Joe Niekro vs. Reggie Richter — Career Comparison

Joe Niekro built a career as a starting pitcher and Reggie Richter as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Reggie Richter posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.13 and WHIP 1.500 compared to 3.59 and 1.339 for Joe Niekro. By the career numbers, Reggie Richter had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.