1985 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1985 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
DurationApril 8 – October 27, 1985
Number of games162
Number of teams26
TV partner(s) ABC, NBC
Draft
Top draft pick B. J. Surhoff
Picked by Milwaukee Brewers
Regular season
Season MVP NL: Willie McGee (STL)
AL: Don Mattingly (NYY)
Postseason
AL champions Kansas City Royals
  AL runners-up Toronto Blue Jays
NL champions St. Louis Cardinals
  NL runners-up Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series
Champions Kansas City Royals
  Runners-up St. Louis Cardinals
World Series MVP Bret Saberhagen (KC)
MLB seasons
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      Athletics
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Tigers    
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      Phillies
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Locations of teams for the 1977–1992 National League seasons
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The 1985 Major League Baseball season ended with the Kansas City Royals defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh game of the I-70 World Series. Bret Saberhagen, the regular season Cy Young Award winner, was named MVP of the Series. The National League won the All-Star Game for the second straight year.

Contents

The League Championship Series playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven format beginning this year, [1] and both leagues ended up settling their pennant winners in more than five games, with the Royals beating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games, and the Cardinals beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. This was the first full season for Peter Ueberroth as commissioner.

There was a brief interruption during the regular season. The 1985 Major League Baseball strike occurred August 6 and 7, lasting only two days. The 25 cancelled games were for the most part made up later on in the season on open dates or parts of doubleheaders.

Standings

American League

AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Toronto Blue Jays 9962.615—54‍–‍2645‍–‍36
New York Yankees 9764.602258‍–‍2239‍–‍42
Detroit Tigers 8477.5221544‍–‍3740‍–‍40
Baltimore Orioles 8378.5161645‍–‍3638‍–‍42
Boston Red Sox 8181.50018½43‍–‍3738‍–‍44
Milwaukee Brewers 7190.4412840‍–‍4031‍–‍50
Cleveland Indians 60102.37039½38‍–‍4322‍–‍59
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Kansas City Royals 9171.562—50‍–‍3241‍–‍39
California Angels 9072.556149‍–‍3041‍–‍42
Chicago White Sox 8577.525645‍–‍3640‍–‍41
Minnesota Twins 7785.4751449‍–‍3528‍–‍50
Oakland Athletics 7785.4751443‍–‍3634‍–‍49
Seattle Mariners 7488.4571742‍–‍4132‍–‍47
Texas Rangers 6299.38528½37‍–‍4325‍–‍56

National League

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 10161.623—54‍–‍2747‍–‍34
New York Mets 9864.605351‍–‍3047‍–‍34
Montreal Expos 8477.52216½44‍–‍3740‍–‍40
Chicago Cubs 7784.47823½41‍–‍3936‍–‍45
Philadelphia Phillies 7587.4632641‍–‍4034‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates 57104.35443½35‍–‍4522‍–‍59
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 9567.586—48‍–‍3347‍–‍34
Cincinnati Reds 8972.5535½47‍–‍3442‍–‍38
Houston Astros 8379.5121244‍–‍3739‍–‍42
San Diego Padres 8379.5121244‍–‍3739‍–‍42
Atlanta Braves 6696.4072932‍–‍4934‍–‍47
San Francisco Giants 62100.3833338‍–‍4324‍–‍57

Postseason

Bracket

League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)		 World Series
East Toronto 6610*53032
West Kansas City 1561256
ALKansas City12606 2* 11
NLSt. Louis34131 1 0
East St. Louis 124123*7
West Los Angeles 482225

*Denotes walk-off

Managers

The Oakland Athletics hosting a game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in 1985. 1985 Mother's Cookies - Oakland Coliseum.JPG
The Oakland Athletics hosting a game at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in 1985.

