Al Smith vs. Ron Willis — Career Comparison

Al Smith
Greatest GenerationIllinoisThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaCleveland GuardiansAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star
Ron Willis
Silent GenerationTennesseeThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Al Smith built a career as a starting pitcher and Ron Willis as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Ron Willis posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.32 and WHIP 1.544 compared to 3.72 and 1.380 for Al Smith. By the career numbers, Ron Willis had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Al Smith and Ron Willis

Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
12
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
5
5
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
356
1.93
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
202
1.09
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
99
0.54
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.42
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
101
0.55
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.45
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
49.5
49.5
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
47.83
47.83
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
56.74
56.74
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
75
0.41
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.09
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
0.09
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.72
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
688
3.72
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
88
3.32
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.72
3.72
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.84
3.84
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.36
3.36
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.15
4.15
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.36
4.36
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.263
0.263
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.232
0.232
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4987
27
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
715
27
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1662.1
9
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
238.1
9
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1707
9.24
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
209
7.89
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.24
9.24
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.89
7.89
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
94
0.51
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
0.57
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.51
0.51
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.26
0.26
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.08
0.08
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
587
3.18
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
119
4.49
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
40
1.51
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.18
3.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
587
3.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
128
4.83
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.18
3.18
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.83
4.83
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.65
1.65
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.706
0.706
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.036
1.036
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.15
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
0.49
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
32
0.17
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.34
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.02
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7112
38.5
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1037
39.16
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
96
0.52
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
74
2.79
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
827
4.48
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
101
3.81
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.48
4.48
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.15
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.11
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.38
1.38
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.376
1.376
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6493
35.15
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
902
34.06
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.32
2.32
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.54
0.54
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.278
0.278
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
38.5
38.5
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.16
39.16

Fielding Stats for Al Smith and Ron Willis

Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
356
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
715
27
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
238.1
9
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
55
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.91
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
367
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
56
2.11
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
439
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
80
3.02
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
422
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
80
3.02
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
96.13
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1.185
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.426
0.426
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
26
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.23
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Al Smith and Ron Willis

Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
12
12
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
5
5
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
359
353.69
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
188
4338.46
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
609
600
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
26
600
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
535
527.09
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
25
576.92
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.191
0.191
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.16
0.16
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.535
0.535
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.404
0.404
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
102
100.49
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
4
92.31
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
87
85.71
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
3
69.23
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
12
11.82
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
0.99
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
1.97
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
15
14.78
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.147
0.147
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.004
0.004
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.02
0.02
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
30.63
30.18
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.8
18.42
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
122
120.2
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
5
115.38
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
157
154.68
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
5
115.38
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.266
0.266
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.192
0.192
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.228
0.228
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.2
0.2
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.494
0.494
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.392
0.392
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.037
0.037
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.04
0.04
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.177
0.177
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.137
0.137
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.393
0.393
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.273
0.273
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.234
0.234
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.235
0.235
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
48
47.29
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
38
37.44
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
84
82.76
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
32.32
31.85
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.27
6.2
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
3.94
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
51
50.25
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
106
104.43
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
8
184.62
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5.75
5.75
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
3.25
3.25
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.48
0.48
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0.13
0.13
Al Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
18.72
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
18
17.73
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Al Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA