1985 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
finished in third place in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 84-77 (.522), 15 games behind the Blue Jays
. The Tigers outscored their opponents 729 to 688. The Tigers drew 2,286,609 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1983, ranking 3rd of the 14 teams in the American League.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
:
Darrell Evans
Kirk Gibson
Willie Hernandez
Chet Lemon
Jack Morris
Lance Parrish
Dan Petry
Frank Tanana
Walt Terrell
Alan Trammell
Lou Whitaker
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
finished in third place in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 84-77 (.522), 15 games behind the Blue Jays
1985 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 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....
. The Tigers outscored their opponents 729 to 688. The Tigers drew 2,286,609 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1983, ranking 3rd of the 14 teams in the American League.
Notable transactions
- April 5, 1985: Roger Mason was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the San Francisco Giants for Alejandro Sanchez.
- 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...
- Scott LusaderScott LusaderScott Edward Lusader is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Detroit Tigers from – and briefly for the New York Yankees in . Lusader attended the University of Florida before playing in the major leagues...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 6th round. - Mark LeeMark Lee (left-handed pitcher)Mark Owen Lee is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Lee pitched in all or part of four seasons between and . As a minor leaguer he was traded with Rey Palacios from the Detroit Tigers to the Kansas City Royals for Ted Power during the 1988 season.-External links:...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 15th round. - Andy StankiewiczAndy StankiewiczAndrew Neal Stankiewicz in Inglewood, California, U.S. is a retired Major League Baseball middle-infielder, presently minor league field coordinator for the Seattle Mariners...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 18th round, but did not sign. - John SmoltzJohn SmoltzJohn Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
was drafted by the Tigers in the 22nd round. Player signed September 22, 1985.
- Scott Lusader
Roster
| 1985 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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| G | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Lance Parrish Lance Parrish Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays... |
140 | 549 | 150 | .273 | 28 | 98 |
| 1B | Darrell Evans Darrell Evans Darrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball... |
151 | 505 | 125 | .248 | 40 | 94 |
| 2B | Lou Whitaker | 152 | 609 | 170 | .279 | 21 | 73 |
| 3B | Tom Brookens Tom Brookens Thomas Dale Brookens is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and Cleveland Indians... |
156 | 485 | 115 | .237 | 7 | 47 |
| SS | Alan Trammell Alan Trammell Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not... |
149 | 605 | 156 | .258 | 13 | 57 |
| RF | Kirk Gibson Kirk Gibson Kirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed... |
154 | 581 | 167 | .287 | 29 | 97 |
| CF | Chet Lemon Chet Lemon Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:... |
145 | 517 | 137 | .265 | 18 | 68 |
| LF | Larry Herndon Larry Herndon Larry Darnell Herndon is a former Major League Baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Francisco Giants , and Detroit Tigers... |
137 | 442 | 108 | .244 | 12 | 37 |
| DH | Johnny Grubb Johnny Grubb John Maywood Grubb, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, who also occasionally played at first base... |
78 | 155 | 38 | .245 | 5 | 25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson Simmons Nelson Simmons Nelson Bernard Simmons is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted by the Tigers in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft... |
75 | 251 | 60 | .239 | 10 | 33 |
| Bárbaro Garbey Barbaro Garbey Bárbaro Garbey is a former utility player in Major League Baseball. Garbey played at outfield, first and third bases, and also served as designated hitter. He batted and threw right-handed.... |
86 | 237 | 61 | .257 | 6 | 29 |
| Dave Bergman Dave Bergman David Bruce Bergman was a Major League Baseball first baseman, designated hitter, and outfielder.Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bergman is an alumnus of Maine South High School and Illinois State University... |
69 69 Year 69 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufinus... |
140 | 25 | .179 | 3 | 7 |
| Alejandro Sanchez Alejandro Sanchez Alejandro Sánchez Pimentel is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played during six seasons at the major league level for the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Oakland Athletics... |
71 | 133 | 33 | .248 | 6 | 12 |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Morris Jack Morris John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career... |
35 | 257.0 | 16 | 11 | 3.33 | 191 |
| Dan Petry Dan Petry Daniel Joseph Petry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , California Angels , Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox .... |
34 | 238.7 | 15 | 13 | 3.36 | 109 |
| Walt Terrell Walt Terrell Charles Walter Terrell is a former starting pitcher with an eleven year career from 1982 to 1992. He played for the New York Mets , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , and once again the Detroit Tigers... |
34 | 229.0 | 15 | 10 | 3.85 | 130 |
| Frank Tanana Frank Tanana Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971.... |
20 | 137.3 | 10 | 7 | 3.34 | 107 |
| Milt Wilcox Milt Wilcox Milton Edward Wilcox was a pitcher who had a sixteen-year career from 1970 to 1975, 1977–1986. He played for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs of the National League and the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners of the American League... |
8 | 39.0 | 1 | 3 | 4.85 | 20 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juan Berenguer Juan Berenguer Juan Bautista Berenguer was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins and other teams. He had a career record of 67 wins and 62 losses. A mean-looking, husky Panamanian with long hair and a mustache, he was called "Pancho Villa" by his... |
31 | 95 | 5 | 6 | 5.59 | 82 |
| Randy O'Neal Randy O'Neal Randall Jeffrey O'Neal is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during seven seasons at the major league level for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Tigers in the 1st round of the secondary... |
28 | 94.3 | 5 | 5 | 3.24 | 52 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games Finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willie Hernández Willie Hernández Guillermo "Willie" Hernández Villanueva is a former relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , and the Detroit Tigers . He threw and batted left-handed.-Career:... |
74 | 8 | 10 | 31 | 64 | 2.70 | 76 |
| Aurelio Lopez Aurelio López Aurelio Alejandro López was a Mexican relief pitcher. Over the course of an eleven year Major League career , he acquired the nickname "Señor Smoke" in Detroit due to his Mexican heritage and his overpowering fastball, which had been measured as high as 93 mph.-Early career:Born in Tecamachalco,... |
51 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 22 | 4.80 | 53 |
| Bill Scherrer Bill Scherrer William Joseph Scherrer , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1982-1988... |
48 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4.36 | 46 |
| Doug Bair Doug Bair Charles Douglas Bair is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in the majors, from until , for seven different teams... |
21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6.24 | 30 |
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1983 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
:
- Lance ParrishLance ParrishLance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
: 19th best catcher of all time - Lou Whitaker: 13th best second baseman of all time
- Darrell EvansDarrell EvansDarrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
: 10th best third baseman of all time - Alan TrammellAlan TrammellAlan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
: 9th best shortstop of all time - Kirk GibsonKirk GibsonKirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
: 36th best left fielder of all time - Chet LemonChet LemonChester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:...
