1981 American League Division Series

New York Yankees vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Game 1, October 6

Kauffman Stadium

Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...

in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...

Mike Norris faced Dennis Leonard

Dennis Leonard

Dennis Patrick Leonard was one of the Kansas City Royals' most dominating pitchers of the late '70s and early '80s, but a promising career cut short due to injuries. In 1975, his first full year he managed to bust out with a 15-7 record...

and the defending AL Champions in Game 1. Both pitchers were on their game and the game was scoreless through three innings. But in the top of the fourth, the A's got a boost on a three-run home run by Wayne Gross

Wayne Gross

Wayne Dale Gross , is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a third baseman from 1976-1986. Gross was an All-Star as a rookie in 1977, belting 22 home runs that year...

. Then Dwayne Murphy

Dwayne Murphy

Dwayne Keith Murphy is a former Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career playing for the Oakland Athletics as an outfielder. He is currently the hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays. He was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 1973 and made his Major League debut in 1978...

's solo homer in the eighth put the game away as Norris went on to pitch a four-hit complete game shutout.

Game 2, October 7

Royals Stadium

Kauffman Stadium

in Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri

Steve McCatty

Steven Earl McCatty is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Oakland Athletics from 1977 to 1985. He graduated from Troy High School in Troy, Michigan in 1972. On June 2nd, 2009 McCatty was named interim pitching coach of the Washington Nationals following Randy St...

and Mike Jones dueled in Game 2. After giving up an RBI double to Tony Armas

Tony Armas

Antonio Rafael Armas Machado is a former Venezuelan professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was one of the top sluggers in the American League in the early 1980s. Twice Armas led the league in home runs, and led all of Major League Baseball in RBIs in...

in the first, Jones settled into a groove and kept the A's from scoring for the next six innings. McCatty would give up a run in the bottom of the fifth on Willie Wilson's RBI hit. In the eighth, Armas again delivered the game winning RBI double to make it 2–1 A's. McCatty went on to pitch a complete game masterpiece.

Game 3, October 9

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California

Oakland, California

Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...

Game 3 pitted Larry Gura

Larry Gura

Lawrence Cyril Gura is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from to . He went to Arizona State University and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs of the National League, and the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals , both of the American League...

against Rick Langford

Rick Langford

James Rick Langford , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1986...

. With their backs to the wall, the Royals and Gura ran into trouble in the first. Tony Armas

Tony Armas

would come through once again with another RBI hit that scored Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henderson

Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...

. Then an error by Frank White in the third allowed another run to score to make it 2–0 A's. The Royals would scratch out a run in the fourth on Amos Otis

Amos Otis

Amos Joseph Otis is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets , Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted and threw right-handed....

's forceout. But in the bottom of fourth the A's scored two runs on a Dave McKay solo homer and an RBI double by Dwayne Murphy

Dwayne Murphy

. Langford would allow only one run in innings despite giving up ten hits. Dave Beard

Dave Beard

Charles David Beard is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers from to ....

would close out the series with a save in the ninth.

Composite box

1981 ALDS (3–0): Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

over Kansas City Royals

Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...

Game 1, October 7

County Stadium

Milwaukee County Stadium

Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

In Game 1, Ron Guidry

Ron Guidry

Ronald Ames Guidry , nicknamed "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...

faced Moose Haas

Moose Haas

Bryan Edmund "Moose" Haas , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1987. He appeared in the 1982 World Series as a member of the Brewers....

. In the bottom of the second, the Brewers struck first on Charlie Moore

Charlie Moore

Charles William Moore Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher and outfielder from 1973-1987...

's RBI single. Then Robin Yount

Robin Yount

Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...

's sac fly made it 2–0 in the third. But the Yankees would break through and take the lead for good in the fourth. Designated hitter Oscar Gamble

Oscar Gamble

Oscar Charles Gamble is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. He played for 17 seasons, from 1969 to 1985, on seven different teams: the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on two separate occasions, as well as the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland...

tied the game with a two-run homer. Then the Yanks would take the lead on a two-run double by Rick Cerone

Rick Cerone

Richard Aldo Cerone from Seton Hall University is a former Major League Baseball player from 1975 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos...

. But the Brewrs would cut the lead in half with an RBI single by Ted Simmons

Ted Simmons

Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...

. In the ninth, the Yankees managed to score a pivotal run off Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers

Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...

. The run scored due to an error by Yount. Goose Gossage

Goose Gossage

Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career, he pitched from 1972-1994 for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The nickname "Goose" is a play on his surname...

shut the door in the ninth.

