Merrill Kelly vs. George Shears — Career Comparison

Merrill Kelly built a career as a starting pitcher and George Shears as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Merrill Kelly posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.77 and WHIP 1.207 compared to 5.4 and 2.333 for George Shears. By the career numbers, Merrill Kelly had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.