VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA

Vintage Baseball Memorabilia

1985 season recap Kansas City came back from a three games to one deficit to defeat in-state rival St. Louis and capture the 1985 World Series. The Royals blow out the Cardinals 11-0 in Game 7 behind the strong pitching of Series MVP and AL Cy Young award winner Bret Saberhagen. Twenty-year-old Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden won the NL Cy Young award in only his second year in baseball, leading the National League with 24 wins, a 1.56 ERA, and 268 strikeouts. St. Louis CF Willie McGee (.353, 10 HR, 82 RBI, 104 R, 56 SB) won the NL MVP, while Yankees 1B Don Mattingly (.324, 35 HR, 145 RBI) won his only MVP award for the AL. For the second time, baseball was marred by a work stoppage, this one in August; it lasted only two days, and all games were made up during the season.

Milestones and Moments from 1985:

Lou Brock, Hoyt Wilhelm, Enos Slaughter, and Arky Vaughn all entered the Hall of Fame…Nolan Ryan became the first Major League pitcher to reach 4,000 strikeouts on July 11…Vince Coleman stole 110 bases for the Cardinals to win the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Nine Players Who Debuted in 1985

Andres Galarraga
Paul O’Neill
Ozzie Guillen
Devon White
Jose Canseco
Cecil Fielder
Teddy Higuera
Shawon Dunston
Todd Worrell

World Series – Kansas City Royals AL over St. Louis Cardinals NL 4 games to 3

World Series MVP – Bret Saberhagen
Babe Ruth Award – Bret Saberhagen

ALCS Kansas City Royals over Toronto Blue Jays 4 games to 3 ALCS MVP – George Brett
NLCS St. Louis Cardinals over Los Angeles Dodgers 4 games to 2 NLCS MVP – Ozzie Smith

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

October 19, 1985

Cardinals ace John Tudor is a 3 – 1 winner in the I-70 World Series opener against in-state opponent Kansas City.

October 20, 1985

Terry Pendelton delivers key hit to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

October 22, 1985

Pitcher Bret Saberhagen gives the Kansas City Royals their first World Series victory with a complete game 6 – 1 decision in Game 3

October 23, 1985

John Tudor pitches a five-hit, 3 – 0 victory over the Kansas City Royals, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

October 24, 1985

Danny Jackson’s five-hitter cuts St. Louis’ lead to 3-2 in the World Series as the Royals take Game 5, 6 – 1

October 25, 1985

History of the World Series – 1985

October 26, 1985

Don Denkinger’s controversial ninth-inning call at first base enables the Royals to beat the Cardinals forcing a game 7

October 27, 1985

The Kansas City Royals become only the sixth team in major league history to rally from a three-games-to-one deficit to win the World Series

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VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA

Vintage Baseball Memorabilia

Cy Young Award National League Dwight Gooden
Cy Young Award American League Bret Saberhagen

MVP Awards –
National League Willie McGee
American League Don Mattingly

NL Rookie of The Year – Vince Coleman
AL Rookie of The Year – Ozzie Guillon

Roberto Clemente Award – Don Baylor

All-Star Game – July 16th 1985 – N.L. 6 over A.L. 1 , played at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (AL)
AL Starter Jack Morris NL Starter Lamar Hoyt MVP Lamar Hoyt​

National League All-Stars

American League All-Stars

All-Star Managers

All-Star Game Ball Park

The stories that shapped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 7, 1985

Lou Brock and Hoyt Wilhelm gain election to the Hall of Fame

January 8, 1985

The San Diego Padres sign free agent reliever Tim Stoddard to a three-year, $1.5 million contract

January 18, 1985

In a four-team trade, the Milwaukee Brewers send catcher Jim Sundberg to the Kansas City Royals

February 1, 1985

Cardinals trade 4 players for Jack Clark

February 4, 1985

Philadelphia Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski announces his retirement

February 11, 1985

Kent Hrbek becomes minnesota twins first million dollar player

February 13, 1985

New York Yankees re-acquire catcher Ron Hassey from the Chicago White Sox

February 21, 1985

New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner gives manager Yogi Berra the dreaded vote of confidence

February 21, 1985

Tim Raines is awarded a $1.2 million salary for 1985 by arbitrator John Roberts. This is the largest award to date through the salary arbitration process. The 25-year-old Raines hit .309 for the Montreal Expos last season and led all major league players with 75 stolen bases.

February 27, 1985

Toby Harrah is traded by the Yankees to Texas for outfielder Billy Sample and a player to be named later.

February 28, 1985

Rick Reuschel signs as a free-agent with the Pirates, spending the first two months in the minors. After being called up in May, ‘Big Daddy’ will win 14 games and be named the National League’s Comeback Player of the Year by the Sporting News.

March 6, 1985

Enos Slaughter and Arky Vaughan are elected to the Hall of Fame

March 8, 1985

Toronto Blue Jays ace Dave Stieb signs an unusual 11-year contract

March 11, 1985

Righthander Mike Scott, coming off a 5-11 season, tests his new split-fingered fastball for the first time in live action

March 16, 1985

Denny McLain, winner of the American League Cy Young Award in 1968, is convicted of racketeering, extortion, and cocaine possession in Tampa, Florida. McLain will serve 29 months of a 23-year sentence before an appeals court overturns the decision.

March 18, 1985

Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates Hall of Fame members Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle

March 27, 1985

Shortstop Dickie Thon impresses as he comes back from the beaning that ended his 1984 season

March 28, 1985

Sports Illustrated’s April 1st edition tricks the nation when author George Plimpton weaves a fictitious tale of Sidd Finch, a Mets rookie phenom who throws a 168 mph fastball. Staged photographs and quotes from Mets in real life help to give the story a realistic edge.

