Fergie Jenkins vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Fergie Jenkins has the better career line of the two, leading 12 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Fergie Jenkins played 1965–1983 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
Fergie Jenkins (1965–1983) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — breaking in during the 1960s and the 1980s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Fergie Jenkins finished with 284 wins and 3,192 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? Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP? Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Fergie Jenkins, with 4,500.2 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,930.0.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fergie Jenkins, with 49 to Fernando Valenzuela's 31.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fergie Jenkins, with 40,614 career Pitcher PIV to Fernando Valenzuela's 30,102.
Fergie Jenkins
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, and the 1960s and the 1980s were different run environments, so read them against their eras, or use the PIV card below, which is adjusted.
| Statistic | Fergie Jenkins | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 284 | 173 |
| Losses not scored | 226 | 153 |
| Games | Leads: 664 | 453 |
| Games Started | Leads: 594 | 424 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 267 | 113 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 49 | 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 7 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 3,192 | 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 997 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 4,142 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 484 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,500.2 | 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.34 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.14 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | Leads: 6.38 | 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 1.99 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fergie Jenkins outpaces Fernando Valenzuela 40,614 to 30,102 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 2,031 PIV per season to 1,672, across 20 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).
Fergie Jenkins — 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, Fergie Jenkins leads in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, while Fernando Valenzuela owns no headline categories. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fergie Jenkins. PIV agrees: Fergie Jenkins grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Fergie Jenkins and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
From 1980 through 1983, Fergie Jenkins and Fernando Valenzuela were in the majors together. The two careers are close in length, 664 games for Fergie Jenkins and 453 for Fernando Valenzuela across 20 and 18 PIV seasons, so the totals compare on fairly even terms. Every scored category on the table goes to Fergie Jenkins. By rate, Fergie Jenkins struck out 6.38 and walked 1.99 per nine innings; Fernando Valenzuela struck out 6.37 and walked 3.54. Fergie Jenkins was mainly a starter (594 starts in 664 games), and Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). Fergie Jenkins allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.14 WHIP to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
Fergie Jenkins vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Fergie Jenkins or Fernando Valenzuela?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Fergie Jenkins leads Fernando Valenzuela in 12 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3.34 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 284 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 3,192 to Fernando Valenzuela's 2,074.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Fergie Jenkins, with 1.14 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.