Major League Season Recap 1981

World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers NL over New York Yankees AL 4 games to 2

World Series MVP – Cey, Yeager, Guerro
Babe Ruth Award –

ALCS New York Yankees over Oakland A’s 3 games to 0 ALCS MVP –
NLCS Los Angeles Dodgers over Montreal Expos 3 games to 2 NLCS MVP – hootobu01

Awards –

Cy Young Award National League Rollie Fingers
Cy Young Award American League valenfe01

MVP Awards –
NL Mike Schmidt
AL Rollie Fingers

NL Rookie of The Year – valenfe01
AL Rookie of The Year – righeda01

Roberto Clemente Award – Steve Garvey

All-Star Game – August 9th 1981 – N.L. 5 over A.L. 4 , played at Cleveland Stadium (AL)
AL Starter J. Morris+ NL Starter F. Valenzuela MVP G. Carter+

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 2, 1981

Ponce’s Rickey Henderson breaks the 30 year old Puerto Rican League record for stolen bases

January 3, 1981

University of Arizona standout Terry Francona wins the Golden Spikes Award, an honor given to the nation’s 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.

January 6, 1981

The city council, by a vote of 6-2, approves changing the name of San Diego Stadium to San Diego – Jack Murphy Stadium. The Padres ballpark’s 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.

January 8, 1981

Larry Biittner becomes the first free agent ever signed by the Cincinnati Reds

January 12, 1981

Atlanta Braves sign future Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry to a free agent contract

January 14, 1981

Frank Robinson is named manager of the San Francisco Giants

January 15, 1981

Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame

January 21, 1981

Four-time Gold Glove Award winner Cesar Gerónimo is traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Kansas City Royals

January 21, 1981

The Commissioner’s 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.

January 23, 1981

Boston Red Sox trade onetime American League MVP Fred Lynn and pitcher Steve Renko to the California Angels

January 29, 1981

MLB approves sales of Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners

February 9, 1981

Joe Morgan signs a free agent contract with the San Francisco Giants

February 11, 1981

Bruce Bochy is dealt to the Mets for two minor leaguers

February 12, 1981

Carlton Fisk becomes a free agent in paper work violation

February 25, 1981

The Executive Board of the Players’ Association votes unanimously to strike on May 29th 

March 7, 1981

1981 – The Atlanta Braves trade outfielder Jeff Burroughs to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Carlos Diaz.

March 9, 1981

Chicago White Sox sign prized free agent catcher Carlton Fisk

March 11, 1981

Veterans Committee elects slugger Johnny Mize and Negro Leagues pioneer Rube Foster to the Hall of Fame

March 13, 1981

California Angels sign free agent Rick Burleson to a six-year contract worth $4.2 million

March 13, 1981

Gum replaces tootpick for UL Washington

March 13, 1981

Jim Rice and Sox VP Crowley face off in Spring Training

March 18, 1981

Carlton Fisk leaves the Boston Red Sox to sign a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox

March 19, 1981

Danny Ainge drives the length of the court for a lay-up with two seconds to play, giving Brigham Young University a 51-50 upset victory over seventh-ranked University of Notre Dame in the NCAA East Regional semifinal

March 22, 1981

American League President Lee MacPhail suspends Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver 

March 25, 1981

Philadelphia Phillies acquire veteran outfielder Gary Matthews from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Bob Walk

March 30, 1981

Chicago White Sox purchase Greg Luzinski from the Philadelphia Phillies

April 1, 1981

Astros deal pitcher Ken Forsch to the Angels for shortstop Dickie Thon

April 9, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela fires shutout in debut as starter

April 10, 1981

Carlton Fisk – Fenway Park Debut

April 11, 1981

Don Sutton, signed as a free agent from Los Angeles over the winter, makes his Astro debut against the Dodgers

April 12, 1981

Jim Rice hits game winning grand slam

April 13, 1981

George Brett and Mike Schmidt on cover of SI

April 18, 1981

Longest game in proffesional baseball played

April 18, 1981

Tom Seaver k’s Keith Hernandez to reach 3000 strikeout

April 19, 1981

A’s set record with 11 win to start season vs Mariners – Lenny Randle gets ejected

April 19, 1981

4/19/1981: Pitcher Frank Pastore of the Reds homered in the bottom of the third inning off the Cardinals’ Silvio Martinez. There was no one on base and one out. The game was rained out.

