Joe Connors vs. Ben Lively — Career Comparison

Ben Lively 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. Ben Lively posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.38 and WHIP 1.328 compared to 5.57 and 2.238 for Joe Connors. By the career numbers, Ben Lively had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.