Tom Glavine vs Orel Hershiser: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 11 statistical categories compared on this page. Tom Glavine played 1987–2008 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
Tom Glavine (1987–2008) and Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Tom Glavine compiled 305 wins and 2,607 strikeouts; Orel Hershiser put up 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 Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Tom Glavine, with 305 to Orel Hershiser's 204.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP? Orel Hershiser, with 1.26 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.
- Who pitched more innings? Tom Glavine, with 4,413 to Orel Hershiser's 3,130.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Tom Glavine, with 40,421 career Pitcher PIV to Orel Hershiser's 37,276.
Tom Glavine
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. 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: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Tom Glavine | Orel Hershiser |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 305 | 204 |
| Losses | 203 | 150 |
| Games | Leads: 682 | 510 |
| Games Started | Leads: 682 | 466 |
| Complete Games | 56 | Leads: 68 |
| Shutouts | 25 | 25 |
| Saves | 0 | Leads: 5 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 2,607 | 2,014 |
| Walks | 1,500 | 1,007 |
| Hits Allowed | 4,298 | 2,939 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 356 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,413 | 3,130 |
| ERA | 3.54 | Leads: 3.48 |
| WHIP | 1.31 | Leads: 1.26 |
| K/9 | 5.32 | Leads: 5.79 |
| BB/9 | 3.06 | Leads: 2.90 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Tom Glavine edges Orel Hershiser 40,421 to 37,276 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (1,837 vs 2,071 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Tom Glavine — 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, Tom Glavine leads in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, while Orel Hershiser owns ERA, WHIP, and K/9. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Tom Glavine. PIV agrees: Tom Glavine grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Tom Glavine vs Orel Hershiser: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Tom Glavine or Orel Hershiser?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Tom Glavine in 6 of 11 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Tom Glavine's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Tom Glavine, with 305 to Orel Hershiser's 204.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Tom Glavine, with 2,607 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Orel Hershiser, with 1.26 to Tom Glavine's 1.31.