1981 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1981 World Series matched the New York Yankees
against the Los Angeles Dodgers
, marking their third meeting in the Series in five years as well as a record eleventh Series meeting overall and last Series meeting to date. The Dodgers won the Series in six games for their first title since 1965
, and their first victory over the Yankees since 1963
and third over them overall.
This is the last World Series that a team won after losing the first two games on the road. It's also the last World Series that a team lost after winning the first game at home.
won the National League West
division (first half) over the Cincinnati Reds
then defeated the Houston Astros
, three games to two, in the National League Division Series
then defeated the Montreal Expos
, three games to two, in the National League Championship Series
. The New York Yankees
won the American League East
division over the Baltimore Orioles
(first half) then defeated the Milwaukee Brewers
, three games to two, in the American League Division Series
, then defeated the Oakland Athletics
, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series
.
(66–42), out of the postseason.
The series is sometimes called "The World Series that Never Was." This refers to the fact that the team with the best overall record (as previously mentioned), the Cincinnati Reds did not make the playoffs due to a modified playoff schedule established by the Commissioner
Bowie Kuhn
due to a midseason strike. In the NL East, the St. Louis Cardinals
had the best overall record, but failed to make the playoffs after finishing second in each half.
got to the Series with help from rookie phenom, Fernando Valenzuela
, whose wicked screwball
won him his first eight games including five by shutout. The Mexican pitcher would pitch eight shutouts in all and win the National League
's Cy Young Award
. Joining Valenzuela in the rotation, with fine seasons of their own, were veterans Burt Hooton
(11–6, 2.28) and Jerry Reuss
(10–4, 2.30). The core of the position players remained intact with perennial all-star Steve Garvey
at first, Davey Lopes
at second, Bill Russell
at shortstop, and team leader in home runs with thirteen, Ron Cey
at third. Budding star, Pedro Guerrero, would move to the outfield becoming a regular starter for the first time in his career, in place of the aging and often injured Reggie Smith
.
Tommy Lasorda
was looking for his first World Series
win in his fifth full season with the Dodgers
after losing to the New York Yankees
in and .
's Yankees
had a losing second-half (25–26) but managed to win the first-half (34–22) to qualify for the playoffs. Dependable Ron Guidry
won eleven games (against five losses) with Dave Righetti
coming into his own as a starter winning eight games with a 2.05 ERA
. Righetti
would later move to the bullpen saving over 200 games from to . Goose Gossage
was unhittable saving twenty games with an incredible 0.77 ERA
striking out 48 in 47 innings.
Dave Winfield
was signed as a free agent
in the off-season joining superstar
Reggie Jackson
in the outfield and would lead the club with 25 doubles
and 68 RBIs. Winfield's huge contract, $
21 million over ten years, along with a strong lineup and terrific left-handed starting pitching, was not enough to deny the Dodgers
their first World Series
Championship since 1965
.
Bob Watson smashed a three-run homer off Jerry Reuss
in the first to get the Yankees started. Lou Piniella
chased Reuss with an RBI single in the third, and Dodger reliever Bobby Castillo
walked four batters in the fourth to give New York a 5–0 lead. Ron Guidry
held the Dodgers to four hits and a run (on a Steve Yeager
homer) through seven innings. Ron Davis gave up two in the eighth, but Goose Gossage
closed out the win in the ninth. Yankee third baseman Graig Nettles
broke his thumb when he made a diving stop. The injury caused him to miss Games 3, 4, and 5, but he played in Game 6.
Former pitching mates Burt Hooton
and Tommy John
locked in a scoreless duel until the fifth, when Larry Milbourne
doubled in Willie Randolph
for the only run John would really need. The Yankees pushed across two more in the eighth off Steve Howe on a RBI single by Bob Watson and a sacrifice fly by Randolph. John pitched seven shutout innings, and Goose Gossage
closed for his second save in two games.
in Los Angeles, California
Prior to this game, Yankee manager Bob Lemon
made a questionable move by not playing Reggie Jackson
. Jackson injured himself running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS and missed the first two games of the World Series, but was medically cleared to play Game 3. Jackson was not even allowed to pinch-hit. Some have said Lemon was acting under George Steinbrenner
's orders.
NL Rookie of the Year Fernando Valenzuela
pitched a gutty game, going the distance despite allowing nine hits and walking seven and constantly pitching out of trouble. He walked two Yankee batters in the first, but pitched out of it. Ron Cey
, meanwhile, provided him a 3–0 lead in the Dodger half with a three-run homer off Dave Righetti
.
