
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
18
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
912
8.52
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
18
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.52
8.52
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.43
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
73
0.68
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.43
0.43
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.33
0.33
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.31
0.31
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
2.14
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
373
3.48
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.5
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.14
2.14
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.48
3.48
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.43
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
598
5.58
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.58
5.58
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.33
0.33
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.52
2.52
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.286
0.286
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.008
1.008
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
42
0.39
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.23
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.16
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
112
48
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4122
38.5
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.43
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
29
0.27
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
12
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
454
4.24
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
12
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.24
4.24
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
41
0.38
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.31
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
78
0.73
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.238
2.238
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.333
1.333
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
45.86
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3650
34.09
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.33
9.33
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.92
1.92
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.391
0.391
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.282
0.282
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
48
48
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.5
38.5

Fielding Stats for Joe Connors and Kelly Downs

Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
1.11
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
237
2.21
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
135
1.26
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
171
27
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2891
27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
57
9
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
963.2
9
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
1.26
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
66
0.62
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.11
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
105
0.98
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.47
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.08
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
2.84
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
180
1.68
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
2.37
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
171
1.6
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
83.33
83.33
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
95
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.143
2.143
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.722
0.722
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
56.96
56.96
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.06
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Connors and Kelly Downs

Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
6
156.52
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
238
592.53
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
23
600
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
241
600
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
22
573.91
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
211
525.31
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.123
0.123
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.239
0.239
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.372
0.372
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
64.73
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
54.77
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
7.47
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.49
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
9.96
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.154
0.154
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
6.69
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.33
10.78
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
31
77.18
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
3
78.26
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
33
82.16
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.13
0.13
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.147
0.147
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.221
0.221
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.297
0.297
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.024
0.024
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.081
0.081
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.104
0.104
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.202
0.202
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.19
0.19
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
52.17
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
14
34.85
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
27.39
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
25
62.24
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
-0.52
-13.45
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
-1.23
-3.05
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
26.09
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
17.43
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
76
189.21
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.17
3.17
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.09
0.09
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21
52.28
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
4.98
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
1
2.49
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
4.98
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Kelly Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
4.98
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Kelly Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0