Tom Johnson vs. Al Smith — Career Comparison

Al Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Tom Johnson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tom Johnson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.39 and WHIP 1.434 compared to 3.72 and 1.380 for Al Smith. By the career numbers, Tom Johnson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.