Bob Gibson vs. Francisco Rodriguez — Career Comparison

Bob Gibson built a career as a starting pitcher and Francisco Rodriguez as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Gibson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.91 and WHIP 1.218 compared to 4.43 and 1.525 for Francisco Rodriguez. By the career numbers, Bob Gibson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.