Rich Gossage vs Willie Hernandez: Career Stats Comparison
Rich Gossage 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). Rich Gossage played 1972–1994 as a pitcher; Willie Hernandez played 1977–1989 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
Rich Gossage (1972–1994) and Willie Hernandez (1977–1989) — both came up during the 1970s, so the matchup is a direct one. Rich Gossage finished with 124 wins and 1,502 strikeouts; Willie Hernandez finished with 70 wins and 788 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games? Rich Gossage, with 124 to Willie Hernandez's 70.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.
- Who pitched more innings? Rich Gossage, with 1,809.1 to Willie Hernandez's 1,044.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rich Gossage, with 28,157 career Pitcher PIV to Willie Hernandez's 10,045.
Rich Gossage
Willie Hernandez
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 | Rich Gossage | Willie Hernandez |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 124 | 70 |
| Losses not scored | 107 | 63 |
| Games | Leads: 1,002 | 744 |
| Games Started | Leads: 37 | 11 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 16 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | Leads: 310 | 147 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,502 | 788 |
| Walks not scored | 732 | 349 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,497 | 952 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 119 | 97 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,809.1 | 1,044.2 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.01 | 3.38 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.25 |
| K/9 | Leads: 7.47 | 6.79 |
| BB/9 | 3.64 | Leads: 3.01 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rich Gossage outpaces Willie Hernandez 28,157 to 10,045 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,224 PIV per season to 718, across 23 seasons to 14. 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).
Rich Gossage — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Willie Hernandez — top 1 season by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rich Gossage leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Willie Hernandez owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rich Gossage. PIV agrees: Rich Gossage grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Rich Gossage and Willie Hernandez careers compare
From 1977 through 1989, Rich Gossage and Willie Hernandez were in the majors together. With 1,002 games against 744 across 23 and 14 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Willie Hernandez comes out ahead, it is in walks per nine (3.01 to 3.64). By rate, Rich Gossage struck out 7.47 and walked 3.64 per nine innings; Willie Hernandez struck out 6.79 and walked 3.01. Both had the same role: Rich Gossage worked mostly in relief (37 starts in 1,002 games, 310 saves); Willie Hernandez worked mostly in relief (11 starts in 744 games, 147 saves). Rich Gossage allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.
Rich Gossage vs Willie Hernandez: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Rich Gossage or Willie Hernandez?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Rich Gossage leads Willie Hernandez in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rich Gossage, with 3.01 to Willie Hernandez's 3.38.
- Who won more games?
- Rich Gossage, with 124 to Willie Hernandez's 70.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rich Gossage, with 1,502 to Willie Hernandez's 788.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rich Gossage, with 1.23 to Willie Hernandez's 1.25.