1981 – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first rookie ever to win a Cy Young Award, edging Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds by a 70-67 margin for National League honors. Valenzuela was the first rookie since Herb Score in 1955 to lead his league in strikeouts with 180.
The Cincinnati Reds trade outfielder Ken Griffey to the New York Yankees for pitcher Fred Toliver and minor leaguer Brian Ryder. Griffey was about to become a free agent.
The Philadelphia Phillies announce that Pat Corrales will be the club manager next season, replacing Dallas Green, who quit to become the Chicago Cubs’ general manager.
1981 – At Yankee Stadium, New York shuts out the Dodgers in the World Series. Starter Tommy John and closer Goose Gossage get the credit for the four-hit, 3 – 0 victory as New York leads the Series 2-0.
1981 – In a World Series rematch of the 1977 and 1978 teams, the Yankees take Game 1 over the Dodgers, 5 – 3. Bob Watson hits a three-run home run in the 1st inning as pitcher Ron Guidry goes seven innings for the win. Goose Gossage closes down a Dodgers rally in the 8th.
1981 – Pitcher Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Gibson, who needed 301 votes for election, is named on 337 ballots by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, Gibson won 251 games, struck out 3,117 batters, compiled a 2.91 ERA, won 20 games five times, and earned two World Championship rings. In 1968, Gibson enjoyed his best season ever, going 22-9 with a 1.12 ERA and captured the Cy Young Award. Players falling short of the 301 votes needed for election include Don Drysdale (243), Gil Hodges (241), Harmon Killebrew (239), Hoyt Wilhelm (238) and Juan Marichal (233).
1981 – In Game 3 of the 1981 NLCS, the Montreal Expos win, 4 – 1, over the Los Angeles Dodgers behind pitcher Steve Rogers. Jerry White’s three-run home run is the big blow in the four-run 5th inning. Montreal now leads the Series, 2 games to 1.
1981 – Jerry Reuss of the Dodgers shuts out the Astros on a five-hitter, 4-0, winning the divisional series, 3-2. Nolan Ryan is reached for three runs in the sixth while Houston’s bats, as one writer put it, died in their sleep. The Astros manage just twelve hits and two runs over three days of one-win-to-clinch baseball.
1981 – Burt Hooton spins a three-hitter as the Dodgers take a 6-1 verdict in Game Three of their best-of-five division playoff. The Astros still lead the series, 2-1. Art Howe’s solo shot is the only Houston heroics. Steve Garvey’s two-run blast in the first puts Los Angeles ahead to stay.
1981 – Denny Walling delivers a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning for a 1-0 triumph over the Dodgers at the Astrodome. Joe Niekro, Dave Smith and Joe Sambito combine for the shutout. The victory puts the Astros ahead, 2-0, in their five-game divisional series. Like the year before, Houston needs to win just one of three in Los Angeles to advance to the N.L.C.S.
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