Dave Downs vs. Bob Vail — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Dave Downs and Bob Vail are fairly close on the surface numbers. Dave Downs posted stronger numbers in ERA (2.74 vs 6) and WHIP (1.217 vs 1.467). Bob Vail had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.39). By the career numbers, Dave Downs 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.