1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season

Information about 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season

The 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season got off to a strong start when rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela pitched a shutout on opening day, starting the craze that came to be known as "Fernandomania." Fernando went on to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.

The season was divided into two halves because of a players strike in mid-season. The Dodgers won the NL West in the first half and advanced to the playoffs. They beat the Houston Astros in a divisional playoff and the Montreal Expos in the LCS before beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series.

Season standings

NL West
First Half Standings
W L Pct.
Los Angeles Dodgers3621.632
Cincinnati Reds3521.625
Houston Astros2829.491
Atlanta Braves2529.463
San Francisco Giants2732.458
San Diego Padres2333.411
NL West
Second Half Standings
W L Pct.
Houston Astros3320.623
Cincinnati Reds3121.596
San Francisco Giants2923.558
Los Angeles Dodgers2726.509
Atlanta Braves2527.481
San Diego Padres1836.333

1981 Roster

Coaching Staff
Starting Pitchers
Num Name Pos G GS IP ERA W/L BBSO CG
34 Fernando Valenzuela SP 25 25192.32.48 13-76118011
46 Burt Hooton SP23 23142.32.2811-6 33745
35 Bob WelchSP 2323141.33.449-541882
41 Jerry Reuss SP 2222 152.72.3010-4 27518
Relief Pitchers
Num Name Pos G GS IP ERA W/L BB SO SV
57 Steve HoweCL 41054.02.505-318328
37 Bobby Castillo RP/SP34 150.75.332-4 18325
48 Dave Stewart RP32 043.32.494-3 14296
51 Terry Forster RP 21030.74.110-1 15170
38 Dave Goltz RP/SP 26 8 77.04.092-7 25481
43 Rick Sutcliffe RP/SP14 647.04.022-2 20160
49 Tom Niedenfuer RP 17 026.03.81 3-16122
26 Alejandro Pena RP 14025.32.841-1 11142
25 Ted PowerRP/SP 5214.33.141-3770
Catchers
Num Name Pos G AB Avg. R H HR RBI SB
14 Mike Scioscia C 93290 .27627 80 2 290
7 Steve Yeager C4286 .2095 18 3 70
9 Jerry Grote C22 .0000 0 0 00
Infielders
Num Name Pos G AB Avg. R H HR RBI SB
6 Steve Garvey 1B 110 431.283 63122 10643
15 Davey Lopes 2B 58 214.289 3544 51720
18 Bill Russell SS 82 262.233 2061 0222
10 Ron Cey 3B 85312 .28842 90 13 500
30 Derrel Thomas 2B/3B/SS/OF 80218.248 2554 4247
52 Steve Sax 2B 31119.277 1533 295
36 Pepe Frias SS/2B/3B 2536.250 69 030
8 Reggie Smith 1B 4135 .20057 180
5 Mike Marshall 1B/3B/OF 14 25 .200 2 5 010
1 Gary Weiss SS 1419.105 22 010
45 Jack Perconte 2B 8 9 .222 2 2 011
Outfielders
Num Name Pos G AB Avg. R H HR RBI SB
12 Dusty Baker OF 103400.320 48128 94910
28 Pedro Guerrero OF/3B/1B98 347 .300 46 104 12485
44 Ken Landreaux OF 99 390 .251 48 98 74118
16 Rick Monday OF 66130.315 2441 11251
21 Jay Johnstone OF/1B 61 83.205 817 360
50 Ron Roenicke OF 22 47.234 611 001
13 Joe Ferguson OF 17 14.143 22 010
47Candy MaldonadoOF 1112.09301 0 00
17 Bobby Mitchell OF 10 5.125 01 000
22 Mark Bradley OF 96 .16721 000

Opening Day Starters
Name Position
Davey LopesSecond Baseman
Ken LandreauxCenterfielder
Dusty BakerLeftfielder
Steve GarveyFirst Baseman
Ron CeyThird Baseman
Pedro GuerreroRightfielder
Mike SciosciaCatcher
Bill RussellShortstop
Fernando ValenzuelaStarting Pitcher

1981 Playoffs

1981 National League Division Series

In the divisional series, the Dodgers fell behind the Houston Astros two games to zero but came back to win the next three games to take the series and advance to the LCS.

Game 1

October 6, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles000010000120
Houston000100002380
W: Nolan Ryan (1-0)  L: Dave Stewart (0-1)  
HRs: LASteve Garvey (1)  HOUAlan Ashby (1)

Game 2

October 7, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Los Angeles00000000000091
Houston00000000001190
W: Joe Sambito (1-0)  L: Dave Stewart (0-2)  
HRs: LA – none   HOU – none

Game 3

October 9, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston001000000132
Los Angeles30000300X6100
W: Burt Hooton (1-0)  L: Bob Knepper (0-1)  
HRs: HOUArt Howe (1)  LASteve Garvey (2)

Game 4

October 10, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston000000001140
Los Angeles00001010X240
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-0)  L: Vern Ruhle (0-1)  
HRs: HOU – none  LAPedro Guerrero (1)

Game 5

October 11, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston000000000053
Los Angeles00000300X472
W: Jerry Reuss (1-0)  L: Nolan Ryan (1-1)  
HRs: HOU – none  LA – none

1981 National League Championship Series

The Dodgers faced the Montreal Expos in the 1981 NLCS and beat them three games to two, thanks to a ninth-inning home run by Rick Monday in Game 5.

