Joe Connors vs. Rick Matula — Career Comparison

Joe Connors
Pre-GenerationalNew JerseyNorth AmericaAltoona Mountain CityUnion AssociationRelief Pitcher
Rick Matula
Baby BoomersTexasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaAtlanta BravesNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Rick Matula 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. Rick Matula posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.41 and WHIP 1.521 compared to 5.57 and 2.238 for Joe Connors. By the career numbers, Rick Matula had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Connors and Rick Matula

Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
1.29
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
1.67
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
1.47
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.48
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.58
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
45.24
45.24
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
66.67
66.67
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
87.88
87.88
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.86
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.1
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.03
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
5.57
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
174
4.41
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.57
5.57
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.41
4.41
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.82
8.82
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.46
4.46
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.24
4.24
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.54
4.54
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.393
0.393
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.286
0.286
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
27
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1065
27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
9
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
355
9
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
18
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
396
10.04
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
18
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10.04
10.04
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.43
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
32
0.81
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.43
0.43
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.81
0.81
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.33
0.33
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.48
0.48
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
2.14
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
126
3.19
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
0.46
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.14
2.14
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.19
3.19
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.43
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
129
3.27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.27
3.27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.33
0.33
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.95
1.95
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.286
0.286
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.718
0.718
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.86
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.15
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.08
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.1
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
112
48
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1545
39.17
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.43
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.1
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
12
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
195
4.94
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
12
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.94
4.94
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
0.35
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
16
0.41
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
48
1.22
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.238
2.238
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.47
1.47
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
107
45.86
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1386
35.14
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.33
9.33
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.95
2.95
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.391
0.391
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.297
0.297
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
48
48
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.17
39.17

Fielding Stats for Joe Connors and Rick Matula

Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
1.11
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
1.67
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
1.47
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
171
27
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1065
27
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
57
9
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
355
9
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
1.26
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
36
0.91
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
1.11
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
1.32
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.47
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.03
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
2.84
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
89
2.26
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
2.37
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
88
2.23
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
83.33
83.33
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.88
98.88
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.143
2.143
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.333
1.333
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
87.88
87.88
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.28
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Connors and Rick Matula

Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
3
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
6
156.52
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
66
316.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
23
600
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
125
600
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
22
573.91
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
111
532.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.099
0.099
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.239
0.239
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.3
0.3
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
52.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
52.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
0.26
6.69
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1.02
4.9
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
2
52.17
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
52.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
78.26
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
14
67.2
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.13
0.13
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0.123
0.123
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.099
0.099
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.221
0.221
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.222
0.222
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.081
0.081
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0.08
0.08
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0.137
0.137
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.175
0.175
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
52.17
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
1
4.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
52.17
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
1
4.8
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.52
-13.45
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
-3.48
-16.69
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
26.09
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
14.4
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
48
230.4
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.6
2.6
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.06
0.06
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
52.8
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
2
9.6
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Connors
Career
Per 600 PA
Rick Matula
Career
Per 600 PA