Game 2, October 8

County Stadium

Milwaukee County Stadium

in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Dave Righetti

David Allan Righetti is a former left-handed pitcher for various Major League Baseball teams, primarily the New York Yankees. He is currently the pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants and was the first player in history to both pitch a no-hitter and also lead the league in saves in his career...

faced Mike Caldwell in Game 2. The Brewers needed to win this game to stay in contention and it certainly looked good with Caldwell having allowed only run in the fourth on Lou Piniella

Lou Piniella

Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...

's homer. But the decision to allow Caldwell pitch the ninth proved costly as he surrendered a two-run homer to Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson

Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...

. Dave Winfield

Dave Winfield

David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...

collected three hits while Righetti pitched a dominant four-hit shutout for six innings and Goose Gossage

Goose Gossage

got his second consecutive save.

Game 3, October 9

Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Randy Lerch

Randy Lerch

Randy Louis Lerch , is a former professional baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues for the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants from 1975 to 1986....

faced Tommy John

Tommy John

Thomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...

, who was looking to end the series with a sweep. Both pitchers were on their game and John got a run in the fourth thanks to Bob Watson's RBI hit. The Yankees were closing in on a sweep in the seventh when the Brewers came back. Ted Simmons

Ted Simmons

gave the Brewers the lead thanks to his two-run homer. Then Sal Bando

Sal Bando

Salvatore Leonard Bando is a former third baseman and executive in professional baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed. During the A's championship years of 1971-75, he captained the team and led the club in runs batted...

's RBI hit made it 3–1. The Yankees would waste little time in responding as back-to-back RBI singles tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. But Paul Molitor

Paul Molitor

Paul Leo Molitor , nicknamed "Molly" and "The Ignitor", is an American former Major League Baseball designated hitter and infielder. During his 21-year baseball career, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Minnesota Twins...

's leadoff homer in the eighth seemed to turn the tide as John then allowed a single to Robin Yount

Robin Yount

. His night was done but Simmons came through once again with an RBI double to make it 5–3 Brewers. Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers

won in relief and slammed the door on the Yankees in the ninth. The Brewers' win in Game 3 was their first ever postseason win.

Game 4, October 10

Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
Having taken Game 3, the Brewers looked to Pete Vuckovich

Pete Vuckovich

Peter Dennis Vuckovich is a retired American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who came across as an intimidating presence on the mound with his 6'4" 220 lb frame and Fu Manchu moustache. Vuckovich was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1974...

to take Game 4. Opposing him would be Rick Reuschel

Rick Reuschel

Rickey Eugene Reuschel is a former professional baseball pitcher from the early 1970s into the early 1990s. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because of his portly physique...

. In the top of the fourth, the Brewers jumped in front 2–0 on a sac fly by Cecil Cooper

Cecil Cooper

Cecil Celester Cooper , nicknamed "Coop," is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball and the former manager of the Houston Astros. From through , Cooper played for the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers...

and an RBI double by Ben Oglivie

Ben Oglivie

Benjamin Ambrosio Oglivie Palmer is a former Major League Baseball left fielder for the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and the Milwaukee Brewers . He also played two seasons in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes...

. The Yankees would get a run in the sixth on a fielder's choice by Lou Piniella

Lou Piniella

. The Yankees would get chances in the seventh and ninth to win the series but Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers

escaped with the save and evened the series at two games apiece.

Game 5, October 11

Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York
No team had ever come back down two games to none with the first two losses at home. And with their backs to the wall, the Yankees called on Dave Righetti

Dave Righetti

once again. Again opposing him would be Moose Haas

Moose Haas

Bryan Edmund "Moose" Haas , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1987. He appeared in the 1982 World Series as a member of the Brewers....

. Gorman Thomas's solo homer in the second gave the Brewers the lead. Then Cecil Cooper

Cecil Cooper

's sac fly made it 2–0 in the third. The Yankees looked helpless until the bottom of the fourth. Reggie Jackson

Reggie Jackson

's titanic home run in the fourth tied the game. Oscar Gamble

Oscar Gamble

followed Jackson's homer with a solo homer to give the Yankees a 3–2 lead. A forceout later in the inning scored Graig Nettles

Graig Nettles

Graig Nettles , nicknamed "Puff", is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 22-year baseball career, he played for the Minnesota Twins , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Montreal Expos .Nettles was one of the best...

to make it 4–2. The Brewers would strike in the seventh on Cooper's second RBI of the game to close the gap. That was as close as they would get. Rick Cerone

Rick Cerone

's homer in the seventh made it 5–3. The Brewers mounted a threat in the eighth. After recording two quick outs Goose Gossage

Goose Gossage

walked Bando and Howell before getting Don Money to fly out to left. A double and a sac fly put the series away as the Yankees took a commanding 7–3 lead to the ninth. Gossage shut the Brewers out in the ninth for his third save of the series and to keep a historical collapse from happening.

Series quotes

Composite box

1981 ALDS (3–2): New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...

over Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

External links

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