Lee Smith vs. Dean Thomas — Career Comparison

Lee Smith
Baby BoomersLouisianaThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaChicago CubsNational LeagueHall of FameRelief PitcherAll-Star
Dean Thomas
Greatest GenerationAlabamaThrows RightNorth AmericaDetroit StarsNegro American LeagueStarting Pitcher

Dean 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 5.49 and 1.542 for Dean 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 Dean Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
1.37
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.07
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
71
0.5
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.31
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
92
0.64
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5
0.76
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
43.56
43.56
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
28.57
28.57
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77.78
77.78
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.46
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
478
3.34
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
434
3.03
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
36
5.49
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.03
3.03
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.49
5.49
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.04
3.04
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.45
4.45
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.11
3.11
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.14
4.14
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.237
0.237
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.276
0.276
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
177
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
59
9
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
1133
7.91
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
64
9.76
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7.91
7.91
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
9.76
9.76
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
89
0.62
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4
0.61
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.62
0.62
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.61
0.61
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.09
0.09
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.44
0.44
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
486
3.39
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
27
4.12
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
100
0.7
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.39
3.39
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.12
4.12
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1251
8.73
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
33
5.03
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.73
8.73
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
5.03
5.03
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.22
1.22
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.67
3.67
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.347
1.347
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.017
1.017
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
47
0.33
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
0.07
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
5388
37.61
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
267
40.73
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
802
5.6
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.31
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
475
3.32
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
44
6.71
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.32
3.32
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.71
6.71
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
63
0.44
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
7
1.07
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
38
0.27
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.15
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
77
0.54
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
1.68
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.256
1.256
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.542
1.542
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
4791
33.44
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
232
35.39
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.46
0.46
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.89
4.89
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.303
0.303
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.308
0.308
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.61
37.61
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
40.73
40.73

Fielding Stats for Lee Smith and Dean Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
18
18
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1022
7.13
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
9
1.37
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
6
0.04
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.07
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3868
27
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
177
27
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
1289.1
9
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
59
9
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.36
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.15
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
111
0.77
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
2.29
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
4
0.03
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
167
1.17
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
2.44
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
163
1.14
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
16
2.44
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
97.6
97.6
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
100
100
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.16
0.16
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.778
1.778
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.59
0.59
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77.78
77.78
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
9
0.06
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.31
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Lee Smith and Dean Thomas

Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
18
18
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
2
2
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1023
8645.07
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
10
285.71
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
71
600
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
21
600
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
64
540.85
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
18
514.29
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.047
0.047
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.056
0.056
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.247
0.247
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.262
0.262
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
28.57
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
28.57
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
8.45
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.016
0.016
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.333
0.333
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.33
11.23
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.11
3.14
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
6
50.7
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
1
28.57
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
6
50.7
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
57.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
0.09
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.105
0.105
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.094
0.094
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.056
0.056
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.183
0.183
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.161
0.161
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.047
0.047
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.064
0.064
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.061
0.061
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.148
0.148
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.118
0.118
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.095
0.095
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.056
0.056
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
2
16.9
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
114.29
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
16.9
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
4
114.29
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
-3.06
-25.86
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
-0.73
-20.96
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
25.35
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
28.57
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
42
354.93
Dean Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.69
1.69
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.07
0.07
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
Lee Smith
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
4
33.8
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
57.14
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Lee Smith
Career
Per 600 PA
Dean Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA