1985 Toronto Blue Jays season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Toronto Blue Jays
season = 1985
misc = 1985 AL East Champions

current league = American League
y1 = 1977
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1977
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Exhibition Stadium
y4 = 1977
city = Toronto, Ontario
y5 = 1977
owners = Labatt Breweries,
Imperial Trust,
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
genmanagers = Pat Gillick
managers = Bobby Cox
television = CFTO-TV
(Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver)
The Sports Network
(Ken Singleton, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver)
radio = CJCL (AM)
(Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek)|The by|1985 Toronto Blue Jays season saw the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 99 wins and 62 losses. The win total of 99 is a franchise record, and the division title was the franchise's first.

Despite having the second-best record in all of baseball, the Blue Jays collapsed in the American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals, blowing a 3-1 series lead and losing in seven games.

Offseason

*December 3, 1984: Rule 5 draft
**Manuel Lee was drafted by the Blue Jays from the Houston Astros. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leema02.shtml Manuel Lee page at Baseball Reference] ]
**Lou Thornton was drafted by the Blue Jays from the New York Mets. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/thornlo01.shtml Lou Thornton page at Baseball Reference] ]
*December 8, 1984: Alfredo Griffin, Dave Collins, and cash were traded by the Blue Jays to the Oakland Athletics for Bill Caudill. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/caudibi01.shtml Bill Caudill page at Baseball Reference] ]
*January 24, 1985: Tom Henke was chosen by the Blue Jays from the Texas Rangers as a Free Agent compensation pick. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/henketo01.shtml Tom Henke page at Baseball Reference] ]
*January 26, 1985: Jim Gott, Augie Schmidt (minors), and Jack McKnight (minors) were traded by the Blue Jays to the San Francisco Giants for Gary Lavelle. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lavelga01.shtml Gary Lavelle page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular season

*On April 27, 1985, Willie Aikens hit a home run in the last at-bat of his career. [ [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats18.shtml Home Run in Last At Bat by Baseball Almanac ] ]
*On July 9, 1985, in a game between between the Blue Jays and the Mariners at Seattle, Buck Martinez achieved a double play by tagging out two runners at home plate. In the third inning, Phil Bradley was on second when Gorman Thomas singled. Bradley was tagged out at home, on a throw from Jesse Barfield to Buck Martinez. There was a collision between Bradley and Martinez and Martinez broke his ankle. Martinez was sitting on the ground in agony and threw the ball to third base in an attempt to tag out Gorman Thomas. The throw went into left field and Thomas ran towards home plate. Toronto leftfielder George Bell threw the ball back to Martinez. He was still seated on the ground in pain but was able to tag Gorman Thomas for the out. Martinez tagged out both runners at home plate. [http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/doubletag2.htm]
*Dave Stieb led the American League with a 2.48 ERA and pitched 26 consecutive scoreless innings.

eason standings

Notable transactions

*May 31, 1985: Pedro Muñoz was signed by the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/munozpe01.shtml Pedro Munoz page at Baseball Reference] ]
*June 3, 1985: 1985 Major League Baseball Draft
**Jim Abbott was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 36th round, but did not sign. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/abbotji01.shtml Jim Abbott page at Baseball Reference] ]
**Todd Stottlemyre was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the (Secondary Phase). Player signed August 12, 1985. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/stottto01.shtml Todd Stottlemyre page at Baseball Reference] ]
* June 22, 1985: Mitch Webster was traded by the Blue Jays to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later. The Expos completed the deal by sending Cliff Young to the Blue Jays on September 10. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/y/youngcl01.shtml Cliff Young page at Baseball Reference] ]
*July 9, 1985: Len Matuszek was traded by the Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Al Oliver. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/oliveal01.shtml Al Oliver page at Baseball Reference] ]
*August 28, 1985: The Blue Jays traded players to be named later to the Texas Rangers for Cliff Johnson. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Matt Williams and Jeff Mays (minors) to the Rangers on August 29, and Greg Ferlenda (minors) to the Rangers on November 14. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/willima03.shtml Matt Williams page at Baseball Reference] ]
*September 15, 1985: Junior Félix was signed by the Blue Jays as a free agent. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/felixju01.shtml Junior Felix page at Baseball Reference] ]
*September 17, 1985: Francisco Cabrera was signed by the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cabrefr01.shtml Francisco Cabrera page at Baseball Reference] ]

Roster

Other batters

Relief pitchers

Game 3

October 11, Royals Stadium

Game 6

October 15, Exhibition Stadium

Game 7

October 16, Exhibition Stadium

Awards and Honors

* Jesse Barfield, American League Leader in Outfield Assists (22)
* George Bell, Silver Slugger Award
* Bobby Cox, American League Manager of the Year Award
* Bobby Cox, The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
* Dave Stieb, Pitcher of the Month Award, May
* Dave Stieb, American League ERA Champion, 2.48

All-Star Game
* Damaso Garcia, Second Base
* Jimmy Key, Pitcher
* Dave Stieb, Pitcher
* Ernie Whitt, Catcher [ [http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/tor/history/all_stars.jsp Blue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History ] ]

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/1985.shtml 1985 Toronto Blue Jays team page at Baseball Reference]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1985&t=TOR 1985 Toronto Blue Jays team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]

succession box
title = AL East Championship Season
years = 1985
before =Detroit Tigers
1984
after = Boston Red Sox
1986