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.

ByBaseball

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.

Rick Monday turning Montreal very blue..on a Monday no less.
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Blue Monday – Rick Monday home run in the ninth eliminates Expos

ByThis Day in Baseball

Blue Monday On October 19, 1981 — The first Canadian pennant hopes are dashed when Dodger Rick Monday’s ninth-inning two-out dramatic home run off Steve Rodgers beats the Expos, 2-1, in the deciding game of the NLCS. Ray Burris had pitched 8 innings giving up 1 run, Monday had scored on a ground out Fernando…

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).

ByThis Day in Baseball

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.

ByBaseball

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.

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

ByTom

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. 

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

ByTom

1981 – Fernando Valenzuela outpitches Vern Ruhle in a 2-1 decision in Los Angeles. Only eight hits are registered, four by each side, but a homer by Pedro Guerrero and an RBI single by Bill Russell trump last-inning heroics by Terry Puhl and Tony Scott. The series is knotted at two games apiece. 

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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.

ByTom

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.