The 1985 Dodgers

The 1985 Los Angeles Dodger season began as what appeared to be a mirror season of 1984 when the club played sluggishly and were thoroughly overcome by the San Diego Padres. The club was five games behind, in fourth place at the end of May, and despite a 15-10 record in June, barely made a dent in picking up ground, being 4 1/2 games behind on July 1. This 1985 club hit their stride in July as they won 20 of 27 games, and then put together a 16-11 month in August and a 18-12 record in September to win the National League Western Division in fine style with a 95-67 record. Unfortunately, a very good St. Louis Cardinal club would upend them in the playoffs, but the Dodgers had many reasons to feel pleased with how they played and how their young team had jelled. Starting pitching continued to be the lifeblood of the Dodgers and it was that which gave the club its lift. The Dodgers were 1st in ERA (2.96) in the N.L., tied for first in complete games (37), 3rd in strikeouts, and third in wins by a starting pitcher. Four Dodger starting pitchers won in double figures with Orel Hershiser winning 19, Fernando Valenzuela 17 and Jerry Reuss and Bob Welch both at 14 wins. Hershiser led the N.L. in winning percentage (.864) and Valenzuela finished fifth in the N.L. Cy Young Award voting. Tom Niedenfuer and Ken Howell gave the Dodgers a balanced bullpen with Niedenfuer’s 19 saves and Howell’s 12.  Pedro Guerrero was voted third in the N.L. Most Valuable Player balloting because of his 33 home runs and 87 RBI. Guerrero tied a major league record for most home runs in the month of June with 15, including tying the record in what was his last at bat for the month, hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a 4-3 win. Mike Marshall hit 28 home runs and drove in 95 runs and Greg Brock added 21 home runs. The newest name to break into the lineup was Mariano Duncan, inserted into the lineup on Opening Day because of injuries to Dave Anderson. Duncan, who had never played above the AA level, was a catalyst for the Dodgers and delighted and amazed fans with his daring, including when he bunted for a base hit on July 6 and while the opposition looked to see if the ball was fair or foul, Duncan legged it into second base for a double. The National League Championship Series was a taut group of games and it was the Cardinals who showed how you can never trust the game of baseball. The Dodgers won Game 1, 4-1, behind Valenzuela and Game 2, 8-2 behind Hershiser. Even with a 2-0 Series lead, the Dodgers knew the Cardinals would be formidable. The Cardinals won Game 3, 4-2, scored nine runs in the second inning in a 12-2 Game 4 rout, and won Game 5, 3-2. Valenzuela pitched magnificently for eight innings, allowing only one hit in 11 at bats with men in scoring position and retiring the side in order only twice. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied at two-all, the Cardinals took to playing long ball. The Cardinals had finished 11th in the N.L. among 12 teams in home runs. Ozzie Smith, the Cardinal shortstop, had never, ever hit a home run in his career off a right hand pitcher since his debut in 1978.  Another reason why you never trust the game of baseball. The series returned to Los Angeles for Game 6 with the Cardinals holding a 3-2 Series lead. The Dodgers led 4-1, at one point, but the Cardinals rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning at 4-all.  Mike Marshall homered in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead, but the Cardinals broke through with two on and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning when Jack Clark hit a three-run home run and would later win the game, 7-5.  Dodger President Peter O’Malley made a rare visit to the Dodger clubhouse after the final out to express his appreciation and gratitude to the Dodger players. He told them that despite the disappointment of the series loss, he was proud of what the team had accomplished with a 95-win season and two wins short of a World Series.