The Yankees cut it to 3–2 in the second on a Bob Watson homer and a Larry Milbourne
RBI single. Valenzuela stranded two runners in this inning. Rick Cerone
gave the Yanks a 4–3 lead in the third with a two-run homer, but the Yankees left two on once again. Watson led off the fifth with a double, but no one scored as Valenzuela pitched out of it again. In both the third and fifth innings, the Dodgers were helped by the Yankees' being unable to use a designated hitter
(since it was used in last season's Series). In both innings, Valenzuela issued two-out intentional walks to Larry Milbourne
in order to pitch to Dave Righetti
and George Frazier. Valenzuela struck out the pitchers both times.
The Dodgers gave Valenzuela the lead back in the bottom of the fifth when Pedro Guerrero doubled in Steve Garvey
to tie it, and Cey scored on a double play grounder by Mike Scioscia
. Now, with a lead and the Dodger Stadium
crowd behind him, Valenzuela appeared to finally settle down.
The Yankees mounted their final threat in the eighth when Aurelio Rodríguez
and Milbourne led off with back-to-back singles. Pinch-hitter Bobby Murcer
attempted a sacrifice bunt (another questionable decision by Lemon), but popped it foul. Cey dove and caught it and doubled Milbourne off first.
mlb.com coverage of Game 3
in Los Angeles, California
Reggie Jackson
did indeed start this game and looked determined to show George Steinbrenner
and anyone else that he was OK to play. The Yankees jumped all over Bob Welch, as he faced four batters without recording an out before being relieved by Dave Goltz
. Willie Randolph
led the game off with a triple and scored on a Larry Milbourne
double. Dave Winfield
walked and Jackson singled before Goltz gave up a sacrifice fly to Bob Watson. Randolph smashed a two-out solo homer in the second and Rick Cerone
batted in a run with a single in the third for a 4–0 Yankee lead.
But, Yankee starter Rick Reuschel
had problems of his own. He allowed an RBI single to Davey Lopes
and an RBI groundout to Ron Cey
in the third before leaving in favor of Rudy May
. May gave up a double to Steve Garvey
and an RBI single to Cey in the fifth, but the Yankees countered with two in the sixth on RBI singles by Oscar Gamble
and Watson off Tom Niedenfuer
.
With a 6–3 lead, the Yankees turned the pitching over to their seemingly unbeatable relief combination of Ron Davis and Goose Gossage
. But, Davis had his troubles in the sixth. He issued a one-out walk to Mike Scioscia
and gave up a two-out pinch-hit homer to Jay Johnstone
to make the score 6–5. Then, Lopes lifted a fly ball to right that Jackson lost in the sun and dropped. Lopes reached second and stole third when Davis, flustered at not being out of the inning, pitched from a windup. Davis then gave up a game-tying single to Bill Russell
.
In the seventh, the Dodgers got two off George Frazier on a sacrifice fly by Steve Yeager
and an RBI single by Lopes. Jackson homered in the eighth off Steve Howe, capping a 3-for-3 day, but Howe was able to close out the win. The series was now tied 2–2.
According to Johnstone's book Temporary Insanity (1985), Steinbrenner confronted Davis in the Yankees' locker room after the game and demanded, "Why did you throw a Johnstone a fastball?"
in Los Angeles, California
Desperately needing a win to stop the Dodgers' momentum in this series, the Yankees trotted out their ace, Ron Guidry
. Guidry was as sharp as ever through six innings, holding the Dodgers to two singles. Reggie Jackson
, continuing his torrid hitting, helped provide Guidry a lead by doubling to left in the second off Jerry Reuss
, moving to third on a Davey Lopes
error, and scoring on an Lou Piniella
groundout. That appeared to be all Guidry would need.
But, in the seventh, after fanning Dusty Baker
, Guidry surrendered back-to-back solo homers to Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager
. Both homers were hit almost to the same place in left-center. Meanwhile, Reuss was just as effective as Guidry, holding the Yanks to five hits and the lone run and going the distance.
A scary moment occurred in the eighth when Goose Gossage
beaned Ron Cey
. Cey had to be carried off the field with a concussion, but was cleared to play Game 6.
The Yankees traveled back to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium
desperate for a win. Tommy John
would be on the mound opposing Burt Hooton
. Willie Randolph
provided John an early lead with a solo homer in the third. The Dodgers tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by Game 5 hero Steve Yeager
.
