Rex Smith vs. Joe Thatcher — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Rex Smith and Joe Thatcher are fairly close on the surface numbers. Joe Thatcher posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.38 vs 5.5) and WHIP (1.385 vs 2.111). Rex Smith had the advantage in home runs allowed (0 per nine innings vs 0.66). By the career numbers, Joe Thatcher had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.