1985 St. Louis Cardinals season

The 1985 St. Louis Cardinals season was the Cardinals' 104th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 94th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101–61 during the season (their best record in the Herzog era and all of baseball that year) and finished in first place in the National League East division by three games over the New York Mets. After defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games in the NLCS, they lost in seven games in the World Series to their cross-state rivals, the Kansas City Royals in the I-70 Series. The World Series is known for the infamous "safe" call on the Royals' Jorge Orta by umpire Don Denkinger.

The Cardinals switched back to their traditional gray road uniforms for the first time in ten seasons.

Outfielder Willie McGee won the National League MVP Award this year, batting .353 with 10 home runs and 82 RBIs. Outfielder Vince Coleman won the National League Rookie of the Year Award this year, batting .267 with 107 runs scored and 110 stolen bases. Shortstop Ozzie Smith and McGee both won Gold Gloves this year.

During the 1985 playoffs, the Cardinals used the slogan The Heat Is On, in reference to the song that was released earlier that year.

Offseason November 9, 1984: Dave Von Ohlen was released by the Cardinals.Dave Von Ohlen at Baseball Reference December 12, 1984: George Hendrick and Steve Barnard (minors) were traded by the Cardinals to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Brian Harper and John Tudor.Brian Harper at Baseball Reference January 3, 1985: Alex Cole was drafted by the Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1985 amateur draft. Player signed May 6, 1985.Alex Cole at Baseball Reference January 23, 1985: Mike LaValliere was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.Mike LaValliere at Baseball Reference February 1, 1985: Dave LaPoint, David Green, José Uribe and Gary Rajsich were traded by the Cardinals to the San Francisco Giants for Jack ClarkGary Rajsich at Baseball Reference

Regular season

Opening Day starters Steve Braun Jack Clark Bob Forsch Tom Herr Mike LaValliere Willie McGee Terry Pendleton Ozzie Smith Andy Van Slyke

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 21, 1985: Matt Keough was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals.Matt Keough at Baseball Reference June 3, 1985: Steve Peters was drafted by the Cardinals in the 5th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.Steve Peters at Baseball Reference July 22, 1985: Gary Rajsich was purchased by the Cardinals from the San Francisco Giants. August 29, 1985: Mark Jackson (minors) was traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Reds for César Cedeño.Cesar Cedeno at Baseball Reference

Roster 1985 St. Louis Cardinals Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log Regular season

|-style=background:#fbb | 1 || April 9 || 12:35p.m. CST || @ Mets || L 5–6 || Gorman (1–0) || Allen (0–1) || – || 3:42 || 46,781 || 0–1 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 2 || April 11 || 12:35p.m. CST || @ Mets || L 1–2 || McDowell (1–0) || Hassler (0–1) || – || 3:26 || 18,864 || 0–2 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || April 12 || 5:05p.m. CST || @ Pirates || L 4–6 || Robinson (1–0) || Kepshire (0–1) || Candelaria (1) || 2:34 || 47,335 || 0–3 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 13 || 6:05p.m. CST || @ Pirates || L 3–4 || Candelaria (1–0) || Campbell (0–1) || – || 2:36 || 9,171 || 0–4 || L4 |-style=background:#cfc | 5 || April 14 || 12:35p.m. CST || @ Pirates || W 10–4 || Andújar (1–0) || Rhoden (0–2) || – || 2:44 || 12,483 || 1–4 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 6 || April 15 || 7:35p.m. CST || Expos || W 6–1 || Forsch (1–0) || Gullickson (1–1) || – || 2:09 || 42,986 || 2–4 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 7 || April 17 || 7:35p.m. CST || Expos || L 1–2 || Hesketh (1–0) || Tudor (0–1) || Reardon (1) || 2:14 || 20,145 || 2–5 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 18 || 12:35p.m. CST || Expos || L 1–7 || Rogers (1–2) || Kepshire (0–2) || – || 2:31 || 19,953 || 2–6 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 9 || April 19 || 7:35p.m. CST || Pirates || W 5–4 || Andújar (2–0) || Candelaria (1–2) || Allen (1) || 2:44 || 30,510 || 3–6 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 10 || April 20 || 7:05p.m. CST || Pirates || W 4–3 || Cox (1–0) || Tunnell (0–1) || Allen (2) || 2:28 || 32,978 || 4–6 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 11 || April 21 || 1:15p.m. CST || Pirates || W 6–0 || Forsch (2–0) || DeLeón (0–2) || – || 2:27 || 28,880 || 5–6 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 12 || April 22 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || L 6–7 || Schiraldi (1–0) || Tudor (0–2) || Orosco (2) || 2:49 || 16,324 || 5–7 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 13 || April 23 || 7:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 8–3 || Kepshire (1–2) || Gorman (1–1) || – || 2:49 || 13,028 || 6–7 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 14 || April 24 || 12:35p.m. CST || Mets || W 5–1 || Andújar (3–0) || Gooden (2–1) || – || 2:16 || 29,282 || 7–7 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || April 25 || 12:35p.m. CST || @ Expos || L 2–4 || Gullickson (3–1) || Cox (1–1) || Reardon (4) || 2:23 || 10,203 || 7–8 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 16 || April 26 || 2:35p.m. CST || @ Expos || L 5–10 || Palmer (1–2) || Forsch (2–1) || – || 3:04 || 10,264 || 7–9 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 17 || April 27 || 12:35p.m. CST || @ Expos || L 3–8 || Hesketh (2–1) || Tudor (0–3) || Roberge (1) || 2:30 || 15,171 || 7–10 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 18 || April 28 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Expos || L 3–5 || Rogers (2–2) || Kepshire (1–3) || Reardon (5) || 3:16 || 14,426 || 7–11 || L4 |-style=background:#cfc | 19 || April 30 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || W 6–1 || Andújar (4–0) || Reuss (1–3) || – || 2:40 || 20,380 || 8–11 || W1

