Orel Hershiser vs Randy Johnson: Career Stats Comparison
Randy Johnson 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). Orel Hershiser played 1983–2000 as a pitcher; Randy Johnson played 1988–2009 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
Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) and Randy Johnson (1988–2009) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Orel Hershiser finished with 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts; Randy Johnson finished with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games? Randy Johnson, with 303 to Orel Hershiser's 204.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP? Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Randy Johnson, with 4,135.1 to Orel Hershiser's 3,130.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Randy Johnson, with 37 to Orel Hershiser's 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Randy Johnson, with 122,530 career Pitcher PIV to Orel Hershiser's 37,276.
Orel Hershiser
Randy Johnson
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 | Orel Hershiser | Randy Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 204 | Leads: 303 |
| Losses not scored | 150 | 166 |
| Games | 510 | Leads: 618 |
| Games Started | 466 | Leads: 603 |
| Complete Games | 68 | Leads: 100 |
| Shutouts | 25 | Leads: 37 |
| Saves | Leads: 5 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,014 | Leads: 4,875 |
| Walks not scored | 1,007 | 1,497 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 3,346 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 411 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,130.1 | Leads: 4,135.1 |
| ERA | 3.48 | Leads: 3.29 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.17 |
| K/9 | 5.79 | Leads: 10.61 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.90 | 3.26 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Randy Johnson outpaces Orel Hershiser 122,530 to 37,276 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 5,105 PIV per season to 2,071, across 24 seasons to 18. 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).
Orel Hershiser — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Randy Johnson — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Randy Johnson leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Orel Hershiser owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Randy Johnson. PIV agrees: Randy Johnson grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Orel Hershiser and Randy Johnson careers compare
Orel Hershiser and Randy Johnson were active at the same time between 1988 and 2000. With 510 games against 618 across 18 and 24 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Orel Hershiser comes out ahead, it is in saves (5 to 2) and walks per nine (2.90 to 3.26). By rate, Orel Hershiser struck out 5.79 and walked 2.90 per nine innings; Randy Johnson struck out 10.61 and walked 3.26. Both had the same role: Orel Hershiser was mainly a starter (466 starts in 510 games); Randy Johnson was mainly a starter (603 starts in 618 games). Randy Johnson allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.17 WHIP to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.
Orel Hershiser vs Randy Johnson: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Orel Hershiser or Randy Johnson?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Randy Johnson leads Orel Hershiser in 10 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Randy Johnson, with 3.29 to Orel Hershiser's 3.48.
- Who won more games?
- Randy Johnson, with 303 to Orel Hershiser's 204.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Randy Johnson, with 4,875 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Randy Johnson, with 1.17 to Orel Hershiser's 1.26.