Henry Mathewson vs. Tex Shirley — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Henry Mathewson and Tex Shirley are fairly close on the surface numbers. Tex Shirley posted stronger numbers in ERA (4.25 vs 4.91) and WHIP (1.641 vs 2.000). Henry Mathewson had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.4). By the career numbers, Tex Shirley had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.