1983–2000 · P

Orel Hershiser

6' 3", 190 lbs·Lived to 68·Bats R / Throws R

Cy Young AwardGold GloveSilver SluggerAll-Star

The Almanac's Take

The Bulldog owned one of baseball's most dominant stretches, posting a 192 ERA+ in 1985—a season so dominant it remains among the finest by any pitcher that decade. Hershiser's 3.48 career ERA and 118 ERA+ across eighteen years anchored the Dodgers' rotation throughout the eighties, pairing durability with excellence. His 2014 strikeouts came from precision and longevity rather than overpowering stuff, making him a craftsman's pitcher who thrived on location and competitive fire.

Career Highs

2.03

Best ERA · 1985

Most W · 1988

190

Most K · 1987

1.031

Best WHIP · 1985

Career Arc · OPS

13 seasons

Career Arc · ERA

18 seasons

Statistical Comps

Stephen Kolek

98%

2025 season

K/9 6.2 · BB/9 2.5 · HR/9 0.72 · SP · FB 93.8 mph · Whiff% 16

Seth Lugo

98%

2024 season

K/9 7.9 · BB/9 2.1 · HR/9 0.70 · SP · FB 92.2 mph · Whiff% 20

Tanner Houck

98%

2024 season

K/9 7.8 · BB/9 2.4 · HR/9 0.55 · SP · FB 93.5 mph · Whiff% 21

Career · Hitting

18 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1983	LAD	8	0	0	—	—	—
1984	LAD	45	50	2	.200	.459	65
1985	LAD	37	76	4	.197	.457	64
1986	LAD	37	71	8	.239	.532	74
1987	LAD	40	90	7	.211	.495	66
1988	LAD	36	85	6	.129	.316	45
1989	LAD	35	77	2	.182	.479	69
1990	LAD	4	7	0	.000	.000	0
1991	LAD	21	31	2	.258	.646	91
1992	LAD	35	68	5	.221	.523	75
1993	LAD	34	73	6	.356	.784	107
1994	LAD	22	44	4	.205	.449	59
1995	CLE	26	0	0	—	—	—
1996	CLE	33	0	0	—	—	—
1997	CLE	32	3	0	.000	.250	33
1998	SF	34	66	1	.152	.382	51
1999	NYM	32	62	3	.145	.315	40
2000	LAD	10	7	0	.000	.000	0
Career		521	810	50	.201	—	—

Career · Pitching

18 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1983	LAD	8	8.0	0	0	3.38	114	5	1.625
1984	LAD	45	189.7	11	8	2.66	143	150	1.107
1985	LAD	36	239.7	19	3	2.03	192	157	1.031
1986	LAD	35	231.3	14	14	3.85	103	153	1.293
1987	LAD	37	264.7	16	16	3.06	140	190	1.213
1988	LAD	35	267.0	23	8	2.26	165	178	1.052
1989	LAD	35	256.7	15	15	2.31	160	178	1.181
1990	LAD	4	25.3	1	1	4.26	90	16	1.184
1991	LAD	21	112.0	7	2	3.46	113	73	1.286
1992	LAD	33	210.7	10	15	3.67	102	130	1.320
1993	LAD	33	215.7	12	14	3.59	116	141	1.266
1994	LAD	21	135.3	6	6	3.79	119	72	1.389
1995	CLE	26	167.3	16	6	3.87	115	111	1.207
1996	CLE	33	206.0	15	9	4.24	108	125	1.437
1997	CLE	32	195.3	14	6	4.47	98	107	1.372
1998	SF	34	202.0	11	10	4.41	100	126	1.411
1999	NYM	32	179.0	13	12	4.58	103	89	1.408
2000	LAD	10	24.7	1	5	13.14	36	13	2.270
Career		510	3130.4	204	150	—	—	2014	—

Ask The Almanac about Orel Hershiser.

Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.

Start a conversation →