|-style=background:#fbb | 20 || May 1 || 12:35p.m. CDT || Dodgers || L 1–2 || Howell (1–1) || Allen (0–2) || Niedenfuer (1) || 3:40 || 14,324 || 8–12 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 21 || May 3 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Giants || W 8–1 || Tudor (1–3) || Krukow (2–1) || – || 2:27 || 32,441 || 9–12 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 22 || May 4 || 7:05p.m. CDT || Giants || W 6–4 || Kepshire (2–3) || Hammaker (0–3) || Lahti (1) || 2:27 || 41,410 || 10–12 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 23 || May 5 || 1:15p.m. CDT || Giants || L 0–5 || LaPoint (1–4) || Andújar (4–1) || – || 2:22 || 31,322 || 10–13 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 24 || May 6 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Padres || W 5–2 || Cox (2–1) || Show (2–1) || Lahti (2) || 2:41 || 28,260 || 11–13 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 25 || May 7 || 12:35p.m. CDT || Padres || L 2–12 || Dravecky (1–2) || Forsch (2–2) || – || 2:26 || 18,682 || 11–14 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 26 || May 8 || 9:35p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || L 2–5 || Honeycutt (2–2) || Tudor (1–4) || Howell (4) || 2:28 || 33,748 || 11–15 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 27 || May 9 || 9:35p.m. CDT || @ Dodgers || W 5–4 || Allen (1–2) || Howell (2–2) || Dayley (1) || 3:34 || 37,775 || 12–15 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 28 || May 10 || 10:05p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 9–3 || Andújar (5–1) || LaPoint (1–5) || Campbell (1) || 2:37 || 12,900 || 13–15 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 29 || May 11 || 3:05p.m. CDT || @ Giants || W 9–4 || Cox (3–1) || Laskey (1–4) || – || 2:47 || 16,154 || 14–15 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 30 || May 12 || 3:05p.m. CDT || @ Giants || L 4–5 || Garrelts (2–1) || Allen (1–3) || – || 3:11 || 19,614 || 14–16 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 31 || May 14 || 9:05p.m. CDT || @ Padres || L 2–6 || Hawkins (7–0) || Tudor (1–5) || Thurmond (1) || 2:31 || 23,904 || 14–17 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 32 || May 15 || 9:05p.m. CDT || @ Padres || W 14–4 || Andújar (6–1) || Hoyt (2–4) || – || 2:48 || 27,368 || 15–17 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 33 || May 17 || 7:35p.m. CDT || @ Astros || W 8–6 || Campbell (1–1) || Calhoun (0–1) || Dayley (2) || 2:53 || 14,501 || 16–17 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 34 || May 18 || 7:35p.m. CDT || @ Astros || L 5–6 || Ryan (3–2) || Kepshire (2–4) || Ross (1) || 2:43 || 39,828 || 16–18 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 35 || May 19 || 2:05p.m. CDT || @ Astros || L 3–7 || Mathis (3–1) || Tudor (1–6) || Dawley (2) || 2:38 || 15,652 || 16–19 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 36 || May 20 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 14–0 || Andújar (7–1) || Smith (2–3) || – || 2:37 || 25,112 || 17–19 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 37 || May 21 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 6–3 || Cox (4–1) || Barker (1–4) || Horton (1) || 2:40 || 27,541 || 18–19 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 38 || May 22 || 12:35p.m. CDT || Braves || W 5–3 || Forsch (3–2) || Mahler (8–3) || Dayley (3) || 2:24 || 28,729 || 19–19 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 39 || May 24 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Reds || L 6–7 || Franco (1–1) || Horton (0–1) || – || 3:49 || 20,665 || 19–20 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 40 || May 25 || 6:05p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 6–4 || Andújar (8–1) || Tibbs (3–7) || Dayley (4) || 2:50 || 24,846 || 20–20 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 41 || May 26 || 1:15p.m. CDT || @ Reds || W 7–2 || Cox (5–1) || Stuper (5–3) || – || 2:22 || 21,349 || 21–20 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 42 || May 28 || 6:40p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 9–3 || Forsch (4–2) || Smith (2–4) || Lahti (3) || 2:42 || 9,856 || 22–20 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 43 || May 29 || 6:40p.m. CDT || @ Braves || L 3–5 || Bedrosian (2–3) || Tudor (1–7) || Sutter (9) || 2:22 || 8,557 || 22–21 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 44 || May 30 || 6:40p.m. CDT || @ Braves || W 6–0 || Andújar (9–1) || Mahler (8–4) || Campbell (2) || 2:25 || 13,503 || 23–21 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 45 || May 31 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Reds || W 5–0 || Cox (6–1) || Stuper (5–4) || – || 2:05 || 38,910 || 24–21 || W2