April 22, 1981

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela pitches his third shutout in four starts, strikes out 11, and has the game’s only RBI with a single in a 1 – 0 win against the Houston Astros.

April 25, 1981

Maury Wills suspended for tampering with batters box

April 29, 1981

Steve Carlton becomes first lefty with 3000 strikeouts

May 4, 1981

Ron Davis of the New York Yankees strikes out eight consecutive batters

May 4, 1981

Jose Cruz’s three-run home run in the first inning proves to be the difference in the Astros’ 5-4 win over the Chicago. The Houston left fielder’s brother, Hector, homers for the Cubs in the sixth frame of the Wrigley Field contest, making the natives of Arroyo, Puerto Rico the tenth different pair of siblings to go deep in the same game.

May 6, 1981

Maury Wills is fired as the manager of the Mariners and will be replaced by Rene Lachemann. The former skipper, who reportedly is dealing with personal issues, compiled a 6-18 record, making it the worst start in the team’s five-year year history.

May 6, 1981

In Rene Lachemann’s first game as manager, the Mariners maul Milwaukee 12-1. The victory stops right-hander Mike Parrott’s personal 18-game losing streak, one loss shy of the AL record.

May 6, 1981

Cleveland’s Bert Blyleven holds Toronto hitless for 8 innings before Lloyd Moseby doubles to lead off the 9th

May 8, 1981

Oakland’s Steve McCatty beats the Brewers, 2 – 0. Dwayne Murphy supplies a solo home run and Dave McKay swipes home for the other score. McKay also stole home last September.

May 9, 1981

Tom Paciorek hits his second game-winning, bottom-of-the-9th home run in as many games, a three-run blow giving the Mariners a 6 – 5 win over the Yankees. The previous night, Paciorek led off the 9th with a solo homer to give Seattle a 3 – 2 win over the Yankees.

May 10, 1981

Montreal Expos right-hander Charlie Lea pitches the first no-hitter in the history of Olympic Stadium

May 13, 1981

Don Sutton twirls a five-hit shutout to blank St. Louis, 3-0 the 53rd of his career

May 15, 1981

Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians pitches a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays

May 15, 1981

The Indians’ Len Barker pitches the 9th perfect game in 20th century major league history, 3 – 0 over the Blue Jays before just 7,290 fans on a rainy night at Cleveland Stadium. Last year’s American League strikeoutleader, Barker fans 11. It is the 11th time in major league history the feat has been accomplished, and the first time in 13 years since it’s been done, by Catfish Hunter in 1968.

May 15, 1981

5/15/1981: Graig Nettles homered off Seattle’s Brian Allard in Yankee Stadium. It came in the first inning with two on and one out and was rained out in the third inning.

May 15, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela starts off 8-0

May 16, 1981

Craig Reynolds ties a major-league mark with three triples during a 6-1 victory over Chicago

May 18, 1981

 Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Fernando Valenzuela finally loses a game, 4 – 0, to the Philadelphia Phillies. He is now 8-1 and his earned run average increases to 0.90.

May 19, 1981

Jim Bibby retires 27 straight after lead off single

May 21, 1981

In what is billed as the greatest college pitching duel ever, in the first round of the NCAA, Yale’s Ron Darling and St. John’s Frank Viola match zeroes through 11 innings. Darling allows no hits while striking out 16. In the 12th, St. John’s Steve Scafa hits an opposite-field scratch single, then steals second base and third base. The next batter reaches on an error and, when he tries to steal second, Scafa breaks for home, scoring the only run. St. John’s wins, 1 – 0.

