Tex Shirley vs. Fernando Valenzuela — Career Comparison

Looking at the career totals, Tex Shirley and Fernando Valenzuela are fairly close on the surface numbers. Fernando Valenzuela posted stronger numbers in ERA (3.54 vs 4.25) and WHIP (1.343 vs 1.641). Tex Shirley had the advantage in home runs allowed (0.4 per nine innings vs 0.69). By the career numbers, Fernando Valenzuela had the better of this comparison — though ERA and WHIP alone don't account for era, park factors, or the defenses each pitcher worked behind.