Puneet Varma (Editor)

1985 Minnesota Twins season

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Owner(s)
  
Carl Pohlad

General manager(s)
  
Howard Fox, Andy MacPhail

Manager(s)
  
Billy Gardner, Ray Miller

Local television
  
KMSP-TV (Bob Kurtz, Harmon Killebrew) Spectrum (Harmon Killebrew, Dick Bremer)

Local radio
  
830 WCCO AM (Herb Carneal, Joe Angel)

The 1985 Minnesota Twins finished with a record of 77-85, fourth in the American League West.

Contents

Offseason

  • October 17, 1984: Albert Williams was released by the Twins.
  • January 3, 1985: Mike Benjamin was drafted by the Twins in the 7th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.
  • January 9, 1985: Jack O'Connor was traded by the Twins to the Montreal Expos for Mike Stenhouse.
  • March 27, 1985: Brad Havens was traded by the Twins to the Baltimore Orioles for Mark Brown.

    • Regular season

    On June 20, after a disappointing start, manager Billy Gardner was replaced by Ray Miller.

    Minnesota, the Twins and the Metrodome hosted the All-Star Game. Only one Twins player made the American League team, outfielder Tom Brunansky. Bruno finished second in the first-ever Home Run Derby, behind Dave Parker. Three Minnesota natives, not yet Twins, played on the same major league field for the same time -- Dave Winfield, Jack Morris and Paul Molitor.

    In Anaheim on August 4, pitcher Frank Viola gave up a double to longtime-Twin now-an Angel Rod Carew. The two-bagger was Carew's 3000th career hit.

    The pitcher on the mound on September 25, as the Twins won their 2000th game, is the same pitcher that won Minnesota's 1000th game on July 12, 1972 -- Bert Blyleven.

    1,651,814 fans attended Twins games, a Twins attendance record, but still the sixth lowest total in the American League.

    Offense

    Leadoff batter Kirby Puckett hit .288 and scored 80 runs. Kent Hrbek hit .311 with 21 HR and 93 RBI. Tom Brunansky hit 27 HR and 90 RBI. Gary Gaetti hit 20 HR and 63 RBI.

    Pitching

    For the first time in years, the Twins had three solid starting pitchers: Frank Viola (18-14), Mike Smithson (15-14), and John Butcher (11-14). Reliever Ron Davis had 25 saves.

    Notable transactions

  • April 4, 1985: Lenny Faedo was released by the Twins.
  • August 1, 1985: Curt Wardle, Jay Bell, Jim Weaver, and a player to be named later were traded by the Twins to the Cleveland Indians for Bert Blyleven. The Twins completed the deal by sending Rich Yett to the Indians on September 17.
  • The Twins drafted pitcher Jeff Bumgarner with the thirteenth overall pick in the 1985 Draft.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Kenosha

    References

    1985 Minnesota Twins season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA