1985 Major League Baseball season

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This article is about the 1985 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1985 in baseball.
1985 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 8 – October 27, 1985
Number of games162
Number of teams26
TV partner(s)ABC, NBC
Draft
Top draft pickB. J. Surhoff
Picked byMilwaukee Brewers
Regular season
Season MVPNL: Willie McGee (STL)
AL: Don Mattingly (NYY)
Postseason
AL championsKansas City Royals
  AL runners-upToronto Blue Jays
NL championsSt. Louis Cardinals
  NL runners-upLos Angeles Dodgers
World Series
ChampionsKansas City Royals
  Runners-upSt. Louis Cardinals
World Series MVPBret Saberhagen (KC)
MLB seasons
class=notpageimage|
Locations of teams for the 1982–1988 American League seasons
West   East
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Locations of teams for the 1977–1992 National League seasons
West   East

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.

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 99 62 .615 — 54‍–‍26 45‍–‍36
New York Yankees 97 64 .602 2 58‍–‍22 39‍–‍42
Detroit Tigers 84 77 .522 15 44‍–‍37 40‍–‍40
Baltimore Orioles 83 78 .516 16 45‍–‍36 38‍–‍42
Boston Red Sox 81 81 .500 18½ 43‍–‍37 38‍–‍44
Milwaukee Brewers 71 90 .441 28 40‍–‍40 31‍–‍50
Cleveland Indians 60 102 .370 39½ 38‍–‍43 22‍–‍59
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Kansas City Royals 91 71 .562 — 50‍–‍32 41‍–‍39
California Angels 90 72 .556 1 49‍–‍30 41‍–‍42
Chicago White Sox 85 77 .525 6 45‍–‍36 40‍–‍41
Minnesota Twins 77 85 .475 14 49‍–‍35 28‍–‍50
Oakland Athletics 77 85 .475 14 43‍–‍36 34‍–‍49
Seattle Mariners 74 88 .457 17 42‍–‍41 32‍–‍47
Texas Rangers 62 99 .385 28½ 37‍–‍43 25‍–‍56

National League

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 101 61 .623 — 54‍–‍27 47‍–‍34
New York Mets 98 64 .605 3 51‍–‍30 47‍–‍34
Montreal Expos 84 77 .522 16½ 44‍–‍37 40‍–‍40
Chicago Cubs 77 84 .478 23½ 41‍–‍39 36‍–‍45
Philadelphia Phillies 75 87 .463 26 41‍–‍40 34‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates 57 104 .354 43½ 35‍–‍45 22‍–‍59
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 95 67 .586 — 48‍–‍33 47‍–‍34
Cincinnati Reds 89 72 .553 5½ 47‍–‍34 42‍–‍38
Houston Astros 83 79 .512 12 44‍–‍37 39‍–‍42
San Diego Padres 83 79 .512 12 44‍–‍37 39‍–‍42
Atlanta Braves 66 96 .407 29 32‍–‍49 34‍–‍47
San Francisco Giants 62 100 .383 33 38‍–‍43 24‍–‍57

Postseason

Main article: 1985 MLB Postseason

Bracket

League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)		World Series
EastToronto6610*53032
WestKansas City1561256
ALKansas City126062*11
NLSt. Louis3413110
EastSt. Louis124123*7
WestLos Angeles482225

*Denotes walk-off

Managers

The Oakland Athletics hosting a game at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in 1985.

American League

Team Manager Notes
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

Team Manager Notes
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

Further information: 1985 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award National League American 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
Position National League American 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

Month American League National 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

Month American League National 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 DET 40 Dale Murphy ATL 37
RBI Don Mattingly NYY 145 Dave Parker CIN 125
Wins Ron Guidry NYY 22 Dwight Gooden NYM 24
ERA Dave Stieb TOR 2.48 Dwight Gooden NYM 1.53
SO Bert Blyleven CLE/MIN 206 Dwight Gooden NYM 268
SV Dan Quisenberry KC 37 Jeff Reardon MTL 41
SB Rickey Henderson NYY 80 Vince Coleman STL 110

All-Star game

Milestones

Home field attendance and payroll

Team name Wins %± Home attendance %± Per game Est. payroll %±
Los Angeles Dodgers[6] 95 20.3% 3,264,593 4.1% 40,304 $10,967,917
New York Mets[7] 98 8.9% 2,761,601 49.9% 34,094 $10,834,762
St. Louis Cardinals[8] 101 20.2% 2,637,563 29.5% 32,563 $11,817,083
California Angels[9] 90 11.1% 2,567,427 6.8% 32,499 $14,427,894
Toronto Blue Jays[10] 99 11.2% 2,468,925 17.0% 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] 97 11.5% 2,214,587 21.6% 27,682 $14,238,204
San Diego Padres[13] 83 −9.8% 2,210,352 11.4% 27,288 $11,191,583
Kansas City Royals[14] 91 8.3% 2,162,717 19.5% 26,375 $10,565,346
Chicago Cubs[15] 77 −19.8% 2,161,534 2.6% 26,686 $12,702,917
Baltimore Orioles[16] 83 −2.4% 2,132,387 4.2% 26,326 $12,085,712
Cincinnati Reds[17] 89 27.1% 1,834,619 43.8% 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% 1,786,633 7.5% 22,057 $10,897,560
Chicago White Sox[20] 85 14.9% 1,669,888 −21.9% 20,616 $9,846,178
Minnesota Twins[21] 77 −4.9% 1,651,814 3.3% 19,664 $5,764,821
Montreal Expos[22] 84 7.7% 1,502,494 −6.5% 18,549 $9,470,166
Milwaukee Brewers[23] 71 6.0% 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] 77 0.0% 1,334,599 −1.4% 16,894 $9,058,606
Houston Astros[25] 83 3.8% 1,184,314 −3.7% 14,621 $9,993,051
Seattle Mariners[26] 74 0.0% 1,128,696 29.7% 13,599 $4,613,000
Texas Rangers[27] 62 −10.1% 1,112,497 0.9% 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

Network Day of week Announcers
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

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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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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