1985 Oakland Athletics season
Encyclopedia
The Oakland Athletics
' 1985 season
involved the As finishing 4th in the American League
West with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
' 1985 season
1985 Major League Baseball season
In 1985, the 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...
involved the As finishing 4th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
West with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses.
Offseason
- December 5, 1984: Rickey HendersonRickey HendersonRickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
, Bert BradleyBert BradleySteven Bert Bradley is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Oakland Athletics during the season.-References:...
and cash were traded by the Athletics to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Stan JavierStan JavierStanley Julián Antonio Javier [hah-ve-ERR] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter who played with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , Los Angeles Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , San Francisco Giants , Houston...
, Jay HowellJay HowellJay Canfield Howell is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers .Howell was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when they won the 1988 World Series...
, José RijoJosé RijoJosé Antonio Rijo Abreu is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent the majority of his career with the Cincinnati Reds .-Playing career:...
, Eric PlunkEric PlunkEric Vaughn Plunk , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1986-1999.Plunk was involved in two trades for Rickey Henderson...
, and Tim BirtsasTim BirtsasTimothy Dean Birtsas , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1985–1986 and from 1988–1990...
. - December 7, 1984: Ray BurrisRay BurrisBertram Ray Burris was a pitcher with a 15 year career from 1973 to 1987. He played for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Montreal Expos and St. Louis Cardinals all of the National League and the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers all of the American League...
, Eric Barry (minors) and a player to be named later were traded by the Athletics to the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Don Sutton. The Athletics completed the deal by sending Ed Myers (minors) to the Brewers on March 25, 1985. - December 8, 1984: Bill CaudillBill CaudillWilliam Holland Caudill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. One of the wackier players to play the game, Caudill was also one of baseball's top closers from to . Caudill is perhaps most notable for being agent Scott Boras' first client.-Early years:Caudill was drafted by the St...
was traded by the Athletics to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for Alfredo GriffinAlfredo GriffinAlfredo Claudino Griffin is a former Major League Baseball player, who played shortstop for four teams from 1976 to 1993. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
, Dave CollinsDave CollinsDavid S. Collins is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball from to .Collins is one of three players to have made it to the major leagues who played for the storied Rapid City Post 22 American Legion baseball program in Rapid City, SD...
, and cash. - February 5, 1985: Rob Picciolo was signed as a Free Agent with the Oakland Athletics.
Regular season
- September 2, 1985: José CansecoJosé CansecoJosé Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
made his major league debut in a game against the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Canseco had one at bat without a hit.
- September 22, 1985: José Canseco became the 27th player to hit a Home Run over the roof of Comiskey ParkComiskey ParkComiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
.
Transactions
- April 15, 1985: Bob Owchinko was signed as a Free Agent with the Oakland Athletics.
- April 26, 1985: Bill MooneyhamBill MooneyhamWilliam Craig Mooneyham is a former major league baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.Mooneyham attended Merced Junior College. He was originally drafted in in the 1st round . He made his major league debut on April 19, 1986 with Oakland...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - July 12, 1985: Tommy JohnTommy JohnThomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
was signed as a free agent by the Athletics. - July 17, 1985: Bob Owchinko was purchased by the Chicago White Sox from the Oakland Athletics.
- September 10, 1985: Don Sutton was traded by the Athletics to the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for players to be named later. The Angels completed the deal by sending Robert Sharpnack (minors) and Jerome Nelson (minors) to the Athletics on September 25.
Draft Picks
- June 3, 1985: 1985 Major League Baseball Draft1985 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full year of major league experience prior to the start of the 1987 season. Included in that list were...
- Walt WeissWalt WeissWalter William Weiss is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.Weiss was a member of the National League All-Star Team...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 1st round (11th pick). Player signed June 5, 1985. - Dave OttoDave OttoDavid Alan Otto , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987-1994. Dave is a 1982 graduate of Elk Grove High School. At 6'7" he is the tallest pitcher to hurl for Elk Grove's Grenadiers...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 2nd round. - Wally WhitehurstWally WhitehurstWalter Richard Whitehurst is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to with the New York Mets, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees...
was drafted by the Athletics in the 3rd round. - Jim Pena was drafted by the Athletics in the 24th round, but did not sign.
- Walt Weiss
Roster
| 1985 Oakland Athletics | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 343 | 92 | .268 | 14 | 52 | |
| 29 | 96 | 29 | .302 | 5 | 13 | |
| 40 | 66 | 13 | .197 | 1 | 10 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 63.2 | 6 | 4 | 3.53 | 65 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63 | 9 | 8 | 29 | 2.85 | 68 | |
| 56 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4.30 | 77 | |
| 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14.58 | 10 | |