Rex Smith vs. Rube Washington — Career Comparison

Rube Washington built a career as a starting pitcher and Rex Smith as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Rube Washington posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 2.64 and WHIP 1.174 compared to 5.5 and 2.111 for Rex Smith. By the career numbers, Rube Washington had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.