Thornton Lee vs. Clay Smith — Career Comparison

Thornton Lee
Greatest GenerationCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaChicago White SoxAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Clay Smith
Greatest GenerationKansasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher

Thornton Lee built a career as a starting pitcher and Clay Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Thornton Lee posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.56 and WHIP 1.358 compared to 5.49 and 1.653 for Clay Smith. By the career numbers, Thornton Lee had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Thornton Lee and Clay Smith

Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
374
1.44
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
4.12
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
272
1.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
117
0.45
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
124
0.48
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.23
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
48.55
48.55
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
72.73
72.73
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.56
5.56
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
155
0.6
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.04
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
921
3.56
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
24
5.49
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.56
3.56
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.49
5.49
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.64
3.64
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.73
5.73
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.68
4.68
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.255
0.255
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.307
0.307
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6994
27
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
118
27
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2331.1
9
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.1
9
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2327
8.98
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
50
11.44
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.98
8.98
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.44
11.44
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
121
0.47
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.92
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.47
0.47
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.92
0.92
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.32
0.32
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.22
0.22
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
838
3.24
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
3.43
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.24
3.24
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.43
3.43
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
937
3.62
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
17
3.89
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.62
3.62
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.89
3.89
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.51
2.51
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.94
0.94
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.761
0.761
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.814
0.814
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.09
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.46
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
43
0.17
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.03
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9999
38.6
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
179
40.96
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
50
0.19
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
2.06
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1105
4.27
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
6.41
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.27
4.27
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.41
6.41
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.358
1.358
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.653
1.653
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9118
35.2
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
163
37.3
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.95
2.95
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.56
1.56
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.274
0.274
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.324
0.324
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.6
38.6
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.96
40.96

Fielding Stats for Thornton Lee and Clay Smith

Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
374
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
67
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
428
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
38
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
533
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
495
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
92.87
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
100
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1.324
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.778
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
21
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Thornton Lee and Clay Smith

Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
375
254.24
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
18
900
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
885
600
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
12
600
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
835
566.1
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
11
550
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.499
0.499
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.125
0.125
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
167
113.22
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
135
91.53
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
24
16.27
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
2.71
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
2.71
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32
21.69
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.192
0.192
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.005
0.005
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.024
0.024
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
43.79
29.69
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.01
0.5
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
211
143.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
195
132.2
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
50
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.226
0.226
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.253
0.253
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.479
0.479
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.053
0.053
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.165
0.165
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.038
0.038
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.346
0.346
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.262
0.262
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
63
42.71
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
66
44.75
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
125
84.75
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
40.01
27.13
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.85
-42.64
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.68
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
27
18.31
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
50
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PAverified
208
141.02
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
300
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.25
4.25
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0.13
0.13
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.17
0.17
Thornton Lee
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
14.92
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
23
15.59
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Thornton Lee
Career
Per 600 PA
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA