Ron Mathis vs. Lee Smith — Career Comparison

Ron Mathis
Baby BoomersMissouriThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaHouston AstrosAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Lee Smith
Baby BoomersLouisianaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueHall of FameRelief PitcherAll-Star

Ron Mathis built a career as a starting pitcher and Lee Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lee Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.03 and WHIP 1.333 compared to 5.93 and 1.610 for Ron Mathis. By the career numbers, Lee Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Ron Mathis and Lee Smith

Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
3.4
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.88
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.33
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.5
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6
0.66
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
92
0.64
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
33.33
33.33
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.56
43.56
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
25.81
25.81
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.11
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
478
3.34
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
54
5.93
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
434
3.03
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.93
5.93
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.03
3.03
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.14
5.14
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.04
3.04
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.83
4.83
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.11
3.11
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.285
0.285
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.237
0.237
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
246
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
82
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
93
10.21
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1133
7.91
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.21
10.21
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.91
7.91
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.99
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
89
0.62
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.99
0.99
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.62
0.62
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.29
0.29
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
38
4.17
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
486
3.39
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.11
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
0.7
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.17
4.17
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.39
3.39
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
42
4.61
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1251
8.73
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.61
4.61
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.73
8.73
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.35
1.35
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.22
1.22
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.976
0.976
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.347
1.347
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.11
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.33
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.11
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.07
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
374
41.05
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5388
37.61
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.88
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
5.6
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
62
6.8
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
475
3.32
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.8
6.8
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.55
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
63
0.44
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.44
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
38
0.27
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.22
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77
0.54
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.598
1.598
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.256
1.256
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
326
35.78
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4791
33.44
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.46
0.46
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.306
0.306
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.303
0.303
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41.05
41.05
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.61
37.61

Fielding Stats for Ron Mathis and Lee Smith

Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
31
3.4
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.88
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
246
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
82
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.77
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
52
0.36
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
1.32
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
111
0.77
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.22
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.03
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
2.3
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
167
1.17
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
2.09
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
163
1.14
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
90.48
90.48
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.6
97.6
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.613
0.613
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.16
0.16
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
25.81
25.81
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.06
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Ron Mathis and Lee Smith

Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
18
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
31
978.95
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1023
8645.07
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
19
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
71
600
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
16
505.26
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
64
540.85
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.063
0.063
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.047
0.047
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.29
0.29
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.247
0.247
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.016
0.016
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.12
3.91
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.33
11.23
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
31.58
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
63.16
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
50.7
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.118
0.118
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
0.09
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.063
0.063
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.094
0.094
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.18
0.18
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.183
0.183
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.069
0.069
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.064
0.064
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.133
0.133
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.148
0.148
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.111
0.111
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.095
0.095
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.61
-19.22
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-3.06
-25.86
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
31.58
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
221.05
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
42
354.93
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.71
2.71
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1.69
1.69
Ron Mathis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.14
0.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.07
0.07
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
63.16
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
33.8
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Mathis
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA