John Sowders vs. Bob Stoddard — Career Comparison

Bob Stoddard built a career as a starting pitcher and John Sowders as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Bob Stoddard posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 4.03 and WHIP 1.392 compared to 4.29 and 1.698 for John Sowders. By the career numbers, Bob Stoddard had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.