The Expos win the National League Eastern Division when Steve Rogers goes the distance, defeating Steve Carlton and the defending World Champions Phillies at Veterans Stadium, 3-0. Divisional playoffs were devised to salvage the strike-shortened season.
On October 3, 1981 – The Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos clinch their first-ever postseason appearances. Milwaukee beats Detroit, 2 – 1, to wrap up the second-half title in the AL East, while Montreal defeats the Mets, 5 – 4, to win the NL East’s second playoff spot. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Sponsor this Page Listen to…
1981 – Steve Carlton fans 12 Expos in 10 innings to break Bob Gibson’s National League strikeout record (Carlton now has 3,128), but the Phillies lose to the Expos, 1 – 0 in 17 innings. Montreal’s Bryn Smith retires just one batter, but picks up his first major league victory.
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.
Tim Raines & Andre Dawson run wild on Braves August 29, 1981 At Olympic Stadium Andre Dawson and Tim Raines combine to steal 5 bases and Rodney Scott adds one more as the Expos beat the Braves 4-3. The winning run was scored in the bottom on the 7th, Raines singles, stole second, Scott sacrificed…
May 14, 1981: With a 3-2 win over Montreal in front of the largest Dodger Stadium crowd in seven years, rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela improves his record to 8-0. The 20 year-old southpaw, who has started the season with five shutouts and a minuscule ERA of 0.50, gets the victory when right fielder Pedro Guerrero hits…
On May 10, 1981, Montreal Expos right-hander Charlie Lea pitches the first no-hitter in the history of Olympic Stadium. Lea, the first French-born pitcher to hurl a no-hitter, strikes out eight batters and walks four in the second game of a doubleheader, as the Expos beat the San Francisco Giants, 4-0. In 2010 Lea…
On April 29, 1981, Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies becomes the first left-handed pitcher in major league history to notch 3,000 strikeouts. Carlton fans three Montreal Expos in the first inning to reach the milestone.
In a 6 – 5 win over the Cubs, Montreal’s Ron LeFlore steals his 91st base of the season and Rodney Scott steals his 58th, breaking the major-league record for stolen bases by teammates in one season. Lou Brock and Bake McBride set the record with the 1974 Cardinals.
Bill Gullickson whiffs 18 batters, the most strikeouts ever recorded by a rookie in a major league game. The Expos right-hander throws a complete-game four-hitter, beating Chicago at Olympic Stadium, 4-2.
Enjoy our free trial and start listening to games, interviews and shows! Ruth, Mantle, Aaron, and Seaver!