May 22, 1981

Coach Billy Gardner replaces the fired Johnny Goryl as manager of the Twins. Minnesota (11-25) has lost eight consecutive games, but shuts out Kansas City, 7 – 0, in Gardner’s managerial debut.

May 23, 1981

Minnesota and Kansas City go 14 innings without scoring before Willie Wilson’s RBI single in the 15th ends it‚ 1 – 0. Paul Splittorff goes 11 innings while Roger Erickson goes 9 1/3 innings.

May 24, 1981

Art Howe triples off Vida Blue to set a club-record 23-game hitting streak

May 25, 1981

Bill Stein of the Texas Rangers hits a pinch-hit single off Doug Corbett to beat the Minnesota Twins. It is the 7th consecutive pinch-hit for Stein, breaking the American Leaguerecord set by Bob Johnson in 1964.

May 25, 1981

Yaz becomes just the 4th player ever to appear in 3,000 games

May 26, 1981

5/26/1981: In a game against the Giants, George Foster of the Reds hit a home run off Tom Griffin in the first inning with two men on and no one out. The game was rained out.

May 27, 1981

Lenny Randle Blows a ball foul

May 29, 1981

A’s manager Billy Martin flies into a rage and heaves two handfuls of dirt on home plate umpire Terry Cooney’s back after being ejected for arguing ball and strike calls. He will be suspended by American League president Lee MacPhail for 7 days.

May 29, 1981

Montreal trades OF Ellis Valentine to the Mets for P Jeff Reardon and OF Dan Norman. Valentine will play just 159 games for the Mets‚ while Reardon will blossom into one of baseball’s best relievers.

May 30, 1981

Houston outlasts the Giants, 8-7, in 14 innings after blowing leads in 9th and 13th

June 3, 1981

Jerry Grote sets Royals RBI record – straight out of retirement

June 4, 1981

The Cubs purchase Bobby Bonds 

June 5, 1981

1981 – Houston Astros pitcher Nolan Ryan passes Early Wynn as major leagues’ all-time walks leader, walking two batters in a 3 – 0 win over the Mets to raise his total to 1,777. Ryan also strikes out 10 batters while pitching a five-hitter.

June 8, 1981

6/8/1981: Ruppert Jones of the Padres lost a homer to rain in Pittsburgh. It came off Jim Bibby in the first with one on and two out.

June 8, 1981

 Seattle takes Mike Moore with the first pick overall in the annual amateur draft. The Cubs take Joe Carter with the 2nd pick while the Angels take Dick Schofield third.

June 10, 1981

Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies ties Stan Musial for the most hits in National League history

June 10, 1981

Pete Rose of Philadelphia singles against Nolan Ryan to tie Stan Musial for the most hits in league history (3,630)

June 11, 1981

The White Sox beat the Yankees, 3 – 2‚ handing pitcher Doug Bird his first loss since August 16‚ 1978. The journeyman righthander had won 12 consecutive decisions.

June 11, 1981

In St. Louis‚ the Cardinals beat Fernando Valenzuela, 2 – 1‚ but the Dodgers still are a half-game in front of Cincinnati a day before the players’ strike begins. The Reds (35-21) win their 7th straight‚ topping the Mets‚ 2 – 1‚ in New York.

June 11, 1981

The Mariners’ 8-2 victory over the Orioles played in the Kingdome will be the last game played before the major league players go on strike over the issue of compensation for free-agents. Baseball’s fifth work stoppage will last for 50 days, resulting in 712 games being missed.

June 12, 1981

1981 – Thirteen games are canceled in the major leagues due to the players’ strike.

June 23, 1981

Pawtucket Red Sox and Rochester Red Wings complete the longest game in professional baseball history

June 23, 1981

1981 – Dave Koza drives in Marty Barrett with a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 33rd inning, giving Pawtucket a 3 – 2 win over Rochester and ending the longest game in professional baseball history. The game had been suspended April 19th after 32 innings and eight hours, seven minutes of play, but the continuation takes only 18 minutes to complete. Bob Ojeda pitches one inning to earn the win. Future major league stars Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken Jr. go a combined 6 for 25.

