Doug Drabek vs Orel Hershiser: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser has the better career line of the two, leading 10 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Doug Drabek played 1986–1998 as a pitcher; Orel Hershiser played 1983–2000 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Doug Drabek (1986–1998) and Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Doug Drabek finished with 155 wins and 1,594 strikeouts; Orel Hershiser finished with 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Doug Drabek's 3.73.
- Who won more games? Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Doug Drabek's 155.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Doug Drabek's 1,594.
- Who had the better WHIP? Doug Drabek, with 1.24 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Orel Hershiser, with 3,130.1 to Doug Drabek's 2,535.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Orel Hershiser, with 25 to Doug Drabek's 21.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Orel Hershiser, with 37,276 career Pitcher PIV to Doug Drabek's 18,199.
Doug Drabek
Orel Hershiser
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. 12 of the 16 lines below are scored; the other 4 are counting totals on which fewer is not an achievement, so no one is awarded them. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted, so read them against the run environment each player worked in, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Doug Drabek | Orel Hershiser |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 155 | Leads: 204 |
| Losses not scored | 134 | 150 |
| Games | 398 | Leads: 510 |
| Games Started | 387 | Leads: 466 |
| Complete Games | 53 | Leads: 68 |
| Shutouts | 21 | Leads: 25 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Strikeouts | 1,594 | Leads: 2,014 |
| Walks not scored | 704 | 1,007 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,448 | 2,939 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 246 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,535.0 | Leads: 3,130.1 |
| ERA | 3.73 | Leads: 3.48 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.24 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 5.66 | Leads: 5.79 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.50 | 2.90 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orel Hershiser outpaces Doug Drabek 37,276 to 18,199 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,071 PIV per season to 1,400, across 18 seasons to 13. PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
PIV is computed through the 2025 season. The career totals on this page include 2026 to date, so PIV does not yet reflect the 2026 season.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Doug Drabek — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Orel Hershiser — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Orel Hershiser leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and K/9, while Doug Drabek owns WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Orel Hershiser. PIV agrees: Orel Hershiser grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Doug Drabek and Orel Hershiser careers compare
Doug Drabek and Orel Hershiser were active at the same time between 1986 and 1998. With 398 games against 510 across 13 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Doug Drabek's edges on the table are WHIP (1.24 to 1.26) and walks per nine (2.50 to 2.90). The per-nine rows read 5.66 strikeouts and 2.50 walks for Doug Drabek, 5.79 and 2.90 for Orel Hershiser. Doug Drabek was mainly a starter (387 starts in 398 games), and Orel Hershiser was mainly a starter (466 starts in 510 games). Doug Drabek allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.24 WHIP to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
Doug Drabek vs Orel Hershiser: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Doug Drabek or Orel Hershiser?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Doug Drabek in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Doug Drabek's 3.73.
- Who won more games?
- Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Doug Drabek's 155.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Orel Hershiser, with 2,014 to Doug Drabek's 1,594.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Doug Drabek, with 1.24 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.