Earnest Long vs. Mark Mercer — Career Comparison

Earnest Long built a career as a starting pitcher and Mark Mercer as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mark Mercer posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.7 and WHIP 1.826 compared to 5 and 1.889 for Earnest Long. By the career numbers, Mark Mercer had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.