1981Ā āĀ American LeagueĀ owners approve the sales of two franchises, theĀ Chicago White SoxĀ toĀ Jerry ReinsdorfĀ andĀ Eddie EinhornĀ for $20 million, and 80 percent of theĀ Seattle MarinersĀ toĀ George ArgyrosĀ for $10.4 million.
On January 23, 1981, the Boston Red Sox trade one-time American League MVP Fred Lynn and pitcher Steve Renko to the California Angels for outfielder Joe Rudi and pitchers Frank Tanana and Jim Dorsey. Lynn will struggle in his first year with the Angels, batting only .219 in 76 games.
The Commissionerās office announces lifetime passes to any major or minor league regular season game will be given to the returning 52 Iranian hostages and the 14 others who were released earlier during the ordeal. In 1973, MLB made a similar gesture to the hundreds of prisoners of war who were returning from Vietnam.
1981Ā ā Four-timeĀ Gold Glove AwardĀ winnerĀ Cesar GerĆ³nimoĀ is traded by theĀ Cincinnati RedsĀ to theĀ Kansas City RoyalsĀ for a minor league prospect,Ā German Barranca.
On January 15, 1981, former St. Louis Cardinals ace Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. In 17 seasons with the Cardinals, Gibson won 251 games, compiled a 2.91 era, and earned two World Championship rings. Gibson also gained a reputation as a fierce competitor who wasā¦
On January 14, 1981, Frank Robinson is named manager of the San Francisco Giants, replacing the fired Dave Bristol. In 1975, Robinson became the first black manager in major league history when he was hired by the Cleveland Indians. Robinson will manage 541 games into the 1984 season going 264 ā 277, he will beā¦
Ā Ā On January 12, 1981, the Atlanta Braves sign future Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry to a free agent contract. The 42-year-old Perry will be joining his sixth major league team, after splitting the 1980 season between the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links Ā
Ā On January 8, 1981, outfielder/first baseman Larry Biittner becomes the first free agent ever signed by the Cincinnati Reds. Since free agency had been instituted in 1976, the often-conservative Reds were the only team to refuse to enter the market. It does not go well when the 35 year-old first baseman/outfielder bats only .213ā¦
The city council, by a vote of 6-2, approves changing the name of San Diego Stadium to San Diego ā Jack Murphy Stadium. The Padres ballparkās new moniker is in honor of the late sports editor of the San Diego Union, who is credited getting the facility built in the late 1960s and with bringing major league baseball and football to the Southern California city.
University of Arizona standout Terry Francona wins the Golden Spikes Award, an honor given to the nationās most outstanding amateur player by the U.S. Baseball Federation. The 21 year-old southpaw-swinging collegiate outfielder/first baseman, who was signed by the Expos, was selected by the NCAA as the College World Series MVP last season after helping the Wildcats capture the National Championship.
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