July 31, 1981

The fifty-day long baseball strike, wiping out a third of the regular season, is settled when the owners and players agree on a pooling system for the compensation of free agents. The All-Star Game will mark the end of baseball’s first-ever midseason work stoppage.

August 2, 1981

Cardinal ace right-hander Bob Gibson, slugging first baseman Johnny Mize, who played with the Cardinals, Giants, and Yankees, and Negro League pioneer Rube Foster are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Gibson was elected in the first year of his eligibility by the BBWAA, with Mize and Foster getting the nod from the Veterans Committee.

August 2, 1981

As a recipient of the Ford C. Frick award for his “major contributions” to baseball” as a broadcaster, Ernie Harwell becomes the fifth honoree to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Tigers’ play-by-play announcer, who describes himself as a ‘tongue-tied kid from Georgia,’ is overcome with joy as he shares his heartfelt appreciation for the game with the Cooperstown crowd.

August 6, 1981

National League owners agree to the $20.5 million sale of the Cubs to the Tribune Company. In three weeks, Cubs stockholders (led by Bill Wrigley’s with 81 percent) will approve the sale.

August 6, 1981

The players approve a split-season format necessitated by the seven-week strike. The Yankees, A’s, Phillies and Dodgers are declared the first-half champions and will be automatically qualified for the 1981 Postseason.

August 8, 1981

August 9, 1981 – Reggie Jackson chats with Albert “Happy” Chandler and Bob Hope at the All Star Game.

August 9, 1981

1981 the largest crowd in All-Star Game history watches the National League defeat the American League

August 10, 1981

Pete Rose of the Philadelphia Phillies breaks Stan Musial’s all-time National League hit record with hit No. 3,631.

August 10, 1981

The Dodgers re-open the season with a 4 – 0 victory over the Reds.

August 10, 1981

Seattle’s Julio Cruz is caught stealing by California’s Ed Ott on a pitchout, ending his consecutive stolen base streak at 32. Cruz tied the American League record set by Willie Wilson.

August 10, 1981

1981 – Baseball’s “second season” begins after a two-month strike interrupts play. Denny Walling is the hero with a two-run pinch-hit double off Al Holland in the ninth for a 6-5 triumph in San Francisco. Joe “Shoes” Pittman rescues Frank Lacorte when he makes a diving stab of Larry Herndon’s liner with two men aboard for the final out. 

August 11, 1981

Ray Searage pitches two-plus innings of hitless relief to be credited with the win in New York’s 4-2 victory over Chicago at Wrigley Field. The southpaw, with his eighth-inning single, gains the distinction of being the only Met player to have compiled a 1.000 batting average (1-for-1) and a 1.000 winning percentage (1-0) while playing with the team.

August 14, 1981

Mike Schmidt hits his 300th career home run off Mike Scott as Philadelphia beats the Mets, 8 – 4.

August 14, 1981

Dave Kingman’s home run, a monstrous blast estimated to have travelled 515 feet, is, and will remain, the longest round-tripper ever hit in the 44-year history of Shea Stadium. Kong’s tape-measure home run, a solo shot over the left-center wall, comes in the fourth inning off Larry Christenson in the Mets’ 8-4 loss to Philadelphia.

August 14, 1981

Jeff Burroughs hits three home runs off three different pitchers in the Mariners’ 13-3 defeat over Minnesota in the second game of a doubleheader. The M’s right fielder drives in six runs with his two-run, three-run, and solo round-trippers in the Metropolitan Stadium contest to help salvage a split of the twin bill.

August 16, 1981

Joe Niekro and Dave Smith combine on a two-hitter to blank San Diego, 3-0

August 21, 1981

1981 – In a Pioneer League game at Helena, Lethbridge’s Sid Fernandez strikes out 21 Phillies batters. El Sid wins, 6 – 0.

