1985 Game 40 - 1985 Topps Traded #33T John Felske MG

Padres 4, Phillies 1
Game 40 - Saturday Night, May 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 15-25, 5th Place, 9 1/2 games behind the Cubs

One Sentence Summary:  Andy Hawkins easily handled the Phillies, pitching a complete game and only allowing a solo home run to Ozzie Virgil in this 4-1 Padres win.

What It Means:  The win improved Hawkins' record to 9-0 and I was surprised to see he didn't make the N.L. All-Star team.  He was probably the victim of the Padres, the reigning N.L. Champs, having too many other players either voted into the game or equally as deserving.  The N.L. All-Star starting line-up boasted five Padres - Terry Kennedy (c), Steve Garvey (1b), Graig Nettles (3b), Tony Gwynn (of) and LaMarr Hoyt (p).  Kennedy was injured and was replaced on the roster by the Mets' Gary Carter.  Along with the five starters named, manager Dick Williams brought Garry Templeton as a reserve.  There just wasn't any more room on the roster for another Padre, and Hawkins got left out.

Hawkins would finish the season with an 18-8 record and a 3.15 ERA, his best season in a 10-year big league career.

What Happened:  This was the first rough start of Charles Hudson's season and there would be a few more on the way.  He fell to 1-4 while pitching five innings and allowing four runs on five hits.  He wasn't particularly hit hard in the three-run second inning as the Padres scored their runs on a walk, single, single, single, and suicide squeeze sacrifice bunt (from Hawkins).

The Phillies had six hits, including Virgil's home run and a first inning double from Mike Schmidt.

Featured Card:  The 1985 Phillies Yearbook features an article by Larry Shenk celebrating the 40th manager of the club, John Felske.  In his first 40 games, Felske guided his Phillies team to a 15-25 record.  Here's a look at the group of managers who came before and after Felske and what they did in their first 40 games.  (I'm not counting Paul Owens here, who had his first stint as the club's manager back in 1972 and took over for Pat Corrales in 1983 with the club in first place.)

Felske joins Terry Francona as the two Phillies managers in recent history to have gotten off to the roughest starts.  No Phillies manager in recent history has won more than 24 games in his first 40.  Hopefully Joe Girardi breaks that trend.

Danny Ozark (1973) - 16-24
Dallas Green (1979 and 1980) - 24-16
Pat Corrales (1982) - 21-19
John Felske (1985) - 15-25
Lee Elia (1987) - 24-16
Nick Leyva (1989) - 17-23
Jim Fregosi (1991) - 19-21
Terry Francona (1997) - 15-25
Larry Bowa (2001) - 24-16
Charlie Manuel (2005) - 18-22
Ryne Sandberg (2013) - 19-21
Pete Mackanin (2015) - 19-21
Gabe Kapler (2018) - 24-16
Joe Girardi (2020) - ?

1985 Virtual Phillies Wall / 1985 Season Summary Index