Christy Mathewson vs. Vance McIlree — Career Comparison

Christy Mathewson built a career as a starting pitcher and Vance McIlree as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Christy Mathewson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.13 and WHIP 1.058 compared to 9 and 1.000 for Vance McIlree. By the career numbers, Christy Mathewson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.