March 28, 1985

New York Mets pitcher named Sidd Finch Featured on Sports Illustrated

April 1, 1985

Sports Illustrated contains a fictitious article about a New York Mets pitching prospect named Sidd Finch

April 3, 1985

Championship Series format changes

April 8, 1985

At Fenway Park, 46-year-old Phil Niekro starts for the New York Yankees, becoming the second oldest pitcher ever to start on Opening Day. Only Jack Quinn, for the Brooklyn Robins in 1931, was older at age 47. The Boston Red Sox chase Niekro after four innings and, behind the pitching of Oil Can Boyd, coast to a 9 – 2 win. Niekro walks four in the 3rd inning, including two with the bases loaded, to lose his seventh opener in a row (six with Atlanta), the worst opening day record ever. Outfielders Tony Armas, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice stroke home runs for Boston.

April 9, 1985

A year and a day after being hit in the face by a Mike Torrez pitch, shortstop Dickie Thon returns to the Houston Astros lineup and goes 1 for 4 off Fernando Valenzuela in Houston’s 2 – 1 win over the Dodgers. Thon will hit just .207 before going back on the disabled list with recurring vision problems.

April 9, 1985

Tom Seaver establishes a big league record with his 15th Opening Day assignment

April 9, 1985

1985 – On the Dome’s 20th Anniversary, Nolan Ryan leads a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles, surviving a first-inning kiss from Morganna who also smooches Dickie Thon before the police arrest her. 

April 11, 1985

Gorman Thomas hits three home runs and drives in six runs to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 14 – 6 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

April 11, 1985

Cal Ripken, nursing a sprained left ankle suffered while covering second base on a pickoff play in yesterday’s game against the Rangers, is ordered by the doctor not to play in today’s game against the Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. The Orioles shortstop’s streak of consecutive games, which would have ended if not for the team’s exhibition contest in Annapolis, is in its infancy at 444 games.

April 13, 1985

Rollie Fingers sets all time saves record

April 14, 1985

In a battle between the major-league’s top two strikeout artists of all time, Nolan Ryan defeats Steve Carlton and the Phillies, 5-3.

April 15, 1985

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Mike Schmidt sets the team record by playing in his 1,795th game

April 16, 1985

Astros touch Steve Howe, Tom Niedenfuer and Ken Howell for six runs in the ninth to shock the Dodgers, 7-3. Kevin Bass’ double starts the rally which makes a winner of Dave Smith. The key play occurs when Howell misfires on Bill Doran’s suicide squeeze bunt, allowing two Astros to score. 

April 18, 1985

Vince Coleman debuts with 2 steals

April 20, 1985

Niekro combined 2 hitter help Stros beat Braves

April 22, 1985

The Minnesota Twins collect 16 hits in a 9 – 5 victory over the Seattle Mariners. In the 4th inning, Kirby Puckett hits a three-run home run, his first homer in the majors, off Matt Young. After no homers last year, Puckett will hit four homers this season before blossoming into a power hitter with 31 next year.

April 28, 1985

Billy Martin hired for 4th time to manage New York

April 29, 1985

4/29/1985: Yankee Bobby Meacham batted in the top of the fourth inning in Texas with two runners on and one out. He homered off Frank Tanana, but didn’t expect the ball to leave the park. While he was running towards and around first, the runner at first, Willie Randolph was headed back to the bag to tag up. Neither Randolph nor Meacham expected the ball to leave the yard. They collided just past first base and Meacham was called out for passing Randolph and ended up being credited with a two-run single. By the way, this was Billy Martin’s first day on the job for one of his stints as New York manager.

April 30, 1985

1985 – Dale Murphy of the Atlanta Braves has two RBI in the 8 – 4 win over the Cincinnati Reds to tie Ron Cey’s 1977 major league record for 29 RBI in April.

May 1, 1985

Jimmy Key becomes the first left-handed starting pitcher in 614 games to win a game for the Toronto Blue Jays.

May 4, 1985

Baltimore’s Cal Ripken, en route to baseball’s all-time mark for consecutive games played, breaks Brooks Robinson’s club record when he plays in his 464th consecutive contest. The Orioles shortstop marks the occasion by hitting a double and a home run in the BIrds’ 8-6 loss to Minnesota at the Metrodome.

May 8, 1985

Ryne Sandberg’s homer off Mike Krukow is the only score as Rick Sutcliffe and the Cubs beat the Giants, 1 – 0.

May 8, 1985

Seattle’s Mike Moore no-hits the Rangers for eight innings, then is driven from the game on four hits in the 9th. But the Mariners hang on for a 4 – 2 victory.

May 9, 1985

The Giants end a 24-inning scoring drought by scoring a run with two out in the 12th to beat Chicago, 1 – 0. Scott Garrelts is the winner over Warren Brusstar with four innings of relief.

May 11, 1985

Astros rebound from a 5-0 deficit to take a 10-7 victory in Cincinnati.

May 13, 1985

After trailing by eight runs, going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Yankees rally to beat the Twins 9-8. Don Mattingly’s ninth inning two-out three-run walk-off home run at the Bronx ballpark is the finishing touch.

May 14, 1985

Derek Bryant becomes the first player to hit four home runs in a Mexican League game; he adds a triple for a record 19 total bases.

May 14, 1985

1985 – Rookies Ron Mathis and Mark Ross team up to blank Montreal, 10-0. Craig Reynolds is the offensive star with four hits, including a two-run double. Jerry Mumphrey and Bill Doran each contribute three hits. Mathis would have only three major league wins in his career. Ross would have two. 

