Larry Hardy vs. Steve Sparks — Career Comparison

Larry Hardy
Baby BoomersTexasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSan Diego PadresNational LeagueRelief Pitcher
Steve Sparks
Baby BoomersOklahomaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Steve Sparks built a career as a starting pitcher and Larry Hardy as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Steve Sparks posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.88 and WHIP 1.502 compared to 5.29 and 1.929 for Larry Hardy. By the career numbers, Steve Sparks had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Larry Hardy and Steve Sparks

Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
94
6.71
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.07
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.64
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
59
0.4
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.29
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
0.52
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
69.23
69.23
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
43.7
43.7
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.06
1.06
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.11
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.01
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.36
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.02
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
74
5.29
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
716
4.88
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.29
5.29
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.88
4.88
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.22
6.22
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.91
4.91
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.67
4.67
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.82
4.82
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.331
0.331
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.28
0.28
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
378
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
126
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
171
12.21
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1451
9.9
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
12.21
12.21
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.9
9.9
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
154
1.05
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.15
0.15
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
56
4
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
520
3.55
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
16
1.14
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.08
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
4
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.55
3.55
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
70
5
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
658
4.49
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.74
0.74
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.44
2.44
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
1
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.893
0.893
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.36
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.37
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
52
0.35
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.03
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
592
42.29
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5832
39.77
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
2.64
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
45
0.31
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
83
5.93
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
800
5.46
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.93
5.93
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.46
5.46
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
1.07
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.18
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.29
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.37
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.93
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
128
0.87
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.802
1.802
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.494
1.494
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
517
36.93
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5179
35.32
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.88
0.88
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.96
2.96
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.363
0.363
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.297
0.297
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
42.29
42.29
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.77
39.77

Fielding Stats for Larry Hardy and Steve Sparks

Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
94
6.71
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.07
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
378
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
126
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.43
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
115
0.78
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
26
1.86
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.21
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
0.09
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
35
2.5
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
398
2.71
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
32
2.29
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
385
2.63
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
91.43
91.43
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.73
96.73
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.34
0.34
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.426
1.426
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.06
1.06
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.21
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
24
0.16
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Larry Hardy and Steve Sparks

Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
3
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
9
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PAverified
94
4338.46
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
272
3709.09
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
13
600
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
44
600
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
12
553.85
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
559.09
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.122
0.122
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.115
0.115
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.33
0.33
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
68.18
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
54.55
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.01
0.42
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.86
11.77
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
81.82
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
1
46.15
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
81.82
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.077
0.077
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.146
0.146
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.077
0.077
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.289
0.289
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.024
0.024
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.035
0.035
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.101
0.101
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.194
0.194
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.208
0.208
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
46.15
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.64
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
40.91
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
1
46.15
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
54.55
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.96
-44.49
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.35
-4.74
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
46.15
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.64
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
323.08
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PAverified
17
231.82
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
1.86
1.86
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.59
2.59
Larry Hardy
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.14
0.14
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0.06
0.06
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
27.27
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Larry Hardy
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA