Sam McDowell vs. Ken Polivka — Career Comparison

Sam McDowell
Silent GenerationPennsylvaniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCleveland GuardiansAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Ken Polivka
Greatest GenerationIllinoisThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCincinnati RedsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Sam McDowell 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 3.17 and 1.338 for Sam McDowell. By the career numbers, Ken Polivka had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Sam McDowell and Ken Polivka

Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
425
1.53
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
6
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
346
1.25
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
141
0.51
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
134
0.48
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
51.27
51.27
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
81.41
81.41
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
103
0.37
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.08
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
0.05
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
879
3.17
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
3
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.17
3.17
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.18
3.18
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.48
5.48
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.54
3.54
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.33
5.33
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.213
0.213
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.25
0.25
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7477
27
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
27
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2492.1
9
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
9
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1948
7.03
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
9
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.03
7.03
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
164
0.59
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.39
0.39
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1312
4.74
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
9
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
74
0.27
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.74
4.74
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2453
8.86
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
3
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.86
8.86
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.77
5.77
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.5
0.5
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.511
1.511
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.333
1.333
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
140
0.51
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
59
0.21
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.03
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10587
38.23
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
45
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
39
0.14
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
6
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
999
3.61
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
3
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.61
3.61
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
39
0.14
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
0.08
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.06
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.308
1.308
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9156
33.06
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
36
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.35
2.35
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.5
0.5
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.273
0.273
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.273
0.273
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.23
38.23
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
45
45

Fielding Stats for Sam McDowell and Ken Polivka

Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
15
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
427
1.54
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
346
1.25
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7480
27
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2493.1
9
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
80
0.29
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
328
1.18
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
0.12
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
441
1.59
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
408
1.47
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
92.52
92.52
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.956
0.956
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
81.03
81.03
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.08
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Sam McDowell and Ken Polivka

Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
15
15
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
1
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
429
302.47
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
2
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
851
600
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
774
545.71
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.154
0.154
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.4
0.4
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
119
83.9
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
108
76.15
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
4.94
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
1.41
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
1.41
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
7.76
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.092
0.092
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.003
0.003
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.017
0.017
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
22.45
15.83
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
136
95.89
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
136
95.89
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.171
0.171
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.176
0.176
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.347
0.347
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.022
0.022
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.121
0.121
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.231
0.231
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.249
0.249
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
34
23.97
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
36
25.38
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
68
47.94
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9.65
6.81
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.71
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
11.28
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 600 PA
306
215.75
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.78
2.78
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.05
0.05
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
56
39.48
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
2.82
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 600 PA
6
4.23
Ken Polivka
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.71
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.71
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA
0
Sam McDowell
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ken Polivka
Career
Per 600 PA