Who Was Inducted Into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985?
In 1985, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum inducted eight new members into its ranks. This illustrious group included some of the most influential players, managers and executives in the history of the sport. The Hall of Fame’s Class of 1985 remains one of the most successful and respected collections of honorees to date.
The Inductees
The eight members of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 1985 are:
- Mickey Mantle, the iconic center fielder for the New York Yankees
- Sandy Koufax, the left-handed ace pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Whitey Ford, another left-handed ace for the Yankees
- Yogi Berra, the Yankees’ catcher and manager
- Gil Hodges, the Brooklyn Dodgers’ first baseman and manager of the Mets
- Billy Williams, a left fielder for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics
- Hank Greenberg, the slugger for the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Willie Wells, the shortstop for the St. Louis Browns and others
The Accomplishments of the Class of 1985
The combined accomplishments of the members of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 1985 are staggering. Mickey Mantle, Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford are all considered to be among the greatest players in baseball history. Yogi Berra, Gil Hodges and Billy Williams are all highly respected figures in the history of the game. Hank Greenberg and Willie Wells were pioneers who helped break down the color barrier in baseball.
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle was a center fielder and switch hitter who played for the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1968. He was a three-time MVP, a 20-time All-Star, and a seven-time World Series champion. Mantle holds the record for most career home runs by a switch hitter, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time.
Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax was a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. He was an eight-time All-Star, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and a four-time World Series champion. Koufax was renowned for his fastball, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford was a left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees from 1950 to 1967. He was an eight-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a two-time Cy Young Award winner. Ford holds the record for most career wins and strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher.
Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra was a catcher and manager for the New York Yankees from 1946 to 1963. He was a 15-time All-Star, a 10-time World Series champion, and a three-time MVP. Berra is widely considered to be one of the greatest catchers in baseball history. He was also an excellent manager, leading the New York Mets to the 1969 World Series.
Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges was a first baseman and manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Mets. He was an eight-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, and a three-time MVP. Hodges is widely considered to be one of the greatest power hitters in baseball history. He was also an excellent manager, leading the Mets to the 1969 World Series.
Billy Williams
Billy Williams was a left fielder for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics from 1959 to 1976. He was a six-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, and a two-time MVP. Williams is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters of all time.
Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg was a slugger for the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1930 to 1947. He was a five-time All-Star, a two-time MVP, and a two-time World Series champion. Greenberg was one of the first players to break the color barrier in baseball, paving the way for other African-American players to follow.
Willie Wells
Willie Wells was a shortstop for the St. Louis Browns, Chicago American Giants, and other teams from 1924 to 1948. He was a six-time All-Star, a three-time MVP, and a four-time Negro League World Series champion. Wells is widely considered to be one of the greatest shortstops in baseball history. He was also instrumental in helping to break the color barrier in baseball.
The Legacy of the Class of 1985
The Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 1985 is widely regarded as one of the greatest collections of honorees in the history of the sport. These eight legendary players, managers, and executives helped shape the game as we know it today. The accomplishments and influence of the members of the Hall of Fame’s Class of 1985 will forever be remembered and celebrated.