Emmett O'Neill vs. Walter Thornton — Career Comparison

Emmett O'Neill built a career as a starting pitcher and Walter Thornton as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Walter Thornton posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.18 and WHIP 1.537 compared to 4.76 and 1.709 for Emmett O'Neill. By the career numbers, Walter Thornton had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.