Fred Smith vs. Ron Willis — Career Comparison

Fred Smith
Pre-GenerationalWisconsinThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaCincinnati RedsNational LeagueStarting Pitcher
Ron Willis
Silent GenerationTennesseeThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Fred 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. Fred Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.85 and WHIP 1.336 compared to 3.32 and 1.544 for Ron Willis. By the career numbers, Fred Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Fred Smith and Ron Willis

Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
1.9
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.95
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
0.42
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
0.74
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.45
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
22.22
22.22
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
47.83
47.83
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
0.53
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.11
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
0.72
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
27
2.85
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
88
3.32
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.85
2.85
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.32
3.32
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.76
3.76
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.36
3.36
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
4
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.36
4.36
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.274
0.274
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.232
0.232
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
256
27
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
715
27
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
85.1
9
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
238.1
9
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
90
9.49
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
209
7.89
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.49
9.49
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.89
7.89
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.32
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.57
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.32
0.32
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.57
0.57
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.17
0.17
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.08
0.08
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
2.53
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
119
4.49
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
40
1.51
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.53
2.53
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.49
4.49
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
19
2
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
128
4.83
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.83
4.83
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.06
1.06
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.68
0.68
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.504
0.504
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.036
1.036
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
13
0.49
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4
0.42
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.34
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
356
37.55
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1037
39.16
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
0.95
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
74
2.79
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
44
4.64
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
101
3.81
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.64
4.64
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.15
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.11
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.336
1.336
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.376
1.376
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
328
34.59
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
902
34.06
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.44
2.44
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.54
0.54
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.284
0.284
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.256
0.256
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.55
37.55
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.16
39.16

Fielding Stats for Fred Smith and Ron Willis

Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5
5
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
18
1.91
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
188
7.1
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.95
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
255
27
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
715
27
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
85
9
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
238.1
9
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.64
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
24
0.91
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
25
2.65
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
56
2.11
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.21
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
33
3.49
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
80
3.02
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
31
3.28
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
80
3.02
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
93.94
93.94
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.722
1.722
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.426
0.426
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.23
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Fred Smith and Ron Willis

Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
5
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
18
372.41
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
188
4338.46
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
29
600
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
26
600
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
28
579.31
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
25
576.92
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.107
0.107
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.16
0.16
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.273
0.273
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.404
0.404
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
62.07
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
62.07
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.38
7.87
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.8
18.42
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
62.07
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
115.38
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
62.07
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
5
115.38
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.107
0.107
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.192
0.192
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.107
0.107
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.214
0.214
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.392
0.392
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.04
0.04
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.075
0.075
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.137
0.137
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.16
0.16
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.273
0.273
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.235
0.235
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
20.69
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
1
20.69
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
41.38
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.67
-13.91
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.27
6.2
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
8
165.52
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
8
184.62
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3.63
3.63
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
3.25
3.25
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.13
0.13
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
20.69
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
20.69
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
20.69
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Fred Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
100
100
Ron Willis
Career
Per 600 PA