May 17, 1985

Texas Rangers name Bobby Valentine their manager replacing the fired Doug Rader

May 17, 1985

Lonnie Smith traded to Kansas City

May 20, 1985

Record 458 Games played before first rain out

May 20, 1985

5/20/1985: In the top of the fourth inning in Philadelphia, Jeff Leonard batted to lead off the inning. He hit Steve Carlton’s pitch for an apparent home run. However, Dick Stello called the ball in play and Leonard ended up with a double.

May 21, 1985

Vince Coleman’s first major league homer is inside-the-park as the Cards beat the Braves, 6 – 3. Bob Horner accounts for the Braves’ runs with two homers.

May 22, 1985

Pete Rose becomes the all time leader in runs scored

May 29, 1985

Jim Pankovits ‘ grand slam off John Candelaria breaks a 3-3 tie as Houston belts the Pirates, 8-3

June 5, 1985

Retiring the last 16 Angels, Orioles hurler Dennis Martinez tosses a one-hitter, beating California at Memorial Stadium, 4-0. Jerry Narron’s third inning single spoils the no-hit bid as ‘El Presidente’ notches his 100th career victory.

June 9, 1985

Joe Niekro becomes the winningest pitcher in club history with a two-hit shutout of the Giants, 5-0

June 11, 1985

Von Hayes becomes the first player to hit two home runs in the first inning

June 14, 1985

Earl Weaver comes out of retirement to manage the Baltimore Orioles

June 20, 1985

1985 – Reggie Jackson’s 513th home run sparks the Angels to a 4 – 0 win over the Indians and moves him past Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews into 10th place on the all-time list.

June 21, 1985

Twins manager Billy Gardner is fired and replaced by Baltimore pitching coach Ray Miller.

June 22, 1985

In his first major league at-bat, Curt Ford delivers a pinch single off Lee Smith to give St. Louis a 2 – 1 win over the Cubs and sole possession of first place in the National League East. Chicago, which had been clinging to first place, has now lost 11 in a row.

June 25, 1985

Due to a bat boy being hit by Butch Wynegar’s line drive foul ball, Yankees officials enact a new rule mandating the team’s bat boys wear protective helmets during all games. All major league teams will soon adopt the new rule of having batboys wearing a protective helmet while working.

June 26, 1985

The Cubs beat the Mets, 7 – 3, ending a club-record-tying losing streak at 13 games, their longest loss streak since 1944.

June 26, 1985

The organist Wilbur Snapp is ejected by umpire Keith O’Connor from a Class A Florida League game for playing Three Blind Mice

June 26, 1985

Minnesota’s Ken Schrom one-hits Kansas City, but needs a two-run single from Roy Smalley in the bottom of the 9th to secure the 2 – 1 victory. Willie Wilson’s 3rd-inning single is the only Royals hit.

June 27, 1985

The Padres trade 2B Alan Wiggins to the Orioles for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson and a player to be named later. Wiggins, who recently completed his second stay at a drug rehabilitation center, was never reactivated by the Padres, who vowed that he would never play for them again.

June 27, 1985

Jeffrey Leonard hits for the cycle

June 30, 1985

Cleveland beats Seattle, 7 – 3, to snap the Mariners’ club-record 9-game winning streak.

June 30, 1985

In his final at bat of the month, Pedro Guerrero delivers a 2-run home run off Bruce Sutter to give the Dodgers a 4 – 3 win over the Braves. It is Guerrero’s 15th home run in June (19th overall), tying the major league record.

July 1, 1985

Nolan Ryan gives up his only career walkoff

July 2, 1985

Joe Niekro of the Houston Astros wins his 200th career game

July 4, 1985

New York Mets defeat the Atlanta Braves, 16-13, in a wild 19-inning affair at Fulton County Stadium

July 5, 1985

Cub’s almost bat out of order

July 5, 1985

1985 – Kevin Bass launches two solo homers to pace a 4-2 triumph over Montreal. Jose Cruz drives in the other two runs to set a new franchise mark for RBIs (783), since broken by Jeff Bagwell. 

July 6, 1985

At Pittsburgh, a 2-out single by Marvell Wynne plates the winning run as the Pirates sink the Padres, 8 – 7. Steve Kemp homers for Pittsburgh, and would have added a single but is thrown out at first base in the 7th by RF Tony Gwynn in a 9-3 putout.

July 7, 1985

Floyd Youmans, ticketed for the minors after the game to make way for Bill Gullickson coming off the disabled list, pitches the last three innings to get his first major league win as the Expos outlast the Astros, 6 – 3, in 19 innings. A two-out error by Enos Cabell and a two-run single by Mike Fitzgerald do it for the Expos.

July 8, 1985

Marge Schott becomes president and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds.

July 8, 1985

Joaquin Andujar scatters 12 singles to register his 15th win as the Cards down the Giants, 6 – 1.

July 9, 1985

Toronto Blue Jay Buck Martinez breaks his ankle, still makes the play at the plate

July 9, 1985

New York’s Ron Guidry works 8 2/3 innings to win his 10th straight, beating the Royals, 6 – 4. Guidry allows 9 hits and strikes out 1.

July 9, 1985

The Blue Jays trade 1B-OF Len Matuszek to the Dodgers for veteran Al Oliver, who joins his 5th club in the last three seasons.

July 11, 1985

Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros becomes the first pitcher in history to record 4,000 strikeouts

July 13, 1985

The White Sox take a 9 – 0 lead over the Orioles and hang on for a 10 – 8 win. Gary Roenicke drives in six runs for the O’s on a two-run home run and a grand slam off Britt Burns, who goes all the way. Dennis Martinez takes the loss.

