Joe Nathan vs. Bud Smith — Career Comparison

Joe Nathan
Gen XTexasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaMinnesota TwinsAmerican LeagueRelief PitcherAll-Star
Bud Smith
Gen XCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Bud Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Joe Nathan as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Joe Nathan posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.87 and WHIP 1.153 compared to 4.95 and 1.500 for Bud Smith. By the career numbers, Joe Nathan had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Nathan and Bud Smith

Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
787
7.67
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
1.83
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
29
0.28
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
64
0.62
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.47
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
34
0.33
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.54
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
65.31
65.31
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
46.67
46.67
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.68
3.68
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88.89
88.89
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.07
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.07
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
377
3.67
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
294
2.87
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
73
4.95
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.87
2.87
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.95
4.95
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.62
2.62
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.63
4.63
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.26
3.26
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.48
4.48
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.206
0.206
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.284
0.284
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2770
27
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
398
27
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
923.1
9
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
132.2
9
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
690
6.73
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
146
9.9
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.73
6.73
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.9
9.9
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
84
0.82
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
1.09
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.82
0.82
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.09
1.09
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.11
0.11
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
344
3.35
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46
3.12
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
0.3
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.47
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.35
3.35
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.12
3.12
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
976
9.51
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
81
5.49
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.51
9.51
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.5
5.5
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.24
1.24
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.43
1.43
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.957
0.957
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.46
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
23
0.22
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.27
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.02
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.07
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3771
36.76
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
580
39.35
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
587
5.72
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.14
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
317
3.09
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
79
5.36
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.09
3.09
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.36
5.36
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
0.24
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.75
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.23
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.34
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
49
0.48
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.75
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.12
1.12
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.447
1.447
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3355
32.7
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
514
34.87
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.4
0.4
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.93
2.93
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.264
0.264
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.312
0.312
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
36.76
36.76
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.35
39.35

Fielding Stats for Joe Nathan and Bud Smith

Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
16
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
787
7.67
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
1.83
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
29
0.28
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2770
27
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
398
27
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
923.1
9
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
132.2
9
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
0.49
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.2
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
82
0.8
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
21
1.42
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
0.07
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
139
1.35
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
132
1.29
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
94.96
94.96
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.168
0.168
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.889
0.889
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.68
3.68
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88.89
88.89
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.06
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Nathan and Bud Smith

Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
16
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
787
6132.47
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
27
352.17
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
77
600
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
46
600
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
63
490.91
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
39
508.7
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.159
0.159
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.18
0.18
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.578
0.578
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.5
0.5
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10
77.92
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
7
91.3
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
5
38.96
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
78.26
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
23.38
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.04
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
15.58
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
38.96
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.04
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.143
0.143
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4.44
34.6
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1.56
20.37
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
148.05
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
8
104.35
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
101.3
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
9
117.39
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.194
0.194
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.302
0.302
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.205
0.205
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.496
0.496
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.425
0.425
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.026
0.026
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.163
0.163
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.407
0.407
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.303
0.303
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.178
0.178
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.233
0.233
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
31.17
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
31.17
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
26.09
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
46.75
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
26.09
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.22
25.12
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1.46
19.06
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
23.38
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
26.09
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
17
132.47
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
117.39
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
4.53
4.53
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.11
5.11
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0.18
0.18
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
10
77.92
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
5
65.22
Joe Nathan
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.79
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
7.79
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.04
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Nathan
Career
Per 600 PA
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA