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.

1981 Los Angeles Dodgers
World Series Champions
National League Champions
NL West champions
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
Owner(s)Peter O'Malley
General manager(s)Al Campanis
Manager(s)Tommy Lasorda
Local televisionKTTV (11)
Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, Ross Porter
ONTV
Geoff Witcher, Al Downing
Local radioKABC
Vin Scully, Jerry Doggett, Ross Porter
KTNQ
Jaime Jarrín, Rudy Hoyos
< Previous season     Next season >

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

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

NL West W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cincinnati Reds 6642 0.611 32–22 34–20
Los Angeles Dodgers 6347 0.573 4 33–23 30–24
Houston Astros 6149 0.555 6 31–20 30–29
San Francisco Giants 5655 0.505 11½ 29–24 27–31
Atlanta Braves 5056 0.472 15 22–27 28–29
San Diego Padres 4169 0.373 26 20–35 21–34
NL West
First Half Standings
W L Pct. GB
Los Angeles Dodgers3621.632
Cincinnati Reds3521.62512
Houston Astros2829.4918
Atlanta Braves2529.4639 12
San Francisco Giants2732.45810
San Diego Padres2333.41112 12
NL West
Second Half Standings
W L Pct. GB
Houston Astros3320.623
Cincinnati Reds3121.5961 12
San Francisco Giants2923.5583 12
Los Angeles Dodgers2726.5096
Atlanta Braves2527.4817 12
San Diego Padres1836.33315 12

Record vs. opponents

1981 National League Records

Sources:
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta3–2–16–54–87–73–73–34–52–39–65–74–3
Chicago2–3–11–51–66–44–75–8–12–104–103–35–55–4–1
Cincinnati5–65–18–48–85–47–35–24–210–29–50–5
Houston8–46–14–84–85–26–34–62–411–39–62–4
Los Angeles 7–74–68–88–45–25–13–35–16–57–55–5
Montreal7–37–44–52–52–59–37–410–34–22–56–9
New York3–38–5–13–73–61–53–97–73–6–12–52–46–5
Philadelphia5-410–22–56–43–34–77–77–54–24–37–6
Pittsburgh3–210–42–44–21–53–106–3–15–76–43–73–8
San Diego6–93–32–103–115–62–45–22–44–66–73–7
San Francisco7–55–55–96–95–75–24–23–47–37–62–3
St. Louis3–44–5–15–04–25–59–65–66–78–37–33–2

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day starters
NamePosition
Davey LopesSecond baseman
Ken LandreauxCenter fielder
Dusty BakerLeft fielder
Steve GarveyFirst baseman
Ron CeyThird baseman
Pedro GuerreroRight fielder
Mike SciosciaCatcher
Bill RussellShortstop
Fernando ValenzuelaStarting pitcher

Roster

1981 Los Angeles Dodgers

Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Starting pitchers stats

NameGGSIPERAW/LBBSOCG
Fernando Valenzuela 2525192.32.4813-76118011
Burt Hooton 2323142.32.2811-633745
Bob Welch2323141.33.449-541882
Jerry Reuss 2222152.72.3010-427518

Relief pitchers stats

NameGGSIPERAW/LBBSOSV
Steve Howe41054.02.505-318328
Bobby Castillo34150.75.332-418325
Dave Stewart32043.32.494-314296
Terry Forster21030.74.110-115170
Dave Goltz26877.04.092-725481
Rick Sutcliffe14647.04.022-220160
Tom Niedenfuer17026.03.813-16122
Alejandro Peña14025.32.841-111142
Ted Power5214.33.141-3770

Batting stats

NamePosGABAvg.RHHRRBISB
Mike Scioscia C93290.27627802290
Steve YeagerC4286.209518370
Jerry GroteC22.00000000
Steve Garvey1B110431.2836312210643
Davey Lopes2B58214.289354451720
Bill RussellSS82262.23320610222
Ron Cey3B85312.288429013500
Derrel Thomas2B/3B/SS/OF80218.24825544247
Steve Sax2B31119.2771533295
Pepe FríasSS/2B/3B2536.25069030
Reggie Smith1B4135.20057180
Mike Marshall1B/3B/OF1425.20025010
Gary WeissSS1419.10522010
Jack Perconte2B89.22222011
Dusty BakerOF103400.3204812894910
Pedro GuerreroOF/3B/1B98347.3004610412485
Ken LandreauxOF99390.251489874118
Rick MondayOF66130.315244111251
Jay JohnstoneOF/1B6183.205817360
Ron RoenickeOF2247.234611001
Joe FergusonOF1714.14322010
Candy MaldonadoOF1112.09301000
Bobby MitchellOF105.12501000
Mark BradleyOF96.16721000