July 13, 1985

The Angels get three pinch hits in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Blue Jays, 4 – 3. Darrell Miller, Mike Brown and Bob Boone all deliver singles to give Mike Witt the complete game win.

July 14, 1985

Walt Terrell and Willie Hernandez combine on a one-hitter as the Detroit Tigers blank the Minnesota Twins, 8 – 0. Tom Brunansky’s double in the 7th is the only hit. Larry Herndon and Darrell Evans hit back-to-back homers in the 4th.

July 15, 1985

During the first day of the All-Star break before the Mid-summer Classic to be played in Minneapolis, the Players’ Association sets an August 6th strike date. The union will keep its word, but the season will resume two days later.

July 16, 1985

Jack Morris Dave Winfield Paul Molitor

July 20, 1985

LaMarr Hoyt gives up five hits in eight innings to record his 11th straight win as the Padres beat the Pirates, 4 – 2.

July 20, 1985

Driving in seven runs on two homers, Darryl Strawberry leads the Mets to a 16 – 4 drubbing of the visiting Braves. Straw’s first home run is a grand slam in the 1st inning and his next is a three-run home run in the 4th. The Mets also get homers from Howard Johnson, Danny Heep and Clint Hurdle.

July 20, 1985

Scattering seven hits, Ron Guidry wins his 12th straight, beating the Twins, 8 – 3. Don Mattingly has a two-run homer and a two-run double for the Yanks.

July 23, 1985

Oddibe McDowell becomes the first Ranger player to hit for the cycle. His seventh-inning home run completes the unique event, but the center fielder adds another round-tripper in the following frame when Texas beats the Indians at Arlington Stadium, 8-4.

July 26, 1985

Tommy John, making his first appearance since being released by California on June 5th, scatters four hits over six innings as the A’s defeat the Brewers, 7 – 3. John is now 3-4.

July 26, 1985

Wade Boggs goes 0 for 3 in Boston’s 6 – 2 win over Seattle to halt his hitting streak at 28 games, the longest in the major leagues since 1980.

July 26, 1985

In a 10 – 0 blanking of the Cubs, Los Angeles’s Pedro Guerrero is 2 for 2 to complete an on-base streak of 14, setting a National League record. The streak, which began on July 23rd includes two singles, three doubles, two homers, six walks, and a hit by pitch. He’ll be 1 for 3 tomorrow. Jerry Reuss scatters seven hits in the shutout and is backed by three homers, including a grand slam by Mike Marshall, a three-run shot by Greg Brockand a two-run homer by Guerrero.

July 27, 1985

1985 – For the second time in a week, the Mets win, 16 – 4, this time pounding the Astros in the opener of a doubleheader sweep. They break a 4 – 4 tie in the 7th with a fielder’s choice by Keith Hernandez, a two-run double by Gary Carter and a three-run home run by Ray Knight. All 16 runs are unearned as relievers Frank DiPino and Mike Madden each give up 6, and starter Bob Knepper allows four runs. Jesse Orosco is the winner in the first game and earns a save for Bill Latham’s first major league win in the second, a 7 – 3 victory.

July 28, 1985

Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Arky Vaughan and Hoyt Wilhelm are inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York

July 28, 1985

Darrell Porter drives in three runs with a double and homer to lead the Cards to a 4 – 2 win over the Padres. LaMarr Hoyt loses after winning 11 straight.

July 28, 1985

Darrell Evans’s home run, a sixth-inning solo blast off Ken Schrom, proves to the difference when the Tigers beat Minnesota at the Metrodome, 3-2. The Detroit third baseman’s 300th career round-tripper comes on a 3-0 pitch at exactly 3:00 pm.

July 28, 1985

1985 – Craig Reynolds bangs out four hits as Houston bombs the Mets, 12-4. Mark Bailey and Jose Cruz contribute three hits each in the 19-hit effort. The New Yorkers are gracious hosts, giving the Astros four errors to work with. They ought to be since the Astros giftwrapped 16 unearned runs in a doubleheader fiasco the day before. 

July 31, 1985

The Indians end Ron Guidry’s win streak at 12 games, beating the Yankees, 6 – 5. Guidry and Curt Wardle, the winner, each go 6+ innings.

July 31, 1985

At Boston, the White Sox-Red Sox game is called at the end of seven innings (11:34 p.m.) with the score tied 4 – 4. Since an 11-inning, 4 – 4 tie with the Angels on June 8, 1961, Boston had played 3,868 regular season games without a tie, a major league record.

August 1, 1985

Vince Coleman steals two bases in the 1st inning of the Cardinals’ 9 – 8 loss to the Cubs to run his season total to 74, breaking the major league rookie record of 72 set the previous season by Juan Samuel. A squeeze bunt by Larry Bowa with the bases full in the 14th scores the winning run. Bowa had earlier tripled with the sacks full. The game takes five hours and three minutes to end.

August 1, 1985

The Indians trade veteran P Bert Blyleven to the Twins for OF Jim Weaver, P Curt Wardle and SS Jay Bell.

August 2, 1985

Pittsburgh Pirates clean house by trading three veterans

August 2, 1985

Frank Tanana of the Tigers allows one hit (a home run by Ben Oglivie in the 5th) in beating the Brewers, 4 – 1. Tanana (6-10) strikes out eight while walking one.

August 2, 1985

Fisk tags out two yankees at home on the same play

August 4, 1985

Tom Seaver wins his 300th game in New York

August 4, 1985

At Chicago, Dwight Gooden wins his club-record 11th straight game as the New York Mets beat the Chicago Cubs, 4 – 1. Gooden triggers a 3-run third inning with a double.

