Lee Smith vs. Claude Thomas — Career Comparison

Lee Smith
Baby BoomersLouisianaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueHall of FameRelief PitcherAll-Star
Claude Thomas
Lost GenerationMissouriThrows LeftBats LeftNorth AmericaWashington SenatorsAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher

Claude Thomas built a career as a starting pitcher and Lee Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Lee Smith posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.03 and WHIP 1.333 compared to 4.13 and 1.376 for Claude Thomas. By the career numbers, Lee Smith had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Lee Smith and Claude Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
2.22
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
1.27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.5
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.32
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
92
0.64
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.64
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.56
43.56
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
33.33
33.33
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
57.14
57.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.32
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.32
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
478
3.34
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
434
3.03
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
13
4.13
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.03
3.03
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.13
4.13
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.04
3.04
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.98
3.98
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.11
3.11
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.45
4.45
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.237
0.237
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.265
0.265
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
85
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
28.1
9
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1133
7.91
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
27
8.58
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.91
7.91
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
8.58
8.58
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
89
0.62
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.32
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.62
0.62
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.32
0.32
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.14
0.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
486
3.39
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
12
3.81
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
0.7
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.39
3.39
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.81
3.81
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1251
8.73
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
2.22
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.73
8.73
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.22
2.22
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.22
1.22
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.347
1.347
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.671
0.671
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
47
0.33
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.64
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.07
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2
0.64
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.03
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1
0.32
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
5388
37.61
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
116
36.85
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
5.6
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.64
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
475
3.32
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
14
4.45
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.45
4.45
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
63
0.44
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
38
0.27
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77
0.54
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.256
1.256
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.377
1.377
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4791
33.44
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
102
32.4
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.46
0.46
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.303
0.303
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.277
0.277
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
37.61
37.61
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
36.85
36.85

Fielding Stats for Lee Smith and Claude Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6
0.04
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3868
27
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1289.1
9
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.36
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
111
0.77
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
7
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
167
1.17
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
163
1.14
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
97.6
97.6
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
90
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.16
0.16
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1.286
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.59
0.59
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
9
0.06
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0

Hitting Stats for Lee Smith and Claude Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
18
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1023
8645.07
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
7
420
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
71
600
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
10
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
64
540.85
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
10
600
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.047
0.047
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.1
0.1
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.247
0.247
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.2
0.2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.016
0.016
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.33
11.23
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
5.34
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
50.7
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
50.7
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
0.09
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.1
0.1
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.094
0.094
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.1
0.1
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.183
0.183
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.2
0.2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.064
0.064
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.148
0.148
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.111
0.111
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.095
0.095
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
60
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-3.06
-25.86
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.4
-23.83
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
3
25.35
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PAverified
42
354.93
Claude Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
7
420
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.69
1.69
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
1.43
1.43
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
33.8
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Claude Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA