Burleigh Grimes vs. Ira Townsend — Career Comparison

Burleigh Grimes built a career as a starting pitcher and Ira Townsend as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Burleigh Grimes posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.53 and WHIP 1.365 compared to 3.86 and 1.929 for Ira Townsend. By the career numbers, Burleigh Grimes had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.