Red Patterson vs. Dave Smith — Career Comparison

Red Patterson built a career as a starting pitcher and Dave Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Red Patterson posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 1.93 and WHIP 1.071 compared to 2.67 and 1.294 for Dave Smith. By the career numbers, Red Patterson had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.