Bill Laxton vs. Merle Settlemire — Career Comparison

Merle Settlemire built a career as a starting pitcher and Bill Laxton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bill Laxton posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.73 and WHIP 1.578 compared to 5.47 and 1.822 for Merle Settlemire. By the career numbers, Bill Laxton had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.