James Shields vs. Pop Williams — Career Comparison

James Shields built a career as a starting pitcher and Pop Williams as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Pop Williams posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.17 and WHIP 1.395 compared to 4.01 and 1.280 for James Shields. By the career numbers, Pop Williams had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.