1981 California Angels season
Encyclopedia
The California Angels
1981 season
involved the Angels finishing with the 5th best overall record in the American League
West with 51 wins and 59 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players' strike and the league chose as its playoff teams the division winners from the first and second halves of the season.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
1981 season
1981 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
involved the Angels finishing with the 5th best overall record in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
West with 51 wins and 59 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players' strike and the league chose as its playoff teams the division winners from the first and second halves of the season.
Offseason
- December 2, 1980: Geoff ZahnGeoff ZahnGeoffery Clayton Zahn is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 13-year career, he pitched from 1973-1985 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs of the National League and the Minnesota Twins and California Angels of the American League...
was signed as a free agent by the Angels. - December 8, 1980: Dan WhitmerDan WhitmerDaniel Charles Whitmer is a former professional baseball player and coach. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, 1980 for the California Angels and 1981 for the Toronto Blue Jays, primarily as a catcher....
was drafted from the Angels by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 1980 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - January 13, 1981: Ron Romanick was drafted by the California Angels in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (Secondary Phase).
- January 23, 1981: Joe RudiJoe RudiJoseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Frank TananaFrank TananaFrank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
and Jim DorseyJim Dorsey (baseball)James Edward Dorsey is a retired professional baseball player who played 3 seasons for the California Angels and Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-References:...
was traded by the Angels to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Fred LynnFred LynnFredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
and Steve RenkoSteve RenkoSteve Renko, Jr. is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Oakland Athletics , Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .He helped the Angels win the 1982 American League Western...
. - February 2, 1981: Dave RaderDave Rader (baseball)David Martin Rader is a former professional baseball player. From through , he was a catcher in Major League Baseball, playing for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox...
was signed as a free agent by the Angels. - February 2, 1981: Dave SkaggsDave SkaggsDavid Lindsey Skaggs is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of four seasons, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels.-Sources:...
was released by the Angels.
Notable transactions
- April 20, 1981: Dave Rader was released by the Angels.
- June 8, 1981: 1981 Major League Baseball Draft1981 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
- Dick SchofieldDick SchofieldRichard Craig "Dick" Schofield was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played 14 seasons, spanning from 1983–96. Schofield played the majority of his career with the California Angels, but also played on the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays team that eventually won the World Series...
was drafted by the Angels in the 1st round (3rd pick). - Devon White was drafted by the Angels in the 6th round. Player signed June 13, 1981.
- Dick Schofield
Roster
| 1981 California Angels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
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Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF | 76 | 256 | 56 | .219 | 5 | 31 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 52 | 14 | .269 | 1 | 7 | |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 161.1 | 10 | 11 | 4.41 | 52 | |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
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Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
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