August 24, 1981

The Reds top the visiting Mets, 2 – 0, behind Bruce Berenyi’s 2-hitter.

August 24, 1981

In his first major league game, first baseman Kent Hrbek hits a twelfth-inning homer, giving the Twins a 3 – 2 victory over the Yankees.

August 25, 1981

1981 – Chicago’s Dennis Lamp loses his no-hitter when the Brewers’ Robin Yount leads off the 9th inning with a bloop double. Lamp settles for a one-hit 5 – 1 win.

August 26, 1981

Cardinals’ manager Whitey Herzog fines Garry Templeton $5,000 and suspends him indefinitely without pay for his rude behavior that includes an obscene gesture directed toward Redbird fans after they boo him in the first inning for not hustling to first base. The St. Louis shortstop, who will be traded to the Padres in the offseason for Ozzie Smith, agrees to seek psychiatric help and will be reinstated to the lineup on September 15.

August 27, 1981

Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne casts the first ballot at City Hall to select a new White Sox uniform

August 28, 1981

Cleveland’s John Denny shuts out Seattle, 1 – 0.

August 28, 1981

Tim Laudner becomes the second Twins player in four days to homer in his first ML game, a 6 – 0 win over the Tigers.

August 29, 1981

1981 – Phillies farmhand Jeff Stone steals his 121st base of the season for Spartanburg (South Atlantic League), breaking the all-time professional record set last season by Alan Wiggins. Stone will finish the season with 122 stolen bases, a record that will not last through 1982.

August 29, 1981

Tim Raines & Andre Dawson run wild on Braves

August 31, 1981

1981 – Royals manager Jim Frey is fired and replaced by Dick Howser, whose Yankees lost to Frey’s Royals in last season’s American League Championship Series. Kansas City is 10-10 in the 2nd half of the season, 30-40 overall.

September 2, 1981

1981 – The Indians’ John Denny stops Oakland, 2 – 0, for his second straight shutout.

September 3, 1981

The Red Sox and the Mariners play nineteen innings to a 7-7 tie. The game ends with the Mariners winning 8-7, thanks to a Joe Simpson RBI triple, in twenty innings when the suspended game is resumed the following day, making it the longest game played in Fenway Park history.

September 4, 1981

In the conclusion of the longest game in Fenway Park history, the Mariners beat the Red Sox, 8 – 7, in 20 innings

September 5, 1981

1981 – Milwaukee’s Jim Slaton pitches a no-hitter for eight innings, then is knocked out of the box in the 9th without retiring a batter. Two singles and a home run cut the Brewers’ lead to 5 – 3, but Rollie Fingers retires the final three batters for his 22nd save.

September 6, 1981

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela beats the St. Louis Cardinals, 5 – 0, to tie a National League record of seven shutouts by a rookie pitcher.

September 6, 1981

“I told him to quit threatening me. If he wants me to go, make the move – don’t wait. I can’t take it any longer” – GENE MICHAEL, speaking to the press about his relationship with George Steinbrenner.Calling it the most the ”most agonizing” decision he has made as the owner of the Yankees, George Steinbrenner fires Gene Michael and replaces him with Bob Lemon. The former skipper’s demise was prompted by his comments to the press concerning his inability to no longer tolerate the Boss’s constant threats of dismissal, and for his refusal to apologize for the August 28th remarks.

September 7, 1981

1981 – Dave Magadan is named MVP as West Tampa, FL, defeats Richmond, VA, 6 – 4, to win the American Legion World Series. Magadan was 11 for 24 at the plate and also pitched a complete-game win over Omaha, NE.

September 8, 1981

Citing his “lack of communication” with the players, the Expos fire manager Dick Williams and replace him with Jim Fanning, who has been an executive with the club since it joined the National League in 1969.

