Bill James vs. Jack O'Connor — Career Comparison

Bill James
Lost GenerationMichiganThrows RightBats SwitchNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Jack O'Connor
Baby BoomersCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaMinnesota TwinsAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Bill James built a career as a starting pitcher and Jack O'Connor as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill James posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.2 and WHIP 1.431 compared to 4.89 and 1.657 for Jack O'Connor. By the career numbers, Bill James had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Bill James and Jack O'Connor

Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
8
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
6
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
203
1.55
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
129
3.64
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
147
1.12
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
28
0.79
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
65
0.5
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
0.4
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
71
0.54
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
0.48
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
47.79
47.79
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
45.16
45.16
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72.41
72.41
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
21.71
21.71
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
68
0.52
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.17
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.07
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.03
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.06
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
420
3.2
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
173
4.89
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.2
3.2
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.89
4.89
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.79
3.79
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.02
5.02
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.08
4.08
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.93
4.93
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.278
0.278
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3539
27
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
956
27
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1179.2
9
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
318.2
9
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1110
8.47
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
343
9.69
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.47
8.47
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.69
9.69
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.12
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
36
1.02
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.12
0.12
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.02
1.02
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.08
0.08
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.28
0.28
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
578
4.41
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
163
4.6
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
22
0.62
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.41
4.41
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.6
4.6
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
408
3.11
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
177
5
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.11
3.11
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.01
2.01
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.37
1.37
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.836
0.836
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.067
1.067
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
32
0.24
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
0.28
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
48
0.37
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.11
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.02
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.06
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4958
37.83
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1426
40.27
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
29
0.22
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37
1.04
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
559
4.26
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
187
5.28
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.26
4.26
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.28
5.28
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.42
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.31
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
1.02
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.431
1.431
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.588
1.588
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4332
33.05
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1233
34.82
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.75
2.75
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.45
1.45
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.28
0.28
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.301
0.301
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.83
37.83
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.27
40.27

Fielding Stats for Bill James and Jack O'Connor

Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
203
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
129
3.64
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
28
0.79
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
956
27
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
318.2
9
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
50
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.28
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
384
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.65
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.08
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
465
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
1.02
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
434
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
0.93
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
93.33
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
91.67
91.67
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2.138
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
21.71
21.71
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.14
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bill James
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Bill James and Jack O'Connor

Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
8
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
6
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
203
294.92
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
129
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
413
600
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
358
520.1
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.436
0.436
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
51
74.09
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
44
63.92
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
8.72
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.45
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
10.17
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.137
0.137
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13.08
19
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
59
85.71
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
81
117.68
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.209
0.209
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.165
0.165
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.374
0.374
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.022
0.022
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.135
0.135
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.291
0.291
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.232
0.232
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
25
36.32
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
17.43
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
37
53.75
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9.26
13.45
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.36
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
27
39.23
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
138
200.48
Jack O'Connor
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.99
2.99
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
25
36.32
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.45
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
2.91
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
4.36
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Bill James
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
33.33
33.33
Jack O'Connor
Career
Per 600 PA