Mariano Rivera vs. Vern Underhill — Career Comparison

Vern Underhill built a career as a starting pitcher and Mariano Rivera as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Mariano Rivera posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.21 and WHIP 1.032 compared to 5.7 and 2.092 for Vern Underhill. By the career numbers, Mariano Rivera had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.