September 8, 1981

Houston’s Cesar Cedeno is fined $5,000 but not suspended after attacking a fan during the Astros’ 3 – 2 loss to the Braves. Witnesses said that three men in the box seats had been loudly berating Cedeno’s wife and making remarks about the 1973 incident in which he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the accidental shooting death of a young woman in the Dominican Republic.

September 10, 1981

1981 – The Reds send P Doug Bair to the Cards for P Joe Edelen and 2B Neil Fiala.

September 11, 1981

1981 – Ron Oester clips a 10th inning homer to give the Reds a 3 – 2 win over the visiting Dodgers.

September 12, 1981

1981 – Red Sox rookie Bob Ojeda no-hits the Yankees for eight innings at Yankee Stadium before Rick Cerone and Dave Winfield lead off the 9th with back-to-back doubles. Reliever Mark Clear preserves a 2 – 1 win.

September 17, 1981

Dodger rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela sets the National League rookie mark with his eighth shutout of the season

September 18, 1981

1981 – The Brewers top the Orioles, 5 – 1, to move into 1st place in the American League East by half a game.

September 19, 1981

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.

September 19, 1981

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.

September 20, 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. 

September 21, 1981

Steve Carlton fans 12 Expos in 10 innings to break Bob Gibson’s National League strikeout record

September 25, 1981

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.

September 26, 1981

Nolan Ryan becomes the first pitcher to throw five no-hitters when the Astros defeat the Dodgers at the Astrodome, 5-0. The Ryan Express, who will finish his 27-year major league career with a record seven no-hitters, previously has thrown hitless gems against the Royals (1973), Tigers (1973), Twins (1974), and Orioles (1975).

September 27, 1981

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.

September 30, 1981

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.

October 2, 1981

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.

October 3, 1981

Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos Clinch First Playoff spots

October 4, 1981

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.

October 4, 1981

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

October 6, 1981

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.

October 6, 1981

Alan Ashby slams a two-out two-run homer off Dave Stewart in the ninth to stun the Dodgers, 3-1

October 7, 1981

Denny Walling delivers a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning for a 1-0 triumph over the Dodgers at the Astrodome

October 9, 1981

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.

October 9, 1981

Paul Molitor leads Brewers past Yankees in game 4 ALDS

October 10, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela outpitches Vern Ruhle in a 2-1 decision in Los Angeles

October 11, 1981

Expos win the National League Eastern Division

October 11, 1981

Jerry Reuss of the Dodgers shuts out the Astros on a five-hitter, 4-0, winning the divisional series, 3-2

October 15, 1981

New York Yankees their 33rd American League pennant

October 16, 1981

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.

October 18, 1981

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).

October 19, 1981

Blue Monday – Rick Monday home run in the ninth eliminates Expos

October 20, 1981

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.

October 21, 1981

St. Louis Cardinals acquire outfielder Willie McGee from the New York Yankees for pitcher Bob Sykes

October 21, 1981

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.

October 22, 1981

Torre names manager of Braves

October 23, 1981

Los Angeles beats the Yankees, 5 – 4, in Game 3 of the World Series, narrowing the Yankees’ lead to 2-1.

October 24, 1981

The Los Angeles Dodgers come back to beat the New York Yankees, 8 – 7, in a sloppy three-hour marathon and tie the World Series, 2-2. The Yankees blow a 6 – 3 lead. On one play, Reggie Jackson loses the ball in the sun and it bounces off his shoulder for a two-base error.

October 25, 1981

Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.

October 28, 1981

The Dodgers win 4 straight to win 1981 World Series

October 29, 1981

Philadelphia Phillies get purchases the club for just over $30 million, the highest price paid to date for a major league club

November 3, 1981

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Rollie Fingers wins the 1981 American League Cy Young Award

November 4, 1981

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.

November 4, 1981

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.

November 11, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela becomes the first rookie to win a Cy Young Award

November 15, 1981

Chicago Cubs infielder Steve Macko dies after a courageous battle with cancer

November 18, 1981

Dick Williams replaces Frank Howard as manager of the last-place Padres. The future Hall of Fame skipper, who has won three pennants and two World Series in the last 14 years as a major league pilot, will lead San Diego to a National League pennant in 1984.

