Mel Nelson vs. Sidney Williams — Career Comparison

Mel Nelson
Silent GenerationCaliforniaThrows LeftBats RightNorth AmericaLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Sidney Williams
Greatest GenerationGeorgiaThrows RightNorth AmericaNewark EaglesNegro National League IIStarting Pitcher

Sidney Williams 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. Sidney Williams posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.28 and WHIP 1.610 compared to 4.4 and 1.526 for Mel Nelson. By the career numbers, Sidney Williams had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Mel Nelson and Sidney Williams

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93
4.82
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
1.98
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.57
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.66
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.21
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.52
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
28.57
28.57
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.83
11.83
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
33.33
33.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.05
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.66
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.26
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
85
4.4
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
13
4.28
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.28
4.28
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.35
4.35
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.5
4.5
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.55
4.55
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.46
4.46
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.262
0.262
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.274
0.274
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
521
27
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
82
27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
173.2
9
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
27.1
9
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
184
9.54
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
31
10.21
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.54
9.54
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.21
10.21
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
19
0.98
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.98
0.98
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.33
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.2
0.2
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.17
0.17
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
69
3.58
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
4.28
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
0.62
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.58
3.58
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.28
4.28
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
98
5.08
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
1.98
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5.08
5.08
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.98
1.98
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.05
1.05
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.962
0.962
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.695
0.695
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
0.41
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.21
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
776
40.21
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
127
41.82
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
1.61
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.66
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
95
4.92
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
16
5.27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.92
4.92
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.27
5.27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.33
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.66
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.457
1.457
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.61
1.61
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
703
36.43
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
113
37.21
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.02
1.02
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.67
2.67
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.282
0.282
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.283
0.283
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
40.22
40.22
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
41.82
41.82

Fielding Stats for Mel Nelson and Sidney Williams

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
6
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
93
4.82
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
1.44
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
11
0.57
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.87
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
521
27
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
187
27
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
173.2
9
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
62.1
9
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.36
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.87
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
1.71
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
8
1.16
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
2.07
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
2.02
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40
2.07
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
2.02
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
100
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
100
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.43
0.43
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.4
1.4
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.83
11.83
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
60
60
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Mel Nelson and Sidney Williams

Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
6
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
96
1600
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
11
200
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
36
600
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
33
600
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
34
566.67
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
31
563.64
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.147
0.147
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.29
0.29
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.347
0.347
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.87
0.87
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
5
83.33
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
9
163.64
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
83.33
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
4
72.73
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
72.73
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
18.18
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
90.91
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.556
0.556
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.032
0.032
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.111
0.111
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.81
13.46
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.3
96.4
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
5
83.33
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
16
290.91
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
6
100
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
11
200
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.171
0.171
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.147
0.147
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.516
0.516
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.319
0.319
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.849
0.849
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.226
0.226
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.114
0.114
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.279
0.279
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.207
0.207
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.864
0.864
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.238
0.238
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.267
0.267
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
2
33.33
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
54.55
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
3
50
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
54.55
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
5
83.33
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
90.91
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0.26
4.29
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.4
98.12
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
1
16.67
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
36.36
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
13
216.67
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2.77
2.77
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.08
0.08
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
Mel Nelson
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
16.67
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
18.18
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
18.18
Mel Nelson
Career
Per 600 PA
Sidney Williams
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100