Orel Hershiser vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser has the better career line of the two, leading 8 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; Fernando Valenzuela played 1980–1997 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 Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Orel Hershiser finished with 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts; Fernando Valenzuela finished with 173 wins and 2,074 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 Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP? Orel Hershiser, with 1.26 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Orel Hershiser, with 3,130.1 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,930.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 31 to Orel Hershiser's 25.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Orel Hershiser, with 37,276 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Valenzuela's 30,102.
Orel Hershiser
Fernando Valenzuela
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 | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 204 | 173 |
| Losses not scored | 150 | 153 |
| Games | Leads: 510 | 453 |
| Games Started | Leads: 466 | 424 |
| Complete Games | 68 | Leads: 113 |
| Shutouts | 25 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 5 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,014 | Leads: 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 1,007 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,939 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 235 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 3,130.1 | 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.48 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.26 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 5.79 | Leads: 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.90 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orel Hershiser leads Fernando Valenzuela 37,276 to 30,102 — driven by per-season impact — 2,071 PIV per season to 1,672 — rather than by longevity, since Orel Hershiser played 18 seasons to Fernando Valenzuela's 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)
Fernando Valenzuela — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Orel Hershiser leads in wins, ERA, WHIP, and innings pitched, while Fernando Valenzuela owns strikeouts and K/9. 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 Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela were active at the same time between 1983 and 1997. With 510 games against 453 across 18 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. Where Fernando Valenzuela comes out ahead, it is in complete games (113 to 68), shutouts (31 to 25), and strikeouts (2,074 to 2,014). By rate, Orel Hershiser struck out 5.79 and walked 2.90 per nine innings; Fernando Valenzuela struck out 6.37 and walked 3.54. Orel Hershiser was mainly a starter (466 starts in 510 games), and Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). In WHIP, Orel Hershiser's 1.26 beats Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
Orel Hershiser vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Orel Hershiser or Fernando Valenzuela?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Orel Hershiser leads Fernando Valenzuela in 8 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Orel Hershiser, with 3.48 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Orel Hershiser, with 204 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Orel Hershiser's 2,014.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Orel Hershiser, with 1.26 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.