In the bottom of the fourth, Yankee manager Bob Lemon
made possibly his most controversial decision of the series. Graig Nettles
led off the inning with a double. After Hooton retired the next two batters, he intentionally walked Larry Milbourne
to face John (there was no designated hitter
in this series). At that moment, Lemon decided to pinch-hit Bobby Murcer
out of desperation for offense. As ABC cameras clearly showed, John could not believe the move and paced up and down the Yankee dugout in disbelief. Murcer flied out to end the inning. In his autobiography, "T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball" (1991), John revealed that before the game, Lemon and team owner George Steinbrenner
settled on the following strategy: get the lead early in the game and then protect the lead with the bullpen. John observed that such preconceived strategies, are impractical in baseball because of the sport's many unpredictable variables that come into play during a game.
In the fifth, George Frazier, who relieved John, gave up an RBI single to Ron Cey
and a two-run triple to Pedro Guerrero. Frazier would take the loss and become the second pitcher to lose three games in a World Series (the first being Lefty Williams
, a member of the Chicago White Sox
team that threw
the 1919 World Series
).
The Yankee bullpen further collapsed in the sixth. Ron Davis issued one-out walks to pitcher Hooton and Davey Lopes
. Bill Russell
singled home Hooton, then Lopes and Russell pulled a double steal. Davis walked Steve Garvey
intentionally, and then gave up an RBI force-out to pinch-hitter Derrel Thomas
. After Dusty Baker
reached on an error by Nettles, loading the bases again, Guerrero singled in two more runs. Guerrero would cap a five-RBI night, and the Dodgers' World Series win, by blasting a solo home run in the eighth.
On Russell's RBI single in the sixth, Dave Winfield
stumbled as he was fielding the ball and preparing to throw home for a possible play at the plate. His throw bounced on the outfield grass and rolled home as Burt Hooton
scored easily. This miscue typified Winfield's struggles in this, his first World Series. At the plate, he went 1-for-22 with one RBI, hardly what the Yankees expected when they signed him before the season. After the series Steinbrenner issued a public apology to the City of New York for his team's performance, while at the same time assuring the fans that plans to put the team together for 1982 would begin immediately. The Yankee owner was criticized heartily by players and press alike for doing so, as most people felt losing in the World Series was not something that needed to be apologized for.
For the first time ever, there were co-MVP's in this World Series. Cey (.350 avg., 7-for-20, HR, 6 RBIs), Yeager (4-for-14, 2 HR's), and Guerrero (.333 avg, 7-for-21, 2 HR's, 7 RBIs) would share the award.
(N.L.) over New York Yankees
(A.L.)
Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Dusty Baker 6 24 3 4 0 0 0 1 1 6 .167 .192 .167 0 | 400 128 9 .320 .808 10
Bobby Castillo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 9 4 0 .444 1.111 0
Ron Cey 6 20 3 7 0 0 1 6 3 3 .350 .458 .500 0 | 312 90 13 .288 .846 0
*Terry Forster 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 2 0 0 .000 .000 0
Steve Garvey 6 24 3 10 1 0 0 0 2 5 .417 .462 .458 0 | 431 122 10 .283 .732 3
Dave Goltz 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 17 1 0 .059 .217 0
Pedro Guerrero 6 21 2 7 1 1 2 7 2 6 .333 .417 .762 0 | 347 104 12 .300 .829 5
Burt Hooton 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 .200 .000 0 | 42 8 0 .190 .523 0
*Steve Howe 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 0 | 1 0 0 .000 .500 0
*Jay Johnstone 3 3 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 .667 .667 1.66 0 | 83 17 3 .205 .616 0
*Ken Landreaux 5 6 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 .167 .167 .333 1 | 390 98 7 .251 .664 18
Davey Lopes 6 22 6 5 1 0 0 2 4 3 .227 .346 .273 4 | 214 44 5 .206 .574 20
*Rick Monday 5 13 1 3 1 0 0 0 3 6 .231 .375 .308 0 | 130 41 11 .315 1.031 1
Tom Niedenfuer 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Jerry Reuss 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 .250 .000 0 | 51 10 0 .196 .392 0
Bill Russell 6 25 1 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 .240 .240 .240 1 | 262 61 0 .233 .567 2