: 48th best center fielder of all time
Award winners and league leaders
Tom BrookensTom Brookens
Thomas Dale Brookens is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and Cleveland Indians...
- AL leader in errors by a third baseman (23)
- #9 in AL in doubles (34)
Darrell Evans
Darrell Evans
Darrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
- Tiger of the Year Award, by Detroit baseball writers
- MLB leader in home runs (40)
- MLB leader in at bats per home run (12.6)
- Finished 14th in AL MVP voting
- #4 in AL in intentional walks (12)
- #5 in AL in slugging percentage (.519)
- #7 in AL in bases on balls (85)
- #8 in AL in OPS (.875)
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Gibson
Kirk Harold Gibson is a former Major League Baseball player and currently the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks. As a player, Gibson was an outfielder who batted and threw left-handed...
- AL leader in errors by an outfielder (11)
- Finished 18th in AL MVP voting
- #2 in AL in Power/Speed Number (29.5)
- #2 in AL in intentional walks (16)
- #3 in AL in extra base hits (71)
- #4 in AL in sacrifice flies (10)
- #4 in AL in strikeouts (137)
- #6 in AL in slugging percentage (.518)
- #6 in AL in total bases (301)
- #6 in AL in runs created (118)
- #7 in AL in OPS (.882)
- #7 in AL in doubles (37)
- #8 in AL in strikeouts (30)
- #9 in AL in home runs (29)
- #10 in MLB in total bases (301)
- #10 in MLB in doubles (37)
- #10 in MLB in runs created (118)
Willie Hernandez
Willie Hernández
Guillermo "Willie" Hernández Villanueva is a former relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , and the Detroit Tigers . He threw and batted left-handed.-Career:...
- AL All Star Team, pitcher
- #2 in MLB in games finished (64)
- #3 in AL in saves (31)
- #3 in AL in games (74)
Chet Lemon
Chet Lemon
Chester Earl Lemon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. A three time All-Star, he was a member of the World Series champion 1984 Detroit Tigers.-Early years:...
- #5 in AL in times hit by pitch (10)
Jack Morris
Jack Morris
John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career...
- AL All Star Team, starting pitcher
- AL leader in wild pitches (15)
- #2 in AL in shutouts (4)
- #2 in AL in bases on balls allowed (110)
- #3 in AL in strikeouts (191)
- #4 in AL in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (7.42)
- #4 in AL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.6969Year 69 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufinus...
) - #5 in AL in complete games (13)
- #10 in MLB in batters faced (1077)
Lance Parrish
Lance Parrish
Lance Michael Parrish, aka "Big Wheel", is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , Seattle Mariners , Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , and the Toronto Blue Jays...
- AL Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
, catcher - AL All Star Team, catcher
Dan Petry
Dan Petry
Daniel Joseph Petry is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , California Angels , Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox ....
- AL All Star Team, pitcher
- #3 in AL in hits allowed per 9 innings (7.16)
- #5 in AL in walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) (1.135)
Frank Tanana
Frank Tanana
Frank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
- #3 in AL in strikeout to walk ratio (2.79)
- #5 in AL in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.66)
Walt Terrell
Walt Terrell
Charles Walter Terrell is a former starting pitcher with an eleven year career from 1982 to 1992. He played for the New York Mets , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , and once again the Detroit Tigers...
- #4 in AL in shutouts (3)
Alan Trammell
Alan Trammell
Alan Stuart Trammell is a retired American baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from to . Trammell, nicknamed "Tram", played his entire career with the Tigers, highlighted by a World Series championship in and an American League East division championship in . Although his arm was not...
- AL All Star Team, shortstop
- #7 in AL in sacrifice hits (11)
- #8 in AL in outs (480)
- #9 in AL in sacrifice flies (9)
Lou Whitaker
- AL Gold Glove AwardGold Glove AwardThe Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
, second base - AL Silver Slugger Award, second base
- AL All Star Team, starting second baseman
- #7 in AL in triples (8)
- #9 in AL in plate appearances (701)
- #9 in AL in runs created (107)
- #9 in AL in times on base (252)
- #10 in AL in runs (102)