August 4, 1985

ROD CAREW COLLECTS HIS 3000TH HIT

August 5, 1985

Keith Hernandez is named player of the month for July, becoming the first Met to be honored since Dave Kingman received the nod ten years ago. The New York first baseman, who was obtained in a trade with the Cardinals two seasons ago, collected 40 hits in his 102 at bats last month, compiling a .392 batting average while driving in 29 runs for the team that won 21 of 28 decisions.

August 5, 1985

In the Mets’ 7-2 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Darryl Strawberry belts three home runs, propelling the team into first place with a half-game lead over the Cardinals in the National League East. Eleven years and one day later, the ‘Straw’ will enjoy his second three-homer game, going deep for the Yankees three times against the White Sox in a 9-2 win in the Bronx.

August 6, 1985

As announced three weeks ago, the Players’ Association follows through on their threat to go on strike. The second midseason work stoppage in baseball history will last only two days, when the owners abandon their plan for a salary cap, a concept also strongly opposed by baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth.

August 7, 1985

A five-year agreement between the union and owners, which includes salary arbitration eligibility increasing from two years to three years, ends the two-day midseason players’ strike. The season will resume tomorrow with the 25 games which were scheduled yesterday and today being made up later in the season.

August 8, 1985

Cardinals pitcher John Tudor one-hits the Cubs, 8 – 0, for his 6th shutout of the season‚ allowing only Leon Durham’s 5th-inning single. Tudor started the season 1-7 but will win 20 of his last 21 decisions to finish 21-8.

August 8, 1985

Keith Hernandez has 5 hits in the Mets’ 20-hit attack as they beat the Expos‚ 14 – 7. Rick Aguilera is the winner.

August 10, 1985

Willie McGee goes 7 for 10 in the Cardinals’ doubleheader sweep of the Phillies, 5 – 4 and 13 – 4, to raise his batting average to .351. McGee will lead the National League with a .353 mark this season.

August 10, 1985

Oakland’s Dave Kingman becomes the 21st player to hit 400 career home runs, belting a two-run shot off Matt Young in the 1st inning of the A’s 11 – 5 win at Seattle.

August 12, 1985

Baltimore’s Wayne Gross and Larry Sheets connect for back-to-back solo pinch homers in the 9th inning‚ off Cleveland’s Jerry Reed‚ but it is not enough to overcome the Indians’ 5-run 1st inning. The Tribe wins‚ 8 – 5.

August 12, 1985

At Chicago‚ Phil Niekro goes the route to pick up his 295th win as the Yankees beat the White Sox‚ 10 – 4. New York has a 7-run 7th to break the game open with Ron Hassey belting a 2-run homer and RBI single to lead the scoring in the frame.

August 13, 1985

1985 – In the Mariners’ 11 – 4 win, Seattle’s infield again ties the major-league record for assists with 21 against California. Mark Langston goes all the way for the win.

August 14, 1985

1985 – Pinch-hitter Dickie Thon blasts a three-run shot off Mark Davis to key a 7-5 victory over San Francisco. He drives in an insurance run to give him four RBIs. Jeff Heathcock wins as Nolan Ryan leaves after three innings. 

August 17, 1985

Reggie Jackson hits his 522nd career home run off Oakland’s Bill Krueger to move past Ted Williams and Willie McCovey into 8th place on the all-time list.

August 17, 1985

The Phils use a barrage of six homers to overwhelm the Cubs at Chicago, 10 – 4. Darren Daulton and Rick Schu go back-to back in the 4th and Juan Samuel, Glenn Wilson and Mike Schmidt hit consecutive homers in the 7th. One out later, Daulton hits his second of the game.

August 19, 1985

The Mets move into 1st place in the National League East with a 1 – 0 win over the Expos. Ron Darling, with relief help from Roger McDowell, is the winner.

August 19, 1985

At Milwaukee, Roy Smalley’s homer in the 5th is the Twins’ only hit off Danny Darwin. The Brewers win, 2 – 1.

August 20, 1985

Dwight Gooden, going the distance in the Mets’ 3-0 victory over San Francisco at Shea Stadium en route to his 13th consecutive win, whiffs 16 batters to become the first National League pitcher to strike out 200 or more batters in each of his first two seasons. The 20 year-old sophomore, who has not lost since May 25, when LA’s Fernando Valenzuela beat him, improves his record to 19-3 with his sixth shutout of the year.

August 20, 1985

1985 – Houston bloodies the Redbirds, 17-2, at the Dome before fans watch a screening of “Jaws” on the new Diamondvision scoreboard. Mark Bailey belts a grand slam  while Dickie Thon homers and drives in four to lead the 19-hit attack. Bailey, Glenn Davis and Terry Puhl each deliver three of those hits. 

August 21, 1985

1985 – Manager Stan Wasiak of Vero Beach (Florida State League) becomes the first minor league manager to record 2500 wins as Vero Beach wins 3 – 2 over |Miami. The win comes less then a week after Wasiak set the record for most wins. He has managed for 36 consecutive seasons.

August 23, 1985

1985 – Joaquin Andujar becomes baseball’s first 20-game winner this season, beating Atlanta 6 – 2 for the Cardinals. Andujar is the first National League pitcher to post consecutive 20-win seasons since Joe Niekro in 1979-1980.

August 24, 1985

Three outs away from a no-hitter against the White Sox, Toronto’s Dave Stieb surrenders consecutive home runs to Rudy Law and Bryan Little and is driven from the game. His replacement, Gary Lavelle, gives up a 3rd straight home run, to Harold Baines, before Tom Henke comes in to save the 6 – 3 win.

August 24, 1985

Don Baylor ties an American League record when he is hit by a pitch thrown by Mariner southpaw Mark Langston in the first inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 victory at the Kingdome. The New York DH gets plunked for the 189th time in his career, tying him with Minnie Minoso, who established the mark in 1963 while with the White Sox.

August 25, 1985

Dwight Gooden of the New York Mets becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games in a season

August 26, 1985

The Braves fire manager Eddie Haas, who led the club to a 50-71 record and 12 losses in its last 13 games. Bobby Wine will serve as interim manager.

August 26, 1985

Eddie Murray ties Baltimore Orioles team RBI record

August 29, 1985

The Reds trade veteran OF Cesar Cedeno to the Cardinals for minor leaguer Mark Jackson. Cedeno will help St. Louis to the National League East title by batting .434 in 28 games.

August 29, 1985

The Rangers trade veteran slugger Cliff Johnson to Toronto for three minor leaguers. Johnson had left the Blue Jays after last season to sign with Texas as a free agent, and the Jays received future closer Tom Henke in compensation.

August 29, 1985

Don Baylor is hit by a first-inning pitch thrown by Angels’ hurler Kirk McCaskill. The Yankee DH has been plunked 190 times, breaking, pardon the expression, the American League record established by Minnie Minoso in 1963 while playing with the White Sox.

August 31, 1985

The Pirates trade former batting champion Bill Madlock to the Dodgers for prospects R.J. Reynolds, Cecil Espy, and Sid Bream.

August 31, 1985

San Francisco’s Jim Gott and Mark Davis combine to beat the Mets, 3 – 2, ending Dwight Gooden’s personal 14-game winning streak.

September 1, 1985

1985 – The visiting New York Mets edge San Francisco‚ 4 – 3, with Keith Hernandez’s 2-run homer climaxing a 3-run 9th inning. Doug Sisk‚ in relief of Ed Lynch‚ is the winning pitcher. In the 5th‚ Lynch lines to right field and is thrown out 9-3 by RF Joel Youngblood. It’s the National League’s second 9-3 putout in 2 months.

September 2, 1985

The A’s Jose Canseco strikes out in his first major league at-bat. During his 17 seasons in the major leagues, the slugger strikes out 1,942 times en route to hitting 462 home runs.

September 3, 1985

Future Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, with his 525th career round-tripper, becomes the first major leaguer to collect one hundred home runs for three different teams. The California outfielder, who hit 269 during his ten seasons with Oakland, and 144 in five years with the Yankees, hits two homers to go over the century mark playing for the Angels in the team’s 14-8 loss to Detroit.

September 4, 1985

Gary Carter hits two home runs giving him a record-tying five over the last two games

September 5, 1985

Mike Easler loses a grandslam but sox still prevail 13-6

September 6, 1985

The Royals sweep a doubleheader from Milwaukee, 4 – 3 and 7 – 1, to move past California into first place in the AL West.

September 6, 1985

At Texas‚ Carlton Fisk blasts two three-run homers and drives in 7 runs to lead the White Sox to a 12 – 1 rout of the Rangers. Tomorrow, Fisk will record his 300th double and 900th RBI.

September 6, 1985

In a matchup of aces that lives up its advanced billing, Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela hook up in one of the best pitchers’ duel in recent memory. New York beats Los Angeles at Chavez Ravine, 2-0, thanks to Darryl Strawberry’s two-run double on a day that the 20 year-old Mets right-hander strikes out 10 batters, throwing nine shutout innings, while the Dodgers southpaw pitches 11 innings without allowing a run.

September 7, 1985

1985 – Dave Winfield steals home with the winning run in the Yankees’ 3 – 2 win over the A’s. Following a pitchout in the 7th, Winfield gets hung up in a rundown but escapes to score.

September 8, 1985

Pete Rose gets even with Ty Cobb all time hit record

September 10, 1985

California Angels acquire future Hall of Famer Don Sutton from the Oakland A’s

September 10, 1985

Both teams charge onto the Shea Stadium field when George Foster is hit with a first-inning pitch thrown by Cardinal starter Danny Cox, who appeared annoyed by the Mets’ hitter stepping out of the box several times during the at-bat. Minutes after the bench-clearing incident and order is restored, Howard Johnson hits a grand slam to give New York an eventual 5-4 win and a one-game lead over the Redbirds in the tight NL East race.

September 10, 1985

Keith Hernandez receives a two-minute standing ovation from the Mets fans in his first game back at Shea after testifying in a Pittsburgh courtroom. The New York first baseman, who responds with a run-producing single against his former team, admitted on the witness stand to having used cocaine while playing for the Cardinals.

September 11, 1985

Pete Rose passes Ty Cobb as all time hit leader

September 11, 1985

John Tudor allows three hits in 10 innings for his 3rd consecutive shutout, outdueling Dwight Gooden and the Mets 1 – 0 to move St. Louis back into a first-place tie with New York in the National League East. Cesar Cedeno’s 10th-inning homer provides the game’s only run.

September 11, 1985

Milwaukee beats New York, 4 – 3, to end the Yankees’ winning streak at 11 games. New York now trails first-place Toronto by 2 1/2 games in the American League East.

September 13, 1985

1985 – The Rangers trade P Dave Stewart to the Phillies for pitcher Rick Surhoff, whose brother B.J. Surhoff was the first pick in the amateur draft in June.

September 15, 1985

Joe and Phil Niekro united in New York

September 15, 1985

Jose Cruz notches the 2,000th hit of his career in a 2-1 Astro victory

September 16, 1985

1985 – Detroit’s Nelson Simmons hits a home run from each side of the plate, the first Tiger to do so. But the Orioles answer with six homers of their own in overpowering the Tigers, 14 – 7. Cal Ripken hits his second homer of the game in the 8th, and Eddie Murray and Fred Lynn follow with successive homers. The three straight tie a Birds record.

September 18, 1985

Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman hits for the cycle

September 19, 1985

1985 – Vince Coleman steals his 100th base of the season and teammate Tom Herr drives in his 100th run, but the Cardinals lose to the Phillies, 6 – 3.

September 21, 1985

1985 – In a Boston 7 – 6 win over Detroit, Wade Boggs ties Tris Speaker’s club mark of 222 hits with a single in the 2nd inning. His 5th-inning single, his 185th, sets a new American League record for singles, breaking the mark set by Willie Wilson in 1980. Wade will end with 187, a mark that will stand until 2001.

September 24, 1985

1985 – Expos OF Andre Dawson slugs three home runs, including a pair of three-run shots in a 12-run 5th inning, to lead Montreal to a wild 17 – 15 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dawson joins Willie McCovey as the only players to hit two home runs in one inning on two different occasions, and his six RBIs in one inning ties the major-league record last accomplished by Jim Ray Hart in 1970. The Expo outfielder also went yard twice in the same frame on July 30, 1978.

September 25, 1985

Mike Greenwell hits his first major league home run in the top of the 13th inning to give the Red Sox a 4 – 2 win at Toronto.

September 25, 1985

Rickey Henderson steals his 75th base of the season in the Yankees’ 10 – 2 win over Detroit, breaking the club record of 74 set by Fritz Maisel in 1914.

September 25, 1985

With the score tied 4 – 4 in the bottom of the 9th, Davey Lopes walks, steals second and third base, and scores on a pinch single by Chris Speier as the Cubs beat the Mets, 5 – 4. Gary Carter’s grand slam accounts for all the Mets’ scoring. Lopes has three steals in the game to give him 47 (in just 275 at bats) and he sets the record for most stolen bases by a player over 40. The record was set by Honus Wagner in 1914 with 23. Lopes is officially recorded at 39 but when he signed at age 22 he was afraid he was too old so he set his age back a year.

September 26, 1985

1985 – The Cards’ John Tudor picks up his 20th win of the season with his Major League-leading 10th shutout, a 5 – 0 four-hitter against the Phillies. It’s the most in 10 years and the most by a lefty since Sandy Koufax in 1963.

September 30, 1985

Trying to circumvent the Mariners’ ‘escape clause,’ which is based on attendance at the Kingdome, the King County Council attempts to modify the deal it made with the team. A proposed amendment, making it necessary for the club to play .500 ball before a move could be considered, a record the M’s have never achieved, angers owner George Argyros so much he threatens to move the team out of Seattle.

September 30, 1985

1985 – Bret Saberhagen pitches a complete game win over the Angels to win his 20th game of the year. The win gives the Royals a tie for 1st place in the AL West. George Brett and Jim Sundberg homer for KC.

October 2, 1985

Darrell Evans becomes the first player in major league history to hit 40 home runs in a season in both leagues. The Tigers first baseman, who had hit 41 with the Braves in 1973, goes deep off Blue Jays’ hurler Dave Stieb to reach 40 on the last day of the season.

October 2, 1985

The Galbreath family and Warner Communications sell the Pirates to the Pittsburgh Associates, a consortium of Pittsburgh officials and local businesses committed to keeping the team in the City of Bridges. At the time, New Orleans and Portland were making attractive offers to bring the franchise, which was doing poorly on-and-off the field, to their respective cities.

October 2, 1985

Commissioner Peter Ueberroth makes it clear that Seattle is in self-imposed jeopardy of losing the Mariners, citing there is no requirement for the team to stay in their present location if they are not wanted for the long term. The Commissioner is referring to the King County Council’s attempt to modify an agreement based on attendance made with owner George Argyros concerning the team’s ability to exercise an ‘escape clause’ after the 1987 season.

October 2, 1985

Dwight Gooden wins 24th Game

October 5, 1985

The Toronto Blue Jays win the American League East championship with a 5 – 1 win over the New York Yankees at Exhibition Stadium. Doyle Alexander pitches a complete game, allowing only five hits.

October 5, 1985

The St. Louis Cardinals clinch the National League East title with a 7 – 1 win over the Chicago Cubs.

October 5, 1985

The Kansas City Royals defeat the Oakland Athletics, 5 – 4, in 10 innings, to clinch the American League West title. Willie Wilson’s single scores Pat Sheridan with the winning run.

October 6, 1985

Phil Niekro of the New York Yankees wins his 300th game

October 6, 1985

Hubie Brooks first shortstop since banks to drive in 100

October 7, 1985

Bob Lillis is fired as manager of the Astros

October 11, 1985

Royals beat the Blue Jays, 6-5, with George Brett going 4-for-4

October 12, 1985

1985 – In Game 4 of the ALCS, Al Oliver pinch-hits a two-run double in the 9th inning to give the Blue Jays a 3 – 1 win over Kansas City and a 3-1 lead in the Series. Until this year’s best-of-seven format was adopted, the three victories would have sent the Blue Jays to the World Series, but Kansas City will take advantage of the format change to come back and take the series.

October 13, 1985

St. Louis wins 12-2 but loses rookie sensation Vince Coleman to one of the more bizarre injuries in major league history.

October 13, 1985

Down 3 games to 1 Danny Jackson fires a shutout in give KC game 5 of the ALCS 2-0

October 14, 1985

Ozzie Smith provides one of the most memorable moments in Cardinals history by hitting a dramatic homer to win Game 5 of the NLCS

October 16, 1985

Jack Clark hits a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 7-5 victory

October 16, 1985

Major League Baseball gets its first intrastate World Series since 1974, as the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals win their respective playoff series. Kansas City wins the ALCS with a 6 – 2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7, capping a comeback from a 3 – 1 deficit. While at Dodger Stadium, Jack Clark hits a dramatic three-run home run off the Dodgers’ Tom Niedenfuer with two outs in the top of the 9th inning and first base open, to give the Cardinals a 7 – 5 victory and a 4-2 Series victory

October 17, 1985

Billy Martin, who had become the team’s skipper for the fourth time after the Yankees fired Yogi Berra in April, is replaced by Lou Piniella. “Billy the Kid’ piloted the 97-64 Bronx Bombers to a second place finish, ending the season two games behind Toronto.

October 19, 1985

Cardinals ace John Tudor is a 3 – 1 winner in the I-70 World Series opener against in-state opponent Kansas City.

October 20, 1985

Terry Pendelton delivers key hit to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

October 22, 1985

Pitcher Bret Saberhagen gives the Kansas City Royals their first World Series victory with a complete game 6 – 1 decision in Game 3

October 23, 1985

After months of debate, King County Executive Randy Revelle and team owner George Argyros sign a new lease calling for the Mariners to play in the Kingdome through the 1996 season. The deal contains a provision which allows the M’s to leave Seattle after the 1987 season if attendance stays below 1.4 million, and season ticket sales fall under the 10,000 mark.

October 23, 1985

John Tudor pitches a five-hit, 3 – 0 victory over the Kansas City Royals, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-1 lead in the World Series.

October 24, 1985

Danny Jackson’s five-hitter cuts St. Louis’ lead to 3-2 in the World Series as the Royals take Game 5, 6 – 1

October 25, 1985

The California Angels announce that they will not offer seven-time batting champion Rod Carew a new contract for the 1986 season

October 26, 1985

Don Denkinger’s controversial ninth-inning call at first base enables the Royals to beat the Cardinals forcing a game 7

October 27, 1985

The Kansas City Royals become only the sixth team in major league history to rally from a three-games-to-one deficit to win the World Series

October 29, 1985

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Joaquin Andújar is suspended for the first 10 games of the 1986 season

November 2, 1985

1The Montreal Expos finally sign their top draft pick, Pete Incaviglia, and then trade him to the Texas Rangers f

November 13, 1985

Mets and Red Sox make a 8 player deal

November 14, 1985

Milwaukee Brewers release future Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers

November 18, 1985

It’s no boo-boo. The Astros sign 59-year-old Yogi Berra to serve as a bench coach for new skipper Hal Lanier. The quotable Berra is persuaded to come to Texas at the request of owner John McMullen. The two are neighbors in New Jersey. 

November 19, 1985

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Willie McGee wins the National League Most Valuable Player Award

November 20, 1985

New York Yankees first baseman Don Mattingly, who hit .324 with 35 home runs and 145 RBI, easily wins the American League Most Valuable Player Award over Kansas City Royals third baseman George Brett (.335, 30, 103).

November 20, 1985

Jim Leyland replaces Chuck Tanner as the manager of the Pirates

November 25, 1985

1985 – Chicago White Sox shortstop Ozzie Guillen, who hit .273 with just 12 errors in 150 games, is named American League Rookie of the Year. Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Teddy Higuera, who posted a 15-8 record and a 3.90 ERA, finishes second in the voting.

November 27, 1985

Vince Coleman is as the NL Rookie of the Year

December 6, 1985

Hall of Fame hurler Burleigh Grimes dies at his home in Clear Lake, Wisconsin

December 8, 1985

Bill Wambsganss, who turned an unassisted triple play for the Indians in the 1920 World Series passes away

December 10, 1985

1985 – In the first major swap of the winter meetings, the A’s trade C Mike Heath and P Tim Conroy to the Cardinals for Joaquin Andujar, 21-game winner with a volatile temperament.

December 10, 1985

Braves trade future CY Young Award Winner Steve Bedrosian

December 11, 1985

The Phillies trade pitchers John Denny and Jeff Gray to the Reds for OF Gary Redus and P Tom Hume, and the Dodgers trade veteran catcher Steve Yeager to the Mariners for P Ed Vande Berg.

December 11, 1985

The Giants send 2B Manny Trillo to the Cubs for SS Dave Owen, and C Alex Trevino to the Dodgers for OF Candy Maldonado.

December 12, 1985

The Yankees trade P Joe Cowley and C Ron Hassey to the White Sox for P Britt Burns (18-11) and minor leaguers Mike Soper and Glen Braxton. Hassey will come back to New York before the season’s start. A degenerative hip condition ends Burns’ career before he has a chance to pitch for the Yanks.

December 12, 1985

The Indians sign free agent Tom Candiotti to a AAA contract

December 14, 1985

Roger Maris dies from cancer at the age of 51

December 16, 1985

Jerry Mumphrey is dealt to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Billy Hatcher and a minor leaguer

December 18, 1985

1985 – The Giants trade strikeout-prone slugger Rob Deer to the Brewers for minor leaguers Eric Pilkington and Dean Freeland.

December 19, 1985

The Expos trade P Bill Gullickson and C Sal Butera to the Reds for 4 players

December 23, 1985

Thousands of fans, including former President Richard Nixon and Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, attend a memorial mass conducted by John Cardinal O’Connor at New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral held for Roger Maris. The moving service for the recently deceased ballplayer is arranged by Yankee owner George Steinbrenner.

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