Willard Mains vs. Tim Wakefield — Career Comparison

Tim Wakefield built a career as a starting pitcher and Willard Mains as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Willard Mains posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.53 and WHIP 1.550 compared to 4.41 and 1.361 for Tim Wakefield. By the career numbers, Willard Mains had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.