American League

TeamManagerNotes
Baltimore Orioles Joe Altobelli, Cal Ripken, Sr., Earl Weaver
Boston Red Sox John McNamara First season as Red Sox manager
California Angels Gene Mauch
Chicago White Sox Tony La Russa
Cleveland Indians Pat Corrales
Detroit Tigers Sparky Anderson
Kansas City Royals Dick Howser Won World Series
Milwaukee Brewers George Bamberger First season as Brewers manager
Minnesota Twins Billy Gardner, Ray Miller
New York Yankees Yogi Berra, Billy Martin
Oakland Athletics Jackie Moore
Seattle Mariners Chuck Cottier Cottier's final season as a Major League manager
Texas Rangers Doug Rader, Bobby Valentine
Toronto Blue Jays Bobby Cox Won AL East

National League

TeamManagerNotes
Atlanta Braves Eddie Haas, Bobby Wine
Chicago Cubs Jim Frey
Cincinnati Reds Pete Rose
Houston Astros Bob Lillis Lillis' final season with the Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Lasorda Won NL West
Montreal Expos Buck Rodgers
New York Mets Davey Johnson
Philadelphia Phillies John Felske First season as Phillies manager
Pittsburgh Pirates Chuck Tanner
St. Louis Cardinals Whitey Herzog Won National League Pennant
San Diego Padres Dick Williams Williams' final season with the Padres
San Francisco Giants Jim Davenport, Roger Craig

Umpires

Awards and honors

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Vince Coleman (STL) Ozzie Guillen (CWS)
Cy Young Award Dwight Gooden (NYM) Bret Saberhagen (KC)
Manager of the Year Whitey Herzog (STL) Bobby Cox (TOR)
Most Valuable Player Willie McGee (STL) Don Mattingly (NYY)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Rick Reuschel (PIT) Ron Guidry (NYY)
Catcher Tony Peña (PIT) Lance Parrish (DET)
First Baseman Keith Hernandez (NYM) Don Mattingly (NYY)
Second Baseman Ryne Sandberg (CHC) Lou Whitaker (DET)
Third Baseman Tim Wallach (MTL) George Brett (KC)
Shortstop Ozzie Smith (STL) Alfredo Griffin (OAK)
Outfielders Andre Dawson (MTL) Dwight Evans (BOS)
Willie McGee (STL) Dwayne Murphy (OAK)
Dale Murphy (ATL) Gary Pettis (CAL)
Dave Winfield (NYY)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter Rick Rhoden (PIT) Don Baylor (NYY)
Catcher Gary Carter (NYM) Carlton Fisk (CWS)
First Baseman Jack Clark (STL) Don Mattingly (NYY)
Second Baseman Ryne Sandberg (CHC) Lou Whitaker (DET)
Third Baseman Tim Wallach (MTL) George Brett (KC)
Shortstop Hubie Brooks (MTL) Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)
Outfielders Willie McGee (STL) George Bell (TOR)
Dale Murphy (ATL) Rickey Henderson (NYY)
Dave Parker (CIN) Dave Winfield (NYY)

Other awards

Player of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Mike Davis Dale Murphy
May George Brett Dave Parker
June Rickey Henderson Pedro Guerrero
July George Brett Keith Hernandez
August Don Mattingly Willie McGee
September Don Mattingly Gary Carter

Pitcher of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Charlie Leibrandt Fernando Valenzuela
May Dave Stieb Andy Hawkins
June Jay Howell John Tudor
July Bret Saberhagen Fernando Valenzuela
August Dave Righetti Shane Rawley
September Charlie Leibrandt Dwight Gooden

Statistical leaders

Statistic American League National League
AVG Wade Boggs BOS.368 Willie McGee STL.353
HR Darrell Evans DET40 Dale Murphy ATL37
RBI Don Mattingly NYY145 Dave Parker CIN125
Wins Ron Guidry NYY22 Dwight Gooden NYM24
ERA Dave Stieb TOR2.48 Dwight Gooden NYM1.53
SO Bert Blyleven CLE/MIN206 Dwight Gooden NYM268
SV Dan Quisenberry KC37 Jeff Reardon MTL41
SB Rickey Henderson NYY80 Vince Coleman STL110