Game 1

October 13, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montreal000000001190
Los Angeles02000003X580
W: Burt Hooton (1-0)  L: Bill Gullickson (0-1)  
HRs: MON – None  LADPedro Guerrero (1), Mike Scioscia (1)
Pitchers: MON – Gullickson, Reardon (8)  LAD – Hooton, Welch (8), Howe (9)
Attendance: 51,273

Game 2

October 14, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montreal0200010003101
Los Angeles000000000051
W: Ray Burris (1-0)  L: Fernando Valenzuela (0-1)  
HRs: MON – None  LAD – None
Pitchers: MON – Burris  LAD – Valenzuela, Niedenfuer (7), Forster (7), Pena (7), Castillo (9)
Attendance: 53,463

Game 3

October 16, Stade Olympique, Montreal, Quebec
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles000100000170
Montreal00000400X471
W: Steve Rogers (1-0)  L: Jerry Reuss (0-1)  
HRs: LAD – None  MONJerry White (1)
Pitchers: LAD – Reuss, Pena (8)  MON – Rogers
Attendance: 54,372

Game 4

October 17, Stade Olympique, Montreal, Quebec
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles0010000247121
Montreal000100000151
W: Burt Hooton (2-0)  L: Bill Gullickson (0-2)
HRs: LADSteve Garvey (1)  MON – None
Pitchers: LAD – Hooton, Welch (8), Howe (9)  MON – Gullickson, Fryman (8), Sosa (9), Lee (9)
Attendance: 54,499

Game 5

October 19, Stade Olympique, Montreal, Quebec
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles000010001260
Montreal100000000131
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-1)  L: Steve Rogers (1-1)  SV: Bob Welch (1)
HRs: LADRick Monday (1)  MON – None
Pitchers: LAD – Valenzuela, Welch (9)  MON – Burris, Rogers (9)
Attendance: 36,491

1981 World Series

The Dodgers met the New York Yankees in the World Series once again.. this time beating them in six games to claim their first championship since 1965.

Game 1

October 20, Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles000010020350
New York30110000X560
W: Ron Guidry (1-0)  L: Jerry Reuss (0-1)  SV: Goose Gossage (1)
HRs: LADSteve Yeager (1)  NYBob Watson (1)

Game 2

October 21, Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles000000000042
New York00001002X361
W: Tommy John (1-0)  L: Burt Hooton (0-1)  SV: Goose Gossage (2)
HRs: LAD – none  NY – none

Game 3

October 23, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York022000000490
Los Angeles30002000X5111
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-0)  L: George Frazier (0-1)  SV: none)
HRs: NYRick Cerone (1), Bob Watson (2)  LARon Cey (1)

Game 4

October 24, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York1110020107131
Los Angeles00201320X8142
W: Steve Howe (1-0)  L: George Frazier (0-2)  SV: none)
HRs: NYWillie Randolph (1), Reggie Jackson (1)  LAJay Johnstone (1)

Game 5

October 25, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York010000000150
Los Angeles00000200X243
W: Jerry Reuss (1-1)  L: Ron Guidry (1-1)  SV: none
HRs: NY – none   LAPedro Guerrero (1), Steve Yeager (2)

Game 6

October 28, Yankee Stadium, New York, New York
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles0001340109131
New York001001000272
W: Burt Hooton (1-1)  L: George Frazier (0-3)  SV: Steve Howe (1)
HRs: LADPedro Guerrero (2)   NYWillie Randolph (2)

1981 Awards

1981 Transactions

1981 Minor League Teams

External links

Los Angeles Dodgers Established 1883 Based in Los Angeles since 1958

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Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (b. November 1, 1960) is a former left-handed pitcher for six different teams during his Major League Baseball career, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he pitched for eleven seasons, from 1980 to 1990.
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Rookie of the Year may refer to:
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Denton True "Cy" Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) was an American baseball player who pitched for five different major league teams from 1890 to 1911. He established numerous professional pitching records during his 22-year career in the majors, some of which have
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The Montreal Expos (French: Les Expos de Montréal) were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from 1969 until 2004. After the 2004 season, the franchise relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Washington Nationals.
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World Series is the championship series of Major League Baseball and the culmination of the sport's postseason each October. Since the Series takes place in mid-autumn, sportswriters many years ago dubbed the event the "Fall Classic". The St.
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The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern
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Cincinnati Reds Established 1869

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Houston Astros Established 1962

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Atlanta Braves Established 1871 Based in Atlanta since 1966

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The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern
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Houston Astros Established 1962

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Cincinnati Reds Established 1869

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San Francisco Giants Established 1883 Based in San Francisco since

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Los Angeles Dodgers Established 1883 Based in Los Angeles since 1958

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Atlanta Braves Established 1871 Based in Atlanta since 1966

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San Diego Padres Established 1969

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Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea (b. November 1, 1960) is a former left-handed pitcher for six different teams during his Major League Baseball career, most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he pitched for eleven seasons, from 1980 to 1990.
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Burt Carlton Hooton (born February 7 1950 in Greenville, Texas), nicknamed "Happy" (by former manager Tommy Lasorda, because he rarely ever smiled), is a former right-handed starting pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago Cubs and
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Robert Lynn "Bob" Welch (born November 3, 1956 in Detroit, Michigan), is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1978-87) and Oakland Athletics (1988-94). He played in college for Eastern Michigan. He batted and threw right-handed.
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Jerry Reuss (born July 19 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri) -- pronounced "royce" -- is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the United States, who had a 22-year career from 1969 to 1990.
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Steven Roy Howe (March 10 1958 – April 28 2006) was an American left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.
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Robert Ernie Castillo Jr. (born April 18, 1955 in Los Angeles, California) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins between 1977 and 1985.
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David Keith Stewart (born February 19 1957 in Oakland, California) is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He was known for the way he used to stare down batters when pitching to them.
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Terry Jay Forster (born January 14, 1952 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) is a retired left-handed relief pitcher who played for 16 seasons in the Major Leagues. He played for five teams in his career and recorded 127 saves during his time in the majors.
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