Joe Grzenda vs. Rufus Smith — Career Comparison

Joe Grzenda
Silent GenerationPennsylvaniaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaWashington SenatorsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Rufus Smith
Greatest GenerationNorth CarolinaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Rufus Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Grzenda as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rufus Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.38 and WHIP 1.375 compared to 4 and 1.562 for Joe Grzenda. By the career numbers, Rufus Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Grzenda and Rufus Smith

Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
219
6.4
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1.13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.09
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
1.13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.41
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.38
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.85
51.85
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.37
1.37
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.41
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
137
4
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3.38
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.38
3.38
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.03
4.03
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.52
3.52
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.99
3.99
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.273
0.273
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.242
0.242
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
924
27
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
27
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
308
9
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
9
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
323
9.44
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
9
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.44
9.44
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
20
0.58
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.58
0.58
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.09
0.09
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
120
3.51
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3.38
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
38
1.11
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.51
3.51
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.38
3.38
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
173
5.06
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2.25
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.06
5.06
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.25
2.25
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.79
0.79
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
2
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.951
0.951
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.625
0.625
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
22
0.64
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
1.13
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.29
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
1.13
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.12
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
1.13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1329
38.83
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
41.63
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77
2.25
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
150
4.38
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
4.5
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.38
4.38
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.5
4.5
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.32
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.18
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.438
1.438
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.375
1.375
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1182
34.54
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
37.13
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.68
0.68
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.306
0.306
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.258
0.258
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.83
38.83
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41.63
41.63

Fielding Stats for Joe Grzenda and Rufus Smith

Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
219
6.4
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.09
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
924
27
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
308
9
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.18
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66
1.93
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
2.1
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72
2.1
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.329
0.329
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.37
1.37
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.09
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Grzenda and Rufus Smith

Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
8
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
219
3864.71
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
200
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
34
600
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
600
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
30
529.41
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
600
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.067
0.067
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.265
0.265
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.26
4.66
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
70.59
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.125
0.125
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.067
0.067
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.192
0.192
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.073
0.073
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.182
0.182
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
17.65
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
17.65
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PAverified
-1.14
-20.16
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
-0.32
-64.27
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PAverified
19
335.29
Rufus Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
400
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.79
1.79
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1.5
1.5
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.11
0.11
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
35.29
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Grzenda
Career
Per 600 PA
Rufus Smith
Career
Per 600 PA