On March 25, 1981, the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies acquire veteran outfielder Gary Matthews from the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Bob Walk. Matthews will hit .301 and compile a .404 on-base percentage but will play in only 101 games in his first season with the Phillies. Atlanta’s new right-hander will compile a 12-13 record…
1981 – American League President Lee MacPhail suspends Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver for removing his team from the field and forfeiting a spring training game to the Kansas City Royals. It is the fourth career suspension for Weaver, who was upset that the umpires did not provide him with an official batting order after Kansas City made numerous substitutions. Weaver’s suspension will last three days.
1981 – Toronto Blue Jays 3B and All-American basketball player 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 semifinals. Ainge will hit .187 in 86 games for Toronto this season, retire, then sign to play for the NBA Boston Celtics.
On March 18, 1981 — After being declared a free agent because the Red Sox mailed his contract one day past the contractual deadline, Carlton Fisk signs a 5 year – $2.9 million deal with the White Sox. On Opening Day, the 33 year-old catcher will hit an eighth-inning three-run home run to tie the score, 3-3, that proves…
March 13, 1981 Lakeland Florida, 28 year Boston Red Sox star slugger Jim Rice gets into a heated confrontation with 61 year old VP of PR Jim Crowley. Rice had parked his yellow Cadillac in Crowley’s spot that had been his for 16 years, it was the third year in a row Rice…
March 13, 1981 – UL Washington has swapped his trademark, the ever-present toothpick dangling from the mouth, for bubblegum. The Kansas City Royals’ shortstop says it’s not because of any worry about jamming the pointed splinter down his throat, something team trainer Mickey Cobb has worried about “I just got tired of answering all the…
On March 13, 1981, the California Angels sign Rick Burleson to a six-year contract worth $4.2 million, making him the highest-paid shortstop in the major leagues. Burleson was traded to the Angels from the Boston Red Sox last December. He will be paid an estimated $700,000 a year If he had not agreement…
On March 11, 1981, the Veterans Committee elects slugger Johnny Mize and Negro Leagues pioneer Rube Foster to the Hall of Fame. Mize totaled 359 home runs and batted .312 during a 15-year major league career, while Foster served as a pitcher, manager, and executive in the Negro Leagues in the first quarter of the 20th…
On March 9, 1981, the Chicago White Sox sign prized free agent catcher Carlton Fisk. The future Hall of Fame receiver was declared a free agent in February after the Boston Red Sox had failed to mail him a contract by the deadline imposed under the Basic Agreement. Fisk batted .289 with 18 home runs…
1981 – The Atlanta Braves trade outfielder Jeff Burroughs to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Carlos Diaz.
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