All-Star game

Milestones

Home field attendance and payroll

Team nameWins%±Home attendance%±Per gameEst. payroll%±
Los Angeles Dodgers [6] 9520.3%3,264,5934.1%40,304$10,967,917
New York Mets [7] 988.9%2,761,60149.9%34,094$10,834,762
St. Louis Cardinals [8] 10120.2%2,637,56329.5%32,563$11,817,083
California Angels [9] 9011.1%2,567,4276.8%32,499$14,427,894
Toronto Blue Jays [10] 9911.2%2,468,92517.0%30,862$9,329,217
Detroit Tigers [11] 84−19.2%2,286,609−15.5%28,230$10,348,143
New York Yankees [12] 9711.5%2,214,58721.6%27,682$14,238,204
San Diego Padres [13] 83−9.8%2,210,35211.4%27,288$11,191,583
Kansas City Royals [14] 918.3%2,162,71719.5%26,375$10,565,346
Chicago Cubs [15] 77−19.8%2,161,5342.6%26,686$12,702,917
Baltimore Orioles [16] 83−2.4%2,132,3874.2%26,326$12,085,712
Cincinnati Reds [17] 8927.1%1,834,61943.8%22,650$8,359,917
Philadelphia Phillies [18] 75−7.4%1,830,350−11.3%22,597$10,644,966
Boston Red Sox [19] 81−5.8%1,786,6337.5%22,057$10,897,560
Chicago White Sox [20] 8514.9%1,669,888−21.9%20,616$9,846,178
Minnesota Twins [21] 77−4.9%1,651,8143.3%19,664$5,764,821
Montreal Expos [22] 847.7%1,502,494−6.5%18,549$9,470,166
Milwaukee Brewers [23] 716.0%1,360,265−15.4%17,003$11,284,107
Atlanta Braves [24] 66−17.5%1,350,137−21.7%16,668$14,807,000
Oakland Athletics [18] 770.0%1,334,599−1.4%16,894$9,058,606
Houston Astros [25] 833.8%1,184,314−3.7%14,621$9,993,051
Seattle Mariners [26] 740.0%1,128,69629.7%13,599$4,613,000
Texas Rangers [27] 62−10.1%1,112,4970.9%13,906$7,676,500
San Francisco Giants [28] 62−6.1%818,697−18.3%10,107$8,221,714
Pittsburgh Pirates [29] 57−24.0%735,900−4.9%9,199$9,267,500
Cleveland Indians [30] 60−20.0%655,181−10.7%8,089$6,551,666

Television coverage

NetworkDay of weekAnnouncers
ABC Monday nights
Sunday afternoons 		Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell, [n1 1] Tim McCarver, Don Drysdale
NBC Saturday afternoons Vin Scully, Joe Garagiola, Bob Costas, Tony Kubek

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References

  1. ↑ ABC replaced Howard Cosell with Tim McCarver in the booth alongside Al Michaels and Jim Palmer for the 1985 World Series due to the controversy surrounding Cosell's book, I Never Played the Game.
  1. ↑ "League playoffs expand to seven games". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff and wire reports. April 4, 1985. p. C2.
  2. ↑ "AL is kept at arm's length". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Knight-Ridder. July 17, 1985. p. C1.
  3. 1 2 "Carew, Seaver have a Super Sunday". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. August 5, 1985. p. C1.
  4. ↑ Richmond, Peter (September 12, 1985). "Rose finally breaks the Ty". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Cincinnati Herald). p. C1.
  5. ↑ "Niekro blanks Jays for 300th". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 7, 1985. p. C1.
  6. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  7. ↑ "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  8. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Kansas City Royals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. 1 2 "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Washington Nationals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Milwaukee Brewers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. ↑ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Seattle Mariners Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ↑ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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