Cliff Lee vs. Nelson Thomas — Career Comparison

Cliff Lee
Gen XArkansasThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCleveland GuardiansAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherCy Young AwardAll-Star
Nelson Thomas
UnknownThrows RightNewark EaglesNegro National League IIRelief Pitcher

Cliff Lee built a career as a starting pitcher and Nelson Thomas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Nelson Thomas posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.59 and WHIP 1.059 compared to 3.52 and 1.202 for Cliff Lee. By the career numbers, Nelson Thomas had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Cliff Lee and Nelson Thomas

Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
2.38
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
143
0.6
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.79
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
91
0.38
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
61.11
61.11
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
66.67
66.67
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.67
16.67
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
29
0.12
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.05
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
843
3.52
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.59
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.52
3.52
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.59
1.59
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.37
3.37
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.71
1.71
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.37
3.37
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.18
3.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.255
0.255
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.184
0.184
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
68
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
22.2
9
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2116
8.83
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
5.56
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.83
8.83
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.56
5.56
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
223
0.93
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.93
0.93
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
464
1.94
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10
3.97
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
0.05
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.94
1.94
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.97
3.97
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1824
7.61
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
5.16
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.61
7.61
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.16
5.16
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.56
5.56
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.17
2.17
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.061
1.061
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.015
1.015
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
41
0.17
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
0.21
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.01
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8917
37.21
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
89
35.34
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.59
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
923
3.85
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
3.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.85
3.85
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.18
3.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
53
0.22
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
1.19
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
54
0.23
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
166
0.69
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.79
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.196
1.196
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.059
1.059
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8296
34.62
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
30.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.81
2.81
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.33
1.33
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.303
0.303
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.222
0.222
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.21
37.21
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
35.34
35.34

Fielding Stats for Cliff Lee and Nelson Thomas

Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
13
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
328
1.37
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
2.38
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
324
1.35
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6470
27
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
68
27
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2156.2
9
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
22.2
9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
83
0.35
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
188
0.78
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
2.78
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
0.08
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
289
1.21
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
3.18
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
271
1.13
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
3.18
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.77
93.77
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.826
0.826
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.333
1.333
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98.78
98.78
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
16.67
16.67
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
0.05
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Cliff Lee and Nelson Thomas

Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13
13
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
337
629.91
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
6
360
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
321
600
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
10
600
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
291
543.93
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
10
600
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.175
0.175
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.468
0.468
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
0.9
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
51
95.33
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
240
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
41
76.64
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
180
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
13.08
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10
18.69
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.196
0.196
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.007
0.007
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.039
0.039
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
12.47
23.32
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1.83
109.8
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
66
123.36
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
300
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
56
104.67
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
240
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.189
0.189
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.227
0.227
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.415
0.415
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.9
0.9
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.052
0.052
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.1
0.1
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.142
0.142
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.305
0.305
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.298
0.298
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.833
0.833
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.272
0.272
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
18
33.64
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
19
35.51
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
35
65.42
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
120
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8.75
16.36
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2.03
121.55
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
9.35
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
110
205.61
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.92
2.92
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
44.86
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.87
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
3
5.61
Nelson Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.74
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
7.48
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Cliff Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
50
50
Nelson Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA