Jesse Orosco vs Dan Quisenberry: Career Stats Comparison
Jesse Orosco has the better career line of the two, leading 6 of the 12 scored categories on this page (4 further counting totals are shown but not scored). Jesse Orosco played 1979–2003 as a pitcher; Dan Quisenberry played 1979–1990 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
Jesse Orosco (1979–2003) and Dan Quisenberry (1979–1990) — both came up during the 1970s, so the matchup is a direct one. Jesse Orosco finished with 87 wins and 1,179 strikeouts; Dan Quisenberry finished with 56 wins and 379 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Jesse Orosco's 3.16.
- Who won more games? Jesse Orosco, with 87 to Dan Quisenberry's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Jesse Orosco, with 1,179 to Dan Quisenberry's 379.
- Who had the better WHIP? Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Jesse Orosco's 1.26.
- Who pitched more innings? Jesse Orosco, with 1,295.1 to Dan Quisenberry's 1,043.1.
- Who threw more shutouts? Neither — both are at 0.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Dan Quisenberry, with 16,859 career Pitcher PIV to Jesse Orosco's 15,724.
Jesse Orosco
Dan Quisenberry
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 | Jesse Orosco | Dan Quisenberry |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 87 | 56 |
| Losses not scored | 80 | 46 |
| Games | Leads: 1,252 | 674 |
| Games Started | Leads: 4 | 0 |
| Complete Games | 0 | 0 |
| Shutouts | 0 | 0 |
| Saves | 144 | Leads: 244 |
| Strikeouts | Leads: 1,179 | 379 |
| Walks not scored | 581 | 162 |
| Hits Allowed not scored | 1,055 | 1,064 |
| Home Runs Allowed not scored | 113 | 59 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 1,295.1 | 1,043.1 |
| ERA | 3.16 | Leads: 2.76 |
| WHIP | 1.26 | Leads: 1.18 |
| K/9 | Leads: 8.19 | 3.27 |
| BB/9 | 4.04 | Leads: 1.40 |
PIV Comparison through 2025
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Dan Quisenberry edges Jesse Orosco 16,859 to 15,724 — driven by per-season impact — 1,297 PIV per season to 605 — rather than by longevity, since Dan Quisenberry played 13 seasons to Jesse Orosco's 26. 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).
Jesse Orosco
No seasons meet the qualifying workload, so there is no peak-season list to show.
Dan Quisenberry — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Jesse Orosco leads in wins, strikeouts, K/9, and innings pitched, while Dan Quisenberry owns ERA and WHIP. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Jesse Orosco. Note that PIV actually grades Dan Quisenberry ahead, which means Jesse Orosco's edge is partly volume. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
How the Jesse Orosco and Dan Quisenberry careers compare
From 1979 through 1990, Jesse Orosco and Dan Quisenberry were in the majors together. Jesse Orosco has the far longer record, 1,252 games against 674 across 26 and 13 PIV seasons, which inflates every career total. Where Dan Quisenberry comes out ahead, it is in saves (244 to 144), ERA (2.76 to 3.16), and WHIP (1.18 to 1.26). By rate, Jesse Orosco struck out 8.19 and walked 4.04 per nine innings; Dan Quisenberry struck out 3.27 and walked 1.40. Both had the same role: Jesse Orosco worked mostly in relief (4 starts in 1,252 games, 144 saves); Dan Quisenberry worked mostly in relief (0 starts in 674 games, 244 saves).
Jesse Orosco vs Dan Quisenberry: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Jesse Orosco or Dan Quisenberry?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Jesse Orosco leads Dan Quisenberry in 6 of the 12 scored categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 2.76 to Jesse Orosco's 3.16.
- Who won more games?
- Jesse Orosco, with 87 to Dan Quisenberry's 56.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Jesse Orosco, with 1,179 to Dan Quisenberry's 379.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Dan Quisenberry, with 1.18 to Jesse Orosco's 1.26.