Postseason

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 Angeles 000 010 000 120
Houston 000 100 002 380
W: Nolan Ryan (1-0)  L: Dave Stewart (0-1)  
HRs: LA Steve Garvey (1)  HOU Alan 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 Angeles 000 000 000 00 091
Houston 000 000 000 01 190
W: Joe Sambito (1-0)  L: Dave Stewart (0-2)  
HRs: LA none   HOU none

Game 3

October 9, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 001 000 000 132
Los Angeles 300 003 00X 6100
W: Burt Hooton (1-0)  L: Bob Knepper (0-1)  
HRs: HOU Art Howe (1)  LA Steve Garvey (2)

Game 4

October 10, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 000 000 001 140
Los Angeles 000 010 10X 240
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-0)  L: Vern Ruhle (0-1)  
HRs: HOU none  LA Pedro Guerrero (1)

Game 5

October 11, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Houston 000 000 000 053
Los Angeles 000 003 10X 472
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montreal 000 000 001 190
Los Angeles 020 000 03X 580
W: Burt Hooton (1-0)  L: Bill Gullickson (0-1)  
HRs: MON None  LAD Pedro 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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Montreal 020 001 000 3101
Los Angeles 000 000 000 051
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, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 000 100 000 170
Montreal 000 004 00X 471
W: Steve Rogers (1-0)  L: Jerry Reuss (0-1)  
HRs: LAD None  MON Jerry White (1)
Pitchers: LAD Reuss, Pena (8)  MON Rogers
Attendance: 54,372

Game 4

October 17, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 001 000 024 7121
Montreal 000 100 000 151
W: Burt Hooton (2-0)  L: Bill Gullickson (0-2)
HRs: LAD Steve 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, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 000 010 001 260
Montreal 100 000 000 131
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-1)  L: Steve Rogers (1-1)  SV: Bob Welch (1)
HRs: LAD Rick 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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 000 010 020 350
New York 301 100 00X 560
W: Ron Guidry (1-0)  L: Jerry Reuss (0-1)  SV: Goose Gossage (1)
HRs: LAD Steve Yeager (1)  NY Bob Watson (1)

Game 2

October 21, Yankee Stadium, New York

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 000 000 000 042
New York 000 010 02X 361
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 022 000 000 490
Los Angeles 300 020 00X 5111
W: Fernando Valenzuela (1-0)  L: George Frazier (0-1)  SV: none)
HRs: NY Rick Cerone (1), Bob Watson (2)  LA Ron Cey (1)

Game 4

October 24, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 211 002 010 7131
Los Angeles 002 013 20X 8142
W: Steve Howe (1-0)  L: George Frazier (0-2)  SV: none)
HRs: NY Willie Randolph (1), Reggie Jackson (1)  LA Jay Johnstone (1)

Game 5

October 25, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
New York 010 000 000 150
Los Angeles 000 002 00X 243
W: Jerry Reuss (1-1)  L: Ron Guidry (1-1)  SV: none
HRs: NY none   LA Pedro Guerrero (1), Steve Yeager (2)

Game 6

October 28, Yankee Stadium, New York

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Los Angeles 000 134 010 9131
New York 001 001 000 272
W: Burt Hooton (1-1)  L: George Frazier (0-3)  SV: Steve Howe (1)
HRs: LAD Pedro Guerrero (2)   NY Willie Randolph (2)

1981 awards

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Albuquerque Dukes Pacific Coast League Del Crandall
AA San Antonio Dodgers Texas League Don LeJohn
High A Lodi Dodgers California League Terry Collins
High A Vero Beach Dodgers Florida State League Stan Wasiak
Rookie Lethbridge Dodgers Pioneer League Gary LaRocque

Teams in BOLD won League Championships

Major League Baseball Draft

The Dodgers drafted 33 players in the June draft and 18 in the January draft. Of those, eight players would eventually play in the Major Leagues. They received an extra pick in the 2nd round from the Houston Astros as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Don Sutton.

The Dodgers first round pick in the June draft was shortstop Dave Anderson from the University of Memphis. He played 10 seasons in the Majors (8 of them with the Dodgers), primarily as a utility infielder. The draft also included pitchers Sid Fernandez (round 3) and John Franco (round 5), both of whom would have lengthy Major League careers primarily with the New York Mets after the Dodgers traded them.

Notes

References

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