1985 New York Mets season

The 1985 New York Mets season was the 24th regular season for the Mets. They went 98–64 and finished second in the National League East; the team stayed in contention to win the division title until the last week of the season.^[1] They were managed by Davey Johnson. They played their home games at Shea Stadium.

Offseason

December 3, 1984: Lou Thornton was drafted from the Mets by the Toronto Blue Jays in the rule 5 draft.^[2]
December 10, 1984: Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham, and Floyd Youmans were traded by the Mets to the Montreal Expos for Gary Carter.^[3]
January 3, 1985: Rusty Staub was signed as a free agent by the Mets.^[4]
January 18, 1985: The Mets traded Tim Leary to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a 4-team trade. The Kansas City Royals sent Frank Wills to the Mets. The Texas Rangers traded Danny Darwin and a player to be named later to the Brewers. The Brewers sent Jim Sundberg to the Royals. The Royals sent Don Slaught to the Rangers. The Rangers completed the deal by sending Bill Nance (minors) to the Brewers on January 30.^[5]
February 2, 1985: Rick Anderson was signed as a free agent with the New York Mets. ^[6]

Regular season

Gary Carter led the Mets in HR and RBI.
July 4, 1985: Keith Hernandez hit for the cycle in a 16–13 game that lasted 19 innings vs. the Atlanta Braves.
July 11, 1985: Nolan Ryan got the 4000th strikeout of his career by striking out Mets player Danny Heep.
July 20, 1985: Darryl Strawberry had 7 RBIs in a game versus the Atlanta Braves.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day starters

Wally Backman, Second Base
Gary Carter, Catcher
George Foster, Outfield
Dwight Gooden, Pitcher
Keith Hernandez, First Base
Howard Johnson, Third Base
Rafael Santana, Shortstop
Darryl Strawberry, Outfield
Mookie Wilson, Outfield

Notable transactions

June 3, 1985: Gordon Dillard was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft (secondary phase), but did not sign.^[7]

Roster

Game log

Regular season

Player stats

Batting

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

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games played; GS = Games started; CG = Complete games; SHO = Shutouts; 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

Awards and honors

Dwight Gooden, Associated Press Athlete of the Year
Dwight Gooden, National League Cy Young Award Winner
Dwight Gooden, National League Pitching Triple Crown
Dwight Gooden, The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year
Keith Hernandez, National League First Base Gold Glove
Gary Carter, National League Catcher Silver Slugger
Keith Hernandez – Player of the Month, July 1985
Keith Hernandez – Hernandez set a major league record for game-winning runs batted in (24) in 1985
Gary Carter – Player of the Month, September 1985
Rafael Santana – Led NL Shortstops in Putouts (301)

All-Star Game

Darryl Strawberry, right field, starter
Gary Carter, catcher
Ron Darling, pitcher
Dwight Gooden, pitcher (Injured, did not play)

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Tidewater, Jackson

References

^ Durso, Joseph (October 7, 1985). "Mets Lose and Say Goodbye". The New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
^ Lou Thornton at Baseball Reference
^ Gary Carter at Baseball Reference
^ Rusty Staub at Baseball Reference
^ Danny Darwin at Baseball Reference
^ "Rick Anderson: Career Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
^ Gordon Dillard page at Baseball Reference

Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.

External links

1985 New York Mets at Baseball Reference
1985 New York Mets at Baseball Almanac