Unknown Howard vs. Al Smith — Career Comparison

Al Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Unknown Howard as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Unknown Howard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.45 and WHIP 1.636 compared to 3.72 and 1.380 for Al Smith. By the career numbers, Unknown Howard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.