Clay Smith vs. Luis Tiant — Career Comparison

Clay Smith
Greatest GenerationKansasThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueRelief Pitcher
Luis Tiant
Silent GenerationCubaThrows RightBats RightCaribbeanBoston Red SoxAmerican LeagueStarting PitcherAll-Star

Luis Tiant built a career as a starting pitcher and Clay Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Luis Tiant posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.3 and WHIP 1.214 compared to 5.49 and 1.653 for Clay Smith. By the career numbers, Luis Tiant had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Clay Smith and Luis Tiant

Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
19
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
4.12
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
573
1.48
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
484
1.25
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
229
0.59
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.23
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
172
0.44
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
50
50
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
57.11
57.11
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.56
5.56
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
84.47
84.47
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
187
0.48
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
49
0.13
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.04
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
24
5.49
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1280
3.3
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.49
5.49
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.3
3.3
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.73
5.73
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.16
3.16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.68
4.68
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.9
3.9
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.307
0.307
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.235
0.235
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
118
27
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
10459
27
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
39.1
9
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3486.1
9
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
50
11.44
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3075
7.94
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
11.44
11.44
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.94
7.94
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.92
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
346
0.89
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.92
0.92
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.89
0.89
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.22
0.22
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.6
0.6
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
3.43
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1104
2.85
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
53
0.14
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.43
3.43
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.85
2.85
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
17
3.89
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2416
6.24
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.89
3.89
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.24
6.24
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.94
0.94
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.22
4.22
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.814
0.814
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.01
1.01
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.46
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
0.07
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.23
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
49
0.13
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.01
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
179
40.96
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14365
37.08
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
2.06
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
51
0.13
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
28
6.41
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1400
3.61
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.41
6.41
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.61
3.61
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
76
0.2
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
55
0.14
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
119
0.31
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.653
1.653
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.199
1.199
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
163
37.3
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13081
33.77
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.56
1.56
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.44
2.44
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.324
0.324
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.265
0.265
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.96
40.96
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.08
37.08

Fielding Stats for Clay Smith and Luis Tiant

Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
19
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
573
1.48
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
484
1.25
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10459
27
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3486.1
9
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
221
0.57
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
12
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
389
1
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
35
0.09
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
645
1.67
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
610
1.57
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
100
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
94.57
94.57
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.778
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.065
1.065
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
84.47
84.47
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
0.08
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Clay Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Clay Smith and Luis Tiant

Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
19
19
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
18
900
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
573
603.16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
12
600
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
570
600
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
11
550
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
513
540
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.164
0.164
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.125
0.125
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.462
0.462
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
84
88.42
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
64
67.37
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
14
14.74
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
5.26
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
20
21.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.238
0.238
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.01
0.01
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.06
0.06
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.01
0.5
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
21.77
22.92
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
115
121.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
50
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
98
103.16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.185
0.185
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.224
0.224
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.083
0.083
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.41
0.41
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.061
0.061
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.038
0.038
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.139
0.139
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.091
0.091
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.296
0.296
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.217
0.217
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
36
37.89
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
44
46.32
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
75
78.95
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.85
-42.64
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
13.18
13.88
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
50
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
13
13.68
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
300
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 600 PAverified
146
153.68
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.9
3.9
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.17
0.17
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
0.09
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
41
43.16
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
2.11
Clay Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Luis Tiant
Career
Per 600 PA
10
10.53
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.05
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
2.11
Clay Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Luis Tiant
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
50
50