|-style=background:#fbb | 46 || June 1 || 12:20p.m. CDT || Reds || L 3–9 || Browning (5–4) || Kepshire (2–5) || Hume (2) || 2:53 || 35,586 || 24–22 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 47 || June 2 || 1:15p.m. CDT || Reds || L 3–8 || Tibbs (4–7) || Forsch (4–3) || – || 2:29 || 33,774 || 24–23 || L2 |-style=background:#cfc | 48 || June 3 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Astros || W 9–5 || Tudor (2–7) || Ryan (5–3) || Dayley (5) || 2:35 || 18,891 || 25–23 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 49 || June 4 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Astros || W 6–1 || Andújar (10–1) || Niekro (2–6) || – || 2:30 || 23,203 || 26–23 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 50 || June 5 || 7:35p.m. CDT || Astros || L 3–8 || Knepper (6–1) || Cox (6–2) || DiPino (5) || 2:41 || 23,998 || 26–24 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 51 || June 7 || 7:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 7–2 || Campbell (2–1) || Sisk (1–4) || – || 4:14 || 34,490 || 27–24 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 52 || June 8 || 12:35p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 1–0 || Tudor (3–7) || Gorman (3–2) || – || 2:14 || 36,424 || 28–24 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 53 || June 9 || 12:05p.m. CDT || @ Mets || L 1–6 || Gooden (9–3) || Forsch (4–4) || – || 3:04 || – || 28–25 || L1 |-style=background:#cfc | 54 || June 9 || 3:44p.m. CDT || @ Mets || W 8–2 || Andújar (11–1) || Schiraldi (2–1) || – || 2:31 || 41,431 || 29–25 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 55 || June 10 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || W 6–1 || Cox (7–2) || Rhoden (4–6) || – || 2:16 || 5,557 || 30–25 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 56 || June 11 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || L 2–13 || Reuschel (3–0) || Allen (1–4) || – || 2:11 || 4,817 || 30–26 || L1 |-style=background:#bbb | — || June 12 || || @ Pirates || colspan=8 | Postponed (Rain) (Makeup date: September 16) |-style=background:#cfc | 57 || June 13 || 6:35p.m. CDT || @ Pirates || W 2–1 || Tudor (4–7) || McWilliams (3–5) || Lahti (4) || 1:59 || 4,833 || 31–26 || W1 |-style=background:#cfc | 58 || June 14 || 3:05p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 11–10 || Andújar (12–1) || Ruthven (3–5) || Forsch (1) || 3:16 || 36,745 || 32–26 || W2 |-style=background:#cfc | 59 || June 15 || 1:20p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 2–0 || Cox (8–2) || Fontenot (1–2) || – || 2:37 || 34,716 || 33–26 || W3 |-style=background:#cfc | 60 || June 16 || 1:20p.m. CDT || @ Cubs || W 5–2 || Kepshire (3–5) || Eckersley (7–4) || Campbell (3) || 2:34 || 36,262 || 34–26 || W4 |-style=background:#cfc