Luther McDonald vs. Ken Polivka — Career Comparison

Luther McDonald
Greatest GenerationMississippiThrows RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis StarsNegro National LeagueStarting Pitcher
Ken Polivka
Greatest GenerationIllinoisThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCincinnati RedsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Luther McDonald built a career as a starting pitcher and Ken Polivka as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ken Polivka posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3 and WHIP 2.000 compared to 4.28 and 1.486 for Luther McDonald. By the career numbers, Ken Polivka had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Luther McDonald and Ken Polivka

Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
99
1.7
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
6
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
1
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
36
0.62
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
26
0.45
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58.06
58.06
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58.59
58.59
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
34
0.59
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.03
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.03
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
249
4.28
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
3
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.28
4.28
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.54
4.54
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.48
5.48
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.82
3.82
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.33
5.33
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.309
0.309
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.25
0.25
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1569
27
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
27
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
523
9
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
9
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
648
11.15
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
9
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.15
11.15
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
9
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.43
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.25
0.25
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
129
2.22
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
9
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.22
2.22
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
160
2.75
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
3
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.75
2.75
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.62
1.62
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.5
0.5
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.553
0.553
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.333
1.333
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.05
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.22
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2305
39.67
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
45
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
24
0.41
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
6
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
307
5.28
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
3
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.28
5.28
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
1.08
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41
0.71
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.486
1.486
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2100
36.14
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
36
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.1
3.1
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.5
0.5
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.325
0.325
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.273
0.273
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.67
39.67
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
45
45

Fielding Stats for Luther McDonald and Ken Polivka

Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
1.72
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
1
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1569
27
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
523
9
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8
0.14
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
169
2.91
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.12
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
184
3.17
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
177
3.05
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
96.2
96.2
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.77
1.77
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
58
58
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.09
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Luther McDonald and Ken Polivka

Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
6
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
1
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
110
305.56
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
2
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
216
600
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
208
577.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.216
0.216
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.52
0.52
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
45
125
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
37
102.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
16.67
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
22.22
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.178
0.178
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.005
0.005
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.022
0.022
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13.33
37.01
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
56
155.56
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
50
138.89
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.235
0.235
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.269
0.269
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.504
0.504
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.053
0.053
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.173
0.173
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.38
0.38
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.214
0.214
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22
61.11
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
30.56
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32
88.89
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
14.52
40.32
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
13.89
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
1
2.78
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
216
216
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
5
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
8.33
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
2.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Luther McDonald
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA