In today's world, 1985 New York Yankees season has become a topic of great relevance and interest, generating debates and discussions in different areas. Whether in the political, social, technological or cultural sphere, 1985 New York Yankees season has taken a leading role and has captured the attention of society in general. Over the years, 1985 New York Yankees season has evolved and taken on new dimensions that have significantly impacted the way we live, communicate and relate. In this article, we will explore the different facets of 1985 New York Yankees season and its influence on our daily lives, as well as its importance in the current context.
Season for the Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees
The 1985 New York Yankees season was the 83rd season for the Yankees. The team only played 161 games, came in second place in the American League East with a record of 97–64, and finished 2 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees did not qualify for the postseason. New York was managed by Yogi Berra and Billy Martin. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.
Offseason
November 5, 1984: Matt Keough was released by the Yankees.[1]
December 27, 1984: Ed Whitson was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.[6]
February 27, 1985: Toby Harrah was traded by the Yankees to the Texas Rangers for Billy Sample and a player to be named later. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Eric Dersin (minors) to the Yankees on July 14.[7]
Regular season
Rickey Henderson set a new club record by stealing 80 bases in one season. The previous mark had stood since 1914.
Henderson also scored 146 runs. It was the most in the Major Leagues since Ted Williams scored 150 runs in 1949.[8] In addition, Rickey Henderson became the first player since Lou Gehrig in 1936 to amass more runs in a season than games played.[8]
Mattingly's 48 doubles were the most since Lou Gehrig hit 52 in 1927.
Mattingly was the AL MVP and RBI leader with 145. Mattingly hit for a .324 average with 35 home runs.
Dave Winfield became the first Yankee since Yogi Berra to achieve four straight 100 RBI seasons. Berra did it from 1953 to 1956.
On April 28, the Yankees fired Yogi Berra as manager 16 games into the season, only hours after being swept by the Chicago White Sox in a three-game series at Comiskey Park. Owner George Steinbrenner did not fire Berra personally, but instead dispatched general manager Clyde King to deliver the news. Berra was replaced by Billy Martin, whom he replaced as manager after the 1983 season. It became the fourth of Martin's five stints as Yankee skipper. Berra vowed after the slight to never again set foot in Yankee Stadium as long as Steinbrenner owned the team
On September 22, while at a hotel bar in Baltimore, Maryland, pitcher Ed Whitson broke manager Billy Martin's arm after a heated argument that spread to other parts of the hotel. Whitson's Yankee tenure was also memorable for constantly being heckled and booed during home games.
On October 5, the Yankees entered the next-to-last game of the season against the division-leading Toronto Blue Jays trailing them by two games. However, the Jays, led by pitcher Doyle Alexander, triumphed 5-1, clinching their first division title in franchise history.
On October 6, Phil Niekro shut out the Blue Jays 8-0 for his 300th major league win. He did not throw his trademark knuckleball until the final pitch of the game, striking out Jeff Burroughs.
August 24, 1985: Jim Leyritz was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent.[10]
September 13, 1985: Bernie Williams was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent.[11]
September 15, 1985: Jim Deshaies and players to be named later were traded by the Yankees to the Houston Astros for Joe Niekro, who joined his brother Phil Niekro in the rotation. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Neder Horta (minors) to the Astros on September 24 and Dody Rather (minors) to the Astros on January 11, 1986.[12]
Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN978-0-9637189-8-3.