In Game 1 of the ALDS in Kansas City, Mike Norris throws a six-hit complete game, blanking the Royals, 4-0. Oakland’s appearance in the playoffs makes Billy Martin the first skipper in baseball history to manage four franchises (Twins-1969, Tigers-1972, A’s-1981, and Yankees 1976-78) into postseason play.

ByThis Day in Baseball

In Game 1 of the ALDS in Kansas City, Mike Norris throws a six-hit complete game, blanking the Royals, 4-0. Oakland’s appearance in the playoffs makes Billy Martin the first skipper in baseball history to manage four franchises (Twins-1969, Tigers-1972, A’s-1981, and Yankees 1976-78) into postseason play.

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Houston finishes the strike-ravaged season with a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers and win the second half division

ByTom

1981 – Houston finishes the strike-ravaged season with a 5-3 victory over the Dodgers. Scott Loucks and Alan Knicely star as Dave Smith is the winning pitcher. The Astros win the second-half N.L. West title with a 30-23 record. Their full-season record is 58-52, third best in the division behind Cincinnati and first-half champion Los Angeles, who they will meet in a first-ever divisional playoff series.

The Reds, who blank Atlanta, 3-0, finish with the best record in the National League strike-shortened season (66-42), but will not participate in the postseason. The team does not qualify because the Dodgers and Astros post better records, respectively, for the first half (pre-strike) and second half (post-strike) of play in the Western Division and will face one another in the first-ever ‘NLDS’, under a plan instituted midseason by Giants executive Al Rosen to salvage the season.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Reds, who blank Atlanta, 3-0, finish with the best record in the National League strike-shortened season (66-42), but will not participate in the postseason. The team does not qualify because the Dodgers and Astros post better records, respectively, for the first half (pre-strike) and second half (post-strike) of play in the Western Division and will face one another in the first-ever ‘NLDS’, under a plan instituted midseason by Giants executive Al Rosen to salvage the season.

New York’s once legendary center fielders, Giant Willie Mays, Dodger Duke Snider, and Yankee Mickey Mantle, appear on the Warner Wolfe show. It is the first time all three Hall of Fame outfielders have appeared together on a television show.

ByBaseball

New York’s once legendary center fielders, Giant Willie Mays, Dodger Duke Snider, and Yankee Mickey Mantle, appear on the Warner Wolfe show. It is the first time all three Hall of Fame outfielders have appeared together on a television show.

1981 – In the last ML game at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium, Kansas City clinches at least a tie for the American League West second-half title with a 5 – 2 win over the Twins. Next season, the Twins will play in the brand-new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, MN.

ByBaseball

1981 – In the last ML game at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium, Kansas City clinches at least a tie for the American League West second-half title with a 5 – 2 win over the Twins. Next season, the Twins will play in the brand-new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, MN.

1981 – In the first game of a doubleheader with Chicago, Oakland ties an American League record with eight straight singles in the bottom of the 1st inning, but blows its 5 – 0 lead and loses, 9 – 5. The White Sox take the nightcap, 10 – 3.

ByBaseball

1981 – In the first game of a doubleheader with Chicago, Oakland ties an American League record with eight straight singles in the bottom of the 1st inning, but blows its 5 – 0 lead and loses, 9 – 5. The White Sox take the nightcap, 10 – 3.

1981 – The Phils drub the Cubs, 9 – 2, behind Mike Schmidt and Gary Matthews. Mathews drives in five runs while Schmidt adds his 11th homer in his last 12 games at Wrigley Field. He has hit 33 there.

ByBaseball

1981 – The Phils drub the Cubs, 9 – 2, behind Mike Schmidt and Gary Matthews. Mathews drives in five runs while Schmidt adds his 11th homer in his last 12 games at Wrigley Field. He has hit 33 there.

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A nutty day at Candlestick Park begins when a skydiver misses the stadium and crashes into the parking lot, breaking both feet. Gary Woods is lifted for pinch-hitter Terry Puhl in the top of the first inning. Nolan Ryan’s apparent single to right fails when he is gunned down at first by Jack Clark. Tony Scott, who stars with four hits including a double and a homer, is tagged out at second after advancing on a base on balls. Somehow, Houston wins, 7-3. 

ByTom

1981 – A nutty day at Candlestick Park begins when a skydiver misses the stadium and crashes into the parking lot, breaking both feet. Gary Woods is lifted for pinch-hitter Terry Puhl in the top of the first inning. Nolan Ryan’s apparent single to right fails when he is gunned down at first by Jack Clark. Tony Scott, who stars with four hits including a double and a homer, is tagged out at second after advancing on a base on balls. Somehow, Houston wins, 7-3. 

The Red Sox snap the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak at Fenway Park, finally beating the Bronx Bombers at home, 8-5. Trailing for most of the game, Boston explodes for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, which includes Rick Miller’s three-run homer off New York reliever Dave LaRoche.

ByBaseball

The Red Sox snap the Yankees’ nine-game winning streak at Fenway Park, finally beating the Bronx Bombers at home, 8-5. Trailing for most of the game, Boston explodes for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, which includes Rick Miller’s three-run homer off New York reliever Dave LaRoche.

1981 – Reds reliever Joe Edelen allows just one hit in six innings of shutout relief as the Reds down the Dodgers, 7 – 3. Dodger 2B Jack Perconte ties the major-league record with 12 assists.

ByBaseball

1981 – Reds reliever Joe Edelen allows just one hit in six innings of shutout relief as the Reds down the Dodgers, 7 – 3. Dodger 2B Jack Perconte ties the major-league record with 12 assists.