Bob Gibson vs. Roy Patterson — Career Comparison

Roy Patterson built a career as a starting pitcher and Bob Gibson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Roy Patterson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.75 and WHIP 1.172 compared to 4.24 and 1.539 for Bob Gibson. By the career numbers, Roy Patterson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.