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| 1981 in baseball | |
|---|---|
| Year | 1981 |
| Subject | Baseball |
| Notable | 1981 Major League Baseball strike |
| Champions | Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees |
| Awards | Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year |
1981 in baseball The 1981 season of professional baseball in North America was marked by disruption, dramatic postseason comebacks, and standout individual performances. A midseason labor stoppage led to a split schedule that produced an expanded playoff field featuring memorable moments from franchises like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics. The year featured award-winning pitching, rookie sensations, and the deaths and births of figures who would influence later decades.
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the 1981 World Series over the New York Yankees after an upset of the Montreal Expos in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), while the Yankees advanced by defeating the Oakland Athletics in the American League Division Series (ALDS). The Kansas City Royals captured the American League first-half pennant and the Philadelphia Phillies claimed a notable regular-season position in the National League East. Amateur and international champions included winners from the College World Series, Little League World Series, and various winter leagues across Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Dominican Republic.
The 1981 Major League Baseball season was interrupted by a players' strike called by the Major League Baseball Players Association under executive director Marvin Miller, resulting in a 50-day work stoppage between June and July. Commissioner Peter Ueberroth presided over a return-to-play plan that implemented a split-season format, creating first-half and second-half division champions and expanding the postseason. Teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals navigated the altered schedule, while managers including Billy Martin, Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, and Joe Torre adapted lineups and rotations. The strike reshaped negotiations that would influence later labor talks involving figures like Fritz Peterson and owners represented by the Major League Baseball Players Association adversaries.
- On April 5, the season opened at venues such as Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium with scheduled matchups featuring stars like Reggie Jackson, Nolan Ryan, Fernando Valenzuela, Mike Schmidt, and George Brett. - The midseason strike halted games after June 11, affecting contenders including the New York Yankees and Montreal Expos; play resumed on August 9 under a split-season format. - The New York Mets traded for established pitchers and sought roster help amid turmoil, while the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants adjusted farm systems tied to organizations like the American Association and the Pacific Coast League. - Rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers burst onto the scene late in the year, setting the stage for the forthcoming "Fernandomania" season, while veteran hurlers such as Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, and Rollie Fingers continued to influence rotations and bullpens. - The Kansas City Royals staged memorable regular-season stretches led by George Brett and closer Dan Quisenberry; the Oakland Athletics relied on young talent developed in their minor league affiliates. - Postseason comebacks featured the Los Angeles Dodgers rallying from deficits in the National League Division Series and World Series matchups, with managerial moves by Tommy Lasorda proving decisive.
Most Valuable Player awards recognized standouts including sluggers and position players from both leagues; Cy Young winners included dominant pitchers whose seasons were evaluated in the split format. Rookie of the Year honors highlighted emerging talents from clubs such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals. The Hank Aaron Award concept had yet to be instituted, while long-established honors like the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award recognized defensive and offensive excellence respectively. Managers were acknowledged for steering teams through an unprecedented labor-disrupted campaign, and executives whose roster moves impacted playoff races received industry acclaim.
Notable baseball figures born in 1981 who would later impact major league rosters include future stars and contributors across infield, outfield, pitching, and catching positions. Those born this year would go on to play for franchises such as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies, and appear in competitions like the World Baseball Classic and Major League Baseball postseason in the 2000s and 2010s.
The baseball community in 1981 lost several former major leaguers, managers, and contributors whose careers had intersected with franchises including the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Obituaries referenced playing days in leagues such as the American League, National League, and earlier Negro leagues, connecting names to historic events and venues like Ebbets Field and Fenway Park.
Batting and pitching leaders for the disrupted season were determined across the split schedule, with categories including batting average, home runs, runs batted in, wins, strikeouts, and earned run average showcasing performers like Mike Schmidt, George Brett, Pete Rose, Eddie Murray, Rollie Fingers, and Fernando Valenzuela. Division standings reflected first-half and second-half champions in the American League East, American League West, National League East, and National League West, setting up postseason matchups that culminated in the 1981 World Series victory for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Category:1981 in sports