Orel Hershiser vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Orel Hershiser (1983–2000) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Orel Hershiser compiled 204 wins and 2,014 strikeouts; Fernando Valenzuela put up 173 wins and 2,074 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
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. For pitchers, lower ERA, WHIP, and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads.
| Statistic | Orel Hershiser | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | 204 | 173 |
| Losses | 150 | 153 |
| Games | 510 | 453 |
| Games Started | 466 | 424 |
| Complete Games | 68 | 113 |
| Shutouts | 25 | 31 |
| Saves | 5 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 2,014 | 2,074 |
| Walks | 1,007 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed | 2,939 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 235 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | 3,130 | 2,930 |
| ERA | 3.48 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 5.79 | 6.37 |
| BB/9 | 2.90 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Orel Hershiser leads Fernando Valenzuela 37,276 to 30,102 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (2,071 vs 1,672 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).
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.