1981 New York Mets season
Encyclopedia
The New York Mets
' 1981 season
was the 20th regular season for the Mets. They went 41-62 and finished 5th in the NL East. They were managed by Joe Torre
. They played home games at Shea Stadium
. The season is remembered for a summer strike that cut the season in half.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
' 1981 season
1981 Major League Baseball season
-First half:-Second half:-Overall record:-Statistical leaders:-Postseason:NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
was the 20th regular season for the Mets. They went 41-62 and finished 5th in the NL East. They were managed by Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
. They played home games at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. The season is remembered for a summer strike that cut the season in half.
Offseason
- November 16, 1980: Kevin Mitchell was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets.
- December 15, 1980: José MorenoJosé Moreno (baseball)José de los Santos Mauricio Moreno is a former Major League Baseball player. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors between and , playing for a different team in each season...
and John PacellaJohn PacellaJohn Lewis Pacella was a Major League Baseball pitcher from to for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. Pacella had such an unusual delivery that at times his cap would fall off after a pitch.From Brooklyn, Pacella moved to Suffolk County...
were traded by the Mets to the San Diego Padres for Randy Jones. - December 15, 1980: Rick SweetRick SweetRicky Joe Sweet is a former professional baseball catcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball between 1978 and 1983, and has since had a long career as minor and major league coach and minor league manager...
was purchased by the Mets from the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. - December 16, 1980: Rusty StaubRusty StaubDaniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder, designated hitter, and first baseman. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams...
was signed as a free agent by the Mets. - December 19, 1980: Mike Cubbage was signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets.
- January 13, 1981: Randy MilliganRandy MilliganRandall Andre Milligan is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1987-1994. He is currently a scout with the Baltimore Orioles. Milligan is nicknamed "Moose".-External links:...
was drafted by the Mets in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 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...
.
Notable Transactions
- April 3, 1981: John Csefalvay (minors) was traded by the Mets to the Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
for Gary RajsichGary RajsichGary Louis Rajsich is an American Major League Baseball scout and a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in the Majors from until , then played three additional seasons for the Chunichi Dragons from until...
. - April 5, 1981: Dan Boitano was purchased by the New York Mets from the Milwaukee Brewers.
- April 6, 1981: Butch Benton was sent to the Chicago Cubs by the New York Mets as part of a conditional deal.
- May 29, 1981: Jeff ReardonJeff ReardonJeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...
and Dan NormanDan NormanDaniel Edmund Norman is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets and Montreal Expos...
were traded by the Mets to the Montreal ExposWashington NationalsThe Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
for Ellis ValentineEllis ValentineEllis Clarence Valentine is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1972; playing for the Expos, he was elected a National League All-Star in 1977 and received a Gold Glove Award in 1978...
. - 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...
- John ChristensenJohn Christensen (baseball)John Lawrence Christensen is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball between 1984 and 1988.- New York Mets :...
was drafted by the Mets in the 2nd round. - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
was drafted by the Mets in the 12th round, but did not sign. - Lenny DykstraLenny DykstraLeonard Kyle "Lenny" Dykstra , nicknamed "Nails" and "Dude", is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s....
was drafted by the Mets in the 13th round. Player signed July 3, 1981. - Lou ThorntonLou ThorntonLouis Thornton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and pinch runner. He played parts of five seasons in the major leagues between and .-Sources:...
was drafted by the Mets in the 19th round.
- John Christensen
- June 15, 1981: Bill LathamBill LathamWilliam Carol Latham is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of two seasons in the majors, appearing in 7 games for the New York Mets in and 7 games for the Minnesota Twins in . In he joined the scouting staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers after six years as a professional scout...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets. - August 19, 1981: Mike Marshall was signed as a free agent by the Mets.
Roster
| 1981 New York Mets roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RF | Ellis Valentine Ellis Valentine Ellis Clarence Valentine is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1972; playing for the Expos, he was elected a National League All-Star in 1977 and received a Gold Glove Award in 1978... |
48 | 169 | 35 | .207 | 5 | 21 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty Staub Rusty Staub Daniel Joseph "Rusty" Staub is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder, designated hitter, and first baseman. He enjoyed a 23-year baseball career with 5 different teams... |
70 | 161 | 51 | .317 | 5 | 21 |
| Alex Treviño Alex Treviño Alejandro Treviño Castro is a Mexican retired professional baseball catcher. Trevino played 13 seasons in the Major Leagues beginning with the New York Mets for four seasons , followed by the Cincinnati Reds for two full seasons before splitting the 1984 season between the Reds and the Atlanta... |
56 | 149 | 39 | .262 | 0 | 10 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Jones | 13 | 59.1 | 1 | 8 | 4.85 | 14 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Marshall | 20 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2.61 | 8 |
| Jeff Reardon Jeff Reardon Jeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati... |
18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3.45 | 28 |