Mel Nelson vs. Bud Smith — Career Comparison

Mel Nelson
Silent GenerationCaliforniaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Bud Smith
Gen XCaliforniaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher

Bud Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Mel Nelson as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mel Nelson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.4 and WHIP 1.526 compared to 4.95 and 1.500 for Bud Smith. By the career numbers, Mel Nelson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Mel Nelson and Bud Smith

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93
4.82
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
1.83
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.57
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.21
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.47
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.52
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
8
0.54
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
28.57
28.57
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46.67
46.67
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.83
11.83
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88.89
88.89
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.05
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.07
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.07
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.26
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
85
4.4
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
73
4.95
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.41
4.41
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.95
4.95
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.35
4.35
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.63
4.63
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.55
4.55
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.48
4.48
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.262
0.262
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.284
0.284
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
521
27
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
398
27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
173.2
9
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
132.2
9
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
184
9.54
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
146
9.9
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.54
9.54
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.9
9.9
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.98
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
1.09
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.98
0.98
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.09
1.09
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.2
0.2
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
69
3.58
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
46
3.12
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
0.62
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.47
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.58
3.58
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.12
3.12
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
98
5.08
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
81
5.49
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.08
5.08
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.5
5.5
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.05
1.05
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
3
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.962
0.962
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.957
0.957
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.41
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.21
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.07
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
776
40.21
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
580
39.35
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
1.61
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.14
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
4.92
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
79
5.36
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.92
4.92
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.36
5.36
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.75
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
0.34
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.75
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.457
1.457
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.447
1.447
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
703
36.43
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
514
34.87
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.02
1.02
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.93
2.93
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.282
0.282
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.312
0.312
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.22
40.22
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.35
39.35

Fielding Stats for Mel Nelson and Bud Smith

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93
4.82
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
1.83
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.57
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
1.63
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
521
27
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
398
27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
173.2
9
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
132.2
9
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.36
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
1.71
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
21
1.42
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
2.07
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
1.63
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
2.07
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
24
1.63
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
100
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
100
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.889
0.889
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.83
11.83
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88.89
88.89
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Mel Nelson and Bud Smith

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
6
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
96
1600
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
27
352.17
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
36
600
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
46
600
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
34
566.67
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
39
508.7
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.147
0.147
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.18
0.18
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.347
0.347
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
5
83.33
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
91.3
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
83.33
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
78.26
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.04
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
13.04
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.143
0.143
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.81
13.46
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.56
20.37
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
5
83.33
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
8
104.35
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
6
100
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
117.39
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.171
0.171
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.147
0.147
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.205
0.205
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.319
0.319
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.425
0.425
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.026
0.026
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.114
0.114
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.15
0.15
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.207
0.207
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.303
0.303
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.238
0.238
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.233
0.233
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
33.33
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
50
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
26.09
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
83.33
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
26.09
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
4.29
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.46
19.06
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
16.67
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
26.09
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
13
216.67
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
117.39
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
2.77
2.77
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.11
5.11
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.08
0.08
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.22
0.22
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
16.67
Bud Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
65.22
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
13.04
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Bud Smith
Career
Per 600 PA