Lee Smith vs. Joe Thatcher — Career Comparison

Lee Smith
Baby BoomersLouisianaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueHall of FameRelief PitcherAll-Star
Joe Thatcher
MillenialIndianaThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaSan Diego PadresNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

The numbers give Joe Thatcher a clear advantage over Lee Smith across the core pitching metrics. Joe Thatcher led in home run suppression (HR9+ 224 vs 131), run prevention (ERA+ 189 vs 109), and skill-based run prevention (DICE+ 175 vs 112). Joe Thatcher was the better reliever — the numbers make that case clearly.

Pitching Stats for Lee Smith and Joe Thatcher

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1022
7.13
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
405
13.98
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.04
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.5
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
11
0.38
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
92
0.64
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
0.55
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.56
43.56
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
40.74
40.74
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.59
0.59
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
478
3.34
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.03
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
434
3.03
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
98
3.38
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.03
3.03
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.38
3.38
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.04
3.04
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.58
3.58
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.11
3.11
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.08
3.08
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.237
0.237
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.255
0.255
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
782
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
260.2
9
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1133
7.91
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
252
8.7
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.91
7.91
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.7
8.7
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
89
0.62
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
19
0.66
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.62
0.62
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.66
0.66
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.09
0.09
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.05
0.05
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
486
3.39
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
91
3.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
0.7
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.62
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.39
3.39
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.14
3.14
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1251
8.73
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
270
9.32
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.73
8.73
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9.32
9.32
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.22
1.22
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.67
0.67
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.347
1.347
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.385
1.385
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.33
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.21
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.07
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
14
0.48
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.03
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.07
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5388
37.61
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1122
38.74
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
5.6
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
77
2.66
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
475
3.32
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
106
3.66
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.66
3.66
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
0.44
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
12
0.41
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
38
0.27
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
15
0.52
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
77
0.54
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
0.62
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.256
1.256
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.316
1.316
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4791
33.44
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
990
34.18
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.46
0.46
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.26
0.26
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.303
0.303
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.332
0.332
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.61
37.61
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
38.74
38.74

Fielding Stats for Lee Smith and Joe Thatcher

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1022
7.13
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
405
13.98
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.04
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
782
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
260.2
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.36
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.14
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
111
0.77
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
19
0.66
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.03
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.07
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
167
1.17
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
25
0.86
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
163
1.14
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
23
0.79
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.6
97.6
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
92
92
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.16
0.16
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.057
0.057
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.59
0.59
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.06
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Lee Smith and Joe Thatcher

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
18
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
9
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1023
8645.07
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PAverified
405
243000
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
71
600
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
1
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
64
540.85
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.247
0.247
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.016
0.016
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.33
11.23
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.09
0.09
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.094
0.094
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.183
0.183
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.064
0.064
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.148
0.148
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.095
0.095
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
-3.06
-25.86
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
-0.11
-66.4
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
42
354.93
Joe Thatcher
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
1
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.69
1.69
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
33.8
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Joe Thatcher
Career
Per 600 PA