Ron Guidry vs Orel Hershiser: Career Stats Comparison
Ron Guidry (1975–1988) and Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) — breaking in during the 1970s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Ron Guidry compiled 170 wins and 1,778 strikeouts; Orel Hershiser put up 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Ron Guidry
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Ron Guidry | Orel Hershiser |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 170 | 204 |
| Losses | 91 | 150 |
| Games | 368 | 510 |
| Games Started | 323 | 466 |
| Complete Games | 95 | 68 |
| Shutouts | 26 | 25 |
| Saves | 4 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 1,778 | 2,014 |
| Walks | 633 | 1,007 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,198 | 2,939 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 226 | 235 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,392 | 3,130 |
| ERA | 3.29 | 3.48 |
| WHIP | 1.18 | 1.26 |
| K/9 | 6.69 | 5.79 |
| BB/9 | 2.38 | 2.90 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Ron Guidry edges Orel Hershiser 37,878 to 37,276 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,706 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).
Ron Guidry — 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, Ron Guidry leads in ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Orel Hershiser owns wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Ron Guidry. PIV agrees: Ron Guidry grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.