Midwest League 1985

Summary

• Midwest League Champion: Kenosha Twins (Twins)
• Team with Best Won/Lost Record: Appleton Foxes (White Sox) 85/54, .612

• Most Valuable Player: Eddie Williams (Cedar Rapids/Reds)
• Prospect of the Year: B.J. Surhoff (Beloit/Brewers)
• Manager of the Year: Duffy Dyer (Kenosha/Twins)
• Executive of the Year: Pete Vonachen (President/General Manager, Peoria)

• League Attendance: 1,275,085
  • 12 teams in 3 divisions played a 140 game schedule which began on April 12 and ended on September 2. A two-tier postseason playoff, with one wild card team, determined the league champion.
  • The MWL had teams in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin.

• Best Big League Career: Greg Maddux (Peoria/Cubs)

Overview

Composite Record for Each Team

                Nickname  Affiliate Won Lost  Pct (Rank)
Appleton        Foxes     White Sox  85  54  .612  (1)
Beloit          Brewers   Brewers    79  57  .581  (2)
Burlington      Rangers   Rangers    50  88  .362 (12)
Cedar Rapids    Reds      Reds       78  61  .561  (4)
Clinton         Giants    Giants     71  69  .507  (6)
Kenosha         Twins     Twins      79  60  .568  (3)
Madison         Muskies   Athletics  65  73  .471 (10)
Peoria          Chiefs    Cubs       75  65  .536  (5)
Quad City       Angels    Angels     66  74  .471  (8T)
Springfield     Cardinals Cardinals  66  74  .471  (8T)
Waterloo        Indians   Indians    67  73  .479  (7)
Wausau          Timbers   Mariners   52  85  .380 (11)

Divisional Record

Northern W  L   Pct  GB    Central      W  L   Pct  GB    Southern    W  L   Pct  GB
Appleton 85 54 .612  ---   Beloit       79 57 .581  ---   Peoria      75 65 .536  ---
Kenosha  79 60 .568  6.0   Cedar Rapids 78 61 .561  2.5   Springfield 66 74 .471  9.0
Madison  65 73 .471 19.5   Clinton      71 69 .507 10.0   Quad City   66 74 .471  9.0
Wausau   52 85 .387 32.0   Waterloo     67 73 .479 14.0   Burlington  50 88 .362 24.0

1985 Post-Season

 Round 1:
 Kenosha d. Appleton, 2-1
 Peoria d. Beloit, 2-1
 Championship:
 Kenosha d. Peoria, 3-1

1985 All Star Game

July 8 @ Cedar Rapids, Iowa
South 4, North 2 (11 innings)

          North    000 000 002 00 - 2 11 ?
          South    000 010 010 02 - 4  9 ?

WP: Greg Dunn (Springfield/Cardinals)
LP: Dan Scarpetta (Beloit/Brewers)
MVP: Darcy Walker (Peoria/Cubs)

Box Score and Details

1985 League Changes

• Quad City Angels: changed affiliations and nickname (both from Cubs).
• Peoria Chiefs: changed affiliations (from Angels to Cubs).

Sources

• Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Durham: Baseball America, 1997)
• 1986 Baseball America Statistics Report
• 1986 Sporting News Guide
• 1989 Midwest League Record Book
• 1985 Midwest League Press Guide
• 1985 & 1986 Programs/Yearbooks:
  • 1985 Clinton Giants
  • 1985 & 1986 Beloit Brewers
  • 1985 & 1986 Kenosha Twins
  • 1985 & 1986 Appleton Foxes
  • 1985 Wausau Timbers
  • 1985 Burlington Rangers
  • 1985 Peoria Chiefs
  • 1986 Quad City Angels
  • 1986 Waterloo Indians