Chris Howard vs. Steve Sparks — Career Comparison

Chris Howard
Gen XMassachusettsThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaBoston Red SoxAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Steve Sparks
Baby BoomersOklahomaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Steve Sparks built a career as a starting pitcher and Chris Howard as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Chris Howard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.13 and WHIP 1.326 compared to 4.88 and 1.502 for Steve Sparks. By the career numbers, Chris Howard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Chris Howard and Steve Sparks

Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
44
8.61
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.39
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
59
0.4
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
0.52
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
43.7
43.7
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.11
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.01
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.2
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.02
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
3.13
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
716
4.88
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.13
3.13
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.88
4.88
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.06
3.06
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.91
4.91
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.37
4.37
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.82
4.82
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.235
0.235
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.28
0.28
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
138
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
46
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
7.83
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
1451
9.9
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.83
7.83
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.9
9.9
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.98
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
154
1.05
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.98
0.98
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.11
0.11
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
3.13
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
520
3.55
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.98
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.08
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.13
3.13
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.55
3.55
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
4.89
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
658
4.49
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.89
4.89
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.44
2.44
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.891
0.891
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.893
0.893
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.39
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
54
0.37
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
52
0.35
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.03
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
191
37.37
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5832
39.77
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
1.17
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
45
0.31
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
3.33
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
800
5.46
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.33
3.33
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.46
5.46
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.39
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.18
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.59
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
54
0.37
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.39
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
128
0.87
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.217
1.217
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.494
1.494
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
170
33.26
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5179
35.32
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.39
0.39
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.96
2.96
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.25
0.25
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.297
0.297
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.37
37.37
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.77
39.77

Fielding Stats for Chris Howard and Steve Sparks

Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
44
8.61
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
270
1.84
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
182
1.24
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
138
27
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3959
27
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
46
9
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1319.2
9
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.39
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
115
0.78
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.78
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
270
1.84
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.09
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
1.17
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
398
2.71
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
1.17
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
385
2.63
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
96.73
96.73
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.136
0.136
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.426
1.426
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
67.41
67.41
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.16
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Chris Howard and Steve Sparks

Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
3
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
9
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
44
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
272
3709.09
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
44
600
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
559.09
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.122
0.122
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.33
0.33
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
68.18
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
54.55
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.86
11.77
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
81.82
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
81.82
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.146
0.146
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.289
0.289
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.024
0.024
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.101
0.101
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.194
0.194
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.208
0.208
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
40.91
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
54.55
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.35
-4.74
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.64
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
17
231.82
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.59
2.59
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.06
0.06
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
27.27
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Chris Howard
Career
Per 600 PA
Steve Sparks
Career
Per 600 PA