Joe Cowley vs. Ed Pierce — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Joe Cowley and Ed Pierce are fairly close on the surface numbers. Joe Cowley posted stronger numbers in WHIP (1.391 vs 2.438) and home runs allowed (1.32 per nine innings vs 1.69). Ed Pierce had the advantage in ERA (3.38 vs 4.2). By the career numbers, Joe Cowley 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.