Mark Johnson vs. Bill Karns — Career Comparison

Mark Johnson built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Karns as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Karns posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 6.35 and WHIP 2.294 compared to 7.5 and 1.750 for Mark Johnson. By the career numbers, Bill Karns had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.