Dave Downs vs. Steve Shields — Career Comparison

Dave Downs
Baby BoomersUtahThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaPhiladelphia PhilliesNational LeagueStarting Pitcher
Steve Shields
Baby BoomersAlabamaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaNew York YankeesAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Dave Downs built a career as a starting pitcher and Steve Shields as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Dave Downs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.74 and WHIP 1.217 compared to 5.26 and 1.703 for Steve Shields. By the career numbers, Dave Downs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Dave Downs and Steve Shields

Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
1.57
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
102
4.19
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.57
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6
0.25
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.33
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.33
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
50
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
50
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.88
5.88
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.12
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.74
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
128
5.26
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.74
2.74
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.26
5.26
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.6
3.6
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.82
5.82
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.65
3.65
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.04
5.04
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.294
0.294
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.308
0.308
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
69
27
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
657
27
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
9
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
219
9
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
9.78
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
269
11.05
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.78
9.78
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.05
11.05
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
32
1.32
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.39
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.32
1.32
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.31
0.31
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
1.17
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
91
3.74
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.53
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.17
1.17
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.74
3.74
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
1.96
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
126
5.18
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.96
1.96
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.18
5.18
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.25
1.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.24
1.24
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.348
0.348
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.991
0.991
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.78
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.62
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.12
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.39
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.04
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
89
34.83
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
991
40.73
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
32
1.32
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.74
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
146
6
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.74
2.74
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.53
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.41
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
1.48
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.217
1.217
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.644
1.644
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
85
33.26
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
874
35.92
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.75
1.75
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.43
1.43
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.304
0.304
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.331
0.331
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
34.83
34.83
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.73
40.73

Fielding Stats for Dave Downs and Steve Shields

Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
1.57
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
102
4.19
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.57
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6
0.25
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
69
27
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
657
27
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
9
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
219
9
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.74
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
1.96
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
24
0.99
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.08
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
1.96
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
44
1.81
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
1.96
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
42
1.73
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
95.45
95.45
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.25
1.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.412
0.412
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.88
5.88
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.12
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Dave Downs and Steve Shields

Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
5
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
4
300
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
102
3060
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
8
600
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
20
600
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
8
600
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
19
570
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.105
0.105
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.275
0.275
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
150
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
2
60
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
150
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
2
60
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.45
34.02
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.3
8.92
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
150
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
2
60
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
150
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
90
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.105
0.105
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.255
0.255
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.175
0.175
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.094
0.094
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.177
0.177
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0.167
0.167
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
75
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
150
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
225
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.56
41.68
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.29
-8.67
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
30
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
300
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PAverified
7
210
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.86
2.86
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.14
0.14
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dave Downs
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Shields
Career
Per 600 PA