John Hobbs vs. Billy O'Dell — Career Comparison

Billy O'Dell built a career as a starting pitcher and John Hobbs as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. John Hobbs posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.18 and WHIP 2.118 compared to 3.29 and 1.276 for Billy O'Dell. By the career numbers, John Hobbs had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.