Joe Sparma vs. Tom Thomas — Career Comparison

Joe Sparma
Silent GenerationOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaDetroit TigersAmerican LeagueStarting Pitcher
Tom Thomas
Pre-GenerationalOhioThrows RightBats RightNorth AmericaSt. Louis CardinalsNational LeagueRelief Pitcher

Joe Sparma built a career as a starting pitcher and Tom Thomas as a reliever — different jobs with different demands — but on the metrics that apply to both, a comparison is still worth making. Tom Thomas posted stronger surface numbers — ERA 3.31 and WHIP 1.355 compared to 3.94 and 1.417 for Joe Sparma. By the career numbers, Tom Thomas had the better of this cross-role comparison — though era context would sharpen the verdict.

Pitching Stats for Joe Sparma and Tom Thomas

Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
7
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
183
1.9
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
1.74
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
142
1.48
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.52
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
52
0.54
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.35
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
52
0.54
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.52
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
50
50
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
40
40
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77.6
77.6
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
30
30
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
31
0.32
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.52
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
0.1
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2
0.35
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
379
3.94
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
19
3.31
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.94
3.94
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.31
3.31
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.91
3.91
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.01
4.01
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.41
4.41
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.81
3.81
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.235
0.235
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.29
0.29
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2594
27
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
155
27
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
864.2
9
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
51.2
9
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
774
8.06
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
60
10.45
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
8.06
8.06
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10.45
10.45
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
77
0.8
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3
0.52
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.8
0.8
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.52
0.52
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.42
0.42
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.3
0.3
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
436
4.54
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
1.74
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
0.16
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
4.54
4.54
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.74
1.74
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
586
6.1
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
15
2.61
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
6.1
6.1
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
2.61
2.61
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3.2
3.2
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.5
1.5
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.182
1.182
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.484
0.484
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
42
0.44
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.17
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
27
0.28
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1
0.17
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
2
0.02
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
3755
39.08
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
218
37.97
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
18
0.19
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
1.22
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
423
4.4
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
37
6.45
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
4.4
4.4
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
6.45
6.45
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.01
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
0.03
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
1.399
1.399
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.355
1.355
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3288
34.22
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
207
36.06
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
2.31
2.31
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3.7
3.7
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
0.266
0.266
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.302
0.302
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
39.08
39.08
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
37.97
37.97

Fielding Stats for Joe Sparma and Tom Thomas

Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
7
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
3
3
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
183
1.91
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
10
1.76
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
142
1.48
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
2593
27
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
153
27
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
864.1
9
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
51
9
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
57
0.59
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
1
0.18
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
98
1.02
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
10
1.76
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
15
0.16
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
3
0.53
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
170
1.77
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
14
2.47
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Innings
155
1.61
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Inningsverified
11
1.94
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
91.18
91.18
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
78.57
78.57
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0.847
0.847
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
1.1
1.1
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
77.6
77.6
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 9 Inningsverified
7
0.07
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 9 Innings
0
0

Hitting Stats for Joe Sparma and Tom Thomas

Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
7
7
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
3
3
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
185
359.22
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
10
230.77
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
309
600
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
26
600
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
269
522.33
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
23
530.77
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.119
0.119
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.174
0.174
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.375
0.375
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.5
0.5
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
32
62.14
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
4
92.31
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
27
52.43
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
3
5.83
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
3.88
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5
9.71
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.156
0.156
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.25
0.25
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
5.92
11.49
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1.3
30.11
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
39
75.73
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
5
115.38
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
42
81.55
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
6
138.46
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.15
0.15
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.24
0.24
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.145
0.145
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.217
0.217
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.295
0.295
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.457
0.457
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.026
0.026
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.044
0.044
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.104
0.104
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.162
0.162
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.206
0.206
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.368
0.368
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0.198
0.198
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0.182
0.182
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
11
21.36
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
11
21.36
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
46.15
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
22
42.72
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
3
69.23
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
-0.86
-1.66
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1.29
29.81
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PA
10
19.42
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PAverified
2
46.15
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
108
209.71
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
23.08
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
2.86
2.86
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
26
26
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0.09
0.09
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
2
2
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
29
56.31
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
1
23.08
Joe Sparma
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
1
1.94
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
1
1.94
Tom Thomas
Careerverified
Per 600 PAverified
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA
0
0
Joe Sparma
Career
Per 600 PA
Tom Thomas
Career
Per 600 PA