Jimmy Key vs Fernando Valenzuela: Career Stats Comparison
Jimmy Key and Fernando Valenzuela are close to even, splitting the 12 scored categories on this page 6–6 (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jimmy Key played 1984–1998 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
Jimmy Key (1984–1998) and Fernando Valenzuela (1980–1997) — both came up during the 1980s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jimmy Key finished with 186 wins and 1,538 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? Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games? Jimmy Key, with 186 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP? Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
- Who pitched more innings? Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,930.0 to Jimmy Key's 2,591.2.
- Who threw more shutouts? Fernando Valenzuela, with 31 to Jimmy Key's 13.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Fernando Valenzuela, with 30,102 career Pitcher PIV to Jimmy Key's 19,114.
Jimmy Key
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 | Jimmy Key | Fernando Valenzuela |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 186 | 173 |
| Losses not scored | 117 | 153 |
| Games | Leads: 470 | 453 |
| Games Started | 389 | Leads: 424 |
| Complete Games | 34 | Leads: 113 |
| Shutouts | 13 | Leads: 31 |
| Saves | Leads: 10 | 2 |
| Strikeouts | 1,538 | Leads: 2,074 |
| Walks not scored | 668 | 1,151 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 2,518 | 2,718 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 254 | 226 |
| Innings Pitched | 2,591.2 | Leads: 2,930.0 |
| ERA | Leads: 3.51 | 3.54 |
| WHIP | Leads: 1.23 | 1.32 |
| K/9 | 5.34 | Leads: 6.37 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.32 | 3.54 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Fernando Valenzuela outpaces Jimmy Key 30,102 to 19,114 — driven by both sides of the ledger: 1,672 PIV per season to 1,274, across 18 seasons to 15. 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).
Jimmy Key — 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, Fernando Valenzuela leads in strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Jimmy Key owns wins, ERA, and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Fernando Valenzuela. PIV agrees: Fernando Valenzuela grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jimmy Key and Fernando Valenzuela careers compare
Jimmy Key and Fernando Valenzuela were active at the same time between 1984 and 1997. With 470 games against 453 across 15 and 18 PIV seasons, neither player's totals owe much to extra seasons. By rate, Jimmy Key struck out 5.34 and walked 2.32 per nine innings; Fernando Valenzuela struck out 6.37 and walked 3.54. Jimmy Key was mainly a starter (389 starts in 470 games), and Fernando Valenzuela was mainly a starter (424 starts in 453 games). Complete games (34 to 113) show how differently the two eras used starters. Jimmy Key allowed fewer baserunners, a 1.23 WHIP to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.
Jimmy Key vs Fernando Valenzuela: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who had the better ERA?
- Jimmy Key, with 3.51 to Fernando Valenzuela's 3.54.
- Who won more games?
- Jimmy Key, with 186 to Fernando Valenzuela's 173.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Fernando Valenzuela, with 2,074 to Jimmy Key's 1,538.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Jimmy Key, with 1.23 to Fernando Valenzuela's 1.32.