The 1985 Southern League was a Class AA baseball season played between April 11 and September 2. Ten teams played a 144-game schedule, with the top team in each division in each half of the season qualifying for the post-season.
The Huntsville Stars won the Southern League championship, as they defeated the Charlotte Orioles in the playoffs.
Team changes The Nashville Sounds leave the league and join the American Association. The Huntsville Stars join the league as an expansion team. The club begins an affiliation with the Oakland Athletics. The Jacksonville Suns are renamed to the Jacksonville Expos. The club remained affiliated with the Montreal Expos.
Teams 1985 Southern League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium East Charlotte Orioles Charlotte, North Carolina Baltimore Orioles Jim Crockett Memorial Park Columbus Astros Columbus, Georgia Houston Astros Golden Park Greenville Braves Greenville, South Carolina Atlanta Braves Greenville Municipal Stadium Jacksonville Expos Jacksonville, Florida Montreal Expos Wolfson Park Orlando Twins Orlando, Florida Minnesota Twins Tinker Field West Birmingham Barons Birmingham, Alabama Detroit Tigers Rickwood Field Chattanooga Lookouts Chattanooga, Tennessee Seattle Mariners Engel Stadium Huntsville Stars Huntsville, Alabama Oakland Athletics Joe W. Davis Stadium Knoxville Blue Jays Knoxville, Tennessee Toronto Blue Jays Bill Meyer Stadium Memphis Chicks Memphis, Tennessee Kansas City Royals Tim McCarver Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Knoxville Blue Jays finished the season with the best record in the league for the first time since 1978.
Standings 1985 SOUL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed March 5, 2025 East Division Team Win Loss % GB Columbus Astros 79 65 – Charlotte Orioles 78 65 0.5 Jacksonville Expos 73 70 5.5 Orlando Twins 72 71 6.5 Greenville Braves 70 74 9West Division Knoxville Blue Jays 79 64 – Huntsville Stars 78 66 1.5 Chattanooga Lookouts 66 77 13 Memphis Chicks 65 79 14.5 Birmingham Barons 57 86 22
League Leaders Batting leaders 1985 SL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 5, 2025 Stat Player Total AVG Bruce Fields, Birmingham Barons .323 H Alex Marte, Orlando Twins 171 R Alex Marte, Orlando Twins 117 2B Jim Sherman, Columbus Astros Kelvin Torve, Charlotte Orioles 34 3B Luis Polonia, Huntsville Stars 18 HR Mark Funderburk, Orlando Twins 34 RBI Mark Funderburk, Orlando Twins 116 SB Alex Marte, Orlando Twins 64
Pitching leaders 1985 SL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed March 5, 2025 Stat Player Total W Steve Davis, Knoxville Blue Jays 17 ERA Steve Davis, Knoxville Blue Jays 2.45 CG Les Straker, Orlando Twins 12 SHO Steve Davis, Knoxville Blue Jays Les Straker, Orlando Twins 3 SV Luis Aquino, Knoxville Blue Jays 20 IP Les Straker, Orlando Twins 193.0 SO Scott Bankhead, Memphis Chicks John Hoover, Charlotte Orioles 128
Playoffs The Huntsville Stars won their first Southern League championship, defeating the Charlotte Orioles in five games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Southern League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Jose Canseco, Huntsville Stars Pitcher of the Year Steve Davis, Knoxville Blue Jays Manager of the Year Carlos Alfonso, Columbus Astros John McLaren, Knoxville Blue Jays
See also 1985 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website