November 18, 1981

Mike Schmidt wins his second consecutive NL MVP

November 25, 1981

Brewer hurler Rollie Fingers becomes the first relief pitcher ever to win the American League MVP Award

November 27, 1981

The Detroit Tigers trade OF Steve Kemp to the Chicago White Sox for OF Chet Lemon.

November 27, 1981

Danny Ainge released

November 30, 1981

Yankees P Dave Righetti (8-4, 2.06 in 1981) wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

December 2, 1981

Fernando Valenzuela: Dodgers’ 3rd Straight NL Rookie of the Year

December 4, 1981

1981 – Oakland signs free-agent OF-1B Joe Rudi, who hit just .180 in 49 games for the Red Sox last season, to a two-year contract.

December 8, 1981

1981 – In the first major deal of the winter meetings, the Cubs trade P Mike Krukow to the Phillies for pitchers Dickie Noles and Dan Larson and versatile Keith Moreland.

December 9, 1981

The Giants trade OF Larry Herndon to the Tigers for pitcher Dan Schatzeder and minor leaguer Mike Chris.

December 9, 1981

The Dodgers trade 1979 Rookie of the Year Rick Sutcliffe, unhappy with his exile to the Dodger bullpen, and infielder Jack Perconte, to the Indians for OF Jorge Orta. Orta will hit just .217 for the Dodgers next season, while Sutcliffe will lead the American League in ERA.

December 9, 1981

One day after announcing that manager Bob Lemon will return next season, the Yankees announce that former manager Gene Michael, whom Lemon replaced on September 6th, will return as manager for the 1983 season. They won’t wait that long, as Lemon will give way to Michael after only 14 games, and Michael himself will be gone before the end of the year.

December 9, 1981

Astros trade outfielder Gary Woods to the Cubs for outfielder Jim Tracy

December 10, 1981

The Royals send veteran Clint Hurdle to the Reds for P Scott Brown.

December 10, 1981

The Cardinals and Padres trade shortstops as Garry Templeton goes to San Diego along with outfielder Sixto Lezcano and Ozzie Smith and right-hander Steve Mura head for St. Louis. The trade, however, will not be finalized until Smith’s salary with his new club is determined by an outside arbitrator two months later.

December 11, 1981

Veteran free agent infielders Joe Morgan and Mark Belanger sign one-year contracts with the Giants and Dodgers, respectively.

December 11, 1981

Seattle trades OF Tom Paciorek to the White Sox for C Jim Essian, IF Todd Cruz, and OF Rod Allen.

December 15, 1981

1981 – Free agent Ron Guidry re-signs with the Yankees to a four-year $3.6 million pact.

December 16, 1981

1991 – The Marlins sign their first player ever – 16-year-old Clemente Nunez.

December 18, 1981

After 12 seasons as an Astro Outfielder Cesar Cedeno is traded to Cincinnati for infielder Ray Knight

December 21, 1981

Twenty-two-year-old Royals pitcher Mike Jones, who was 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA in the second half of the season and was projected to be the club’s third starter next year, is listed in guarded condition after crashing his car while driving under the influence near Rochester, NY. Jones will not pitch in the majors again until 1984.

December 21, 1981

Philadelphia Phillies sign future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt to a six-year contract worth $1.2 million per season

December 23, 1981

New York Yankees sign outfielder-first baseman Dave Collins to a free agent contract.

December 25, 1981

Willy Taveras is born in Tenares, DR.

October 15, 2019

Bob Knepper hurls a three-hitter as Houston blanks the Mets, 8-0, to take over first place

October 19, 2019

1981 – Bob Knepper tosses his second consecutive shutout, a 1-0 whitewash over Cincinnati. Denny Walling ‘s homer off Mario Soto accounts for the game’s only run. Walling also supplies a defensive gem, an over-the shoulder grab with two men aboard to thwart a Red threat.