Bill Phebus vs. Ed Smith — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Bill Phebus and Ed Smith are fairly close on the surface numbers. Ed Smith posted stronger numbers in WHIP (1.332 vs 1.491) and home runs allowed (0.17 per nine innings vs 0.66). Bill Phebus had the advantage in ERA (3.31 vs 3.72). By the career numbers, Ed Smith had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.