Steve Sax 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 119 33 2 .277 .662 5
*Mike Scioscia
3 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 .400 .250 0 | 290 80 2 .276 .685 0
#Reggie Smith 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 0 | 35 7 1 .200 .632 0
Dave Stewart 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 5 2 0 .400 1.300 0
#Derrel Thomas 5 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 .000 .125 .000 0 | 218 54 4 .248 .644 7
*Fernando Valenzuela 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 .250 .000 0 | 64 16 0 .250 .543 0
Bob Welch 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 45 10 0 .222 .506 0
Steve Yeager 6 14 2 4 1 0 2 4 0 2 .286 .267 .786 0 | 86 18 3 .209 .598 0
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Total 6 198 27 51 6 1 6 26 20 44 .258 .329 .389 6 | 82 .262 .696 73
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
#Bobby Brown 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 62 14 0 .226 .521 4
Rick Cerone 6 21 2 4 1 0 1 3 4 2 .190 .320 .381 0 | 234 57 2 .244 .618 0
Ron Davis 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Barry Foote 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 |+147 26 6 .177 .559 0
George Frazier 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Oscar Gamble 3 6 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .333 .429 .333 0 | 189 45 10 .238 .796 0
Rich Gossage 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Ron Guidry 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Reggie Jackson 3 12 3 4 1 0 1 1 2 3 .333 .429 .667 0 | 334 79 15 .237 .758 0
Tommy John 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Dave LaRoche 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Rudy May 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
#Larry Milbourne 6 20 2 5 2 0 0 3 4 0 .250 .375 .350 0 | 163 51 1 .313 .749 2
#Jerry Mumphrey 5 15 2 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .200 .333 .200 1 | 319 98 6 .307 .783 14
*Bobby Murcer 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 117 31 6 .265 .801 0
*Graig Nettles 3 10 1 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 .400 .455 .500 0 | 349 85 15 .244 .731 0
Lou Piniella 6 16 2 7 1 0 0 3 0 1 .438 .438 .500 1 | 159 44 5 .277 .759 0
Willie Randolph 6 18 5 4 1 1 2 3 9 0 .222 .464 .722 1 | 357 83 2 .232 .641 14
Rick Reuschel 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 |+ 25 2 0 .080 .195 0
*Dave Righetti 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
Andre Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 19 5 0 .263 .579 1
Aurelio Rodriguez 4 12 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .417 .462 .417 0 | 52 18 2 .346 .870 0
Bob Watson 6 22 2 7 1 0 2 7 3 0 .318 .385 .636 0 | 156 33 6 .212 .701 0
Dave Winfield 6 22 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 4 .045 .222 .045 1 | 388 114 13 .294 .824 11
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Total 6 193 22 46 8 1 6 22 33 24 .238 .346 .383 4 | 100 .252 .718 47
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
*Jerry Reuss 2 3.86 1-1 0 1 11.7 10 5 3 8 | 10-4 153 2.30 1.08 51
Burt Hooton 2 1.59 1-1 0 0 11.3 8 2 9 3 | 11-6 142 2.28 1.10 74
*Fernando Valenzuela 1 4.00 1-0 0 1 9.0 9 4 7 6 | 13-7 192 2.48 1.05 180
*Steve Howe 3 3.86 1-0 1 0 7.0 7 3 1 4 | 5-3 54 2.50 1.28 32 8
Tom Niedenfuer 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 5.0 3 0 1 0 | 3-1 26 3.81 1.19 12 2
Dave Goltz 2 5.40 0-0 0 0 3.3 4 2 1 2 | 2-7 77 4.09 1.40 48 1
*Terry Forster 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 2.0 1 0 3 0 | 0-1 31 4.11 1.70 17
Dave Stewart 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.7 1 0 2 1 | 4-3 43 2.49 1.25 29 6
Bobby Castillo 1 9.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 1 5 0 | 2-4 51 5.33 1.46 35 5
Bob Welch 1 inf 0-0 0 0 0.0 3 2 1 0 | 9-5 141 3.44 1.29 88
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.29 4-2 1 2 52.0 46 19 33 24 | 3.01 1.210
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
*Ron Guidry 2 1.93 1-1 0 0 14.0 8 3 4 15 | 11-5 127 2.76 0.99 104
*Tommy John 3 0.69 1-0 0 0 13.0 11 1 0 8 | 9-8 140 2.63 1.24 50
*Rudy May 3 2.84 0-0 0 0 6.3 5 2 1 5 | 6-11 148 4.14 1.21 79 1
Goose Gossage 3 0.00 0-0 2 0 5.0 2 0 2 5 | 3-2 47 0.77 0.77 48 20
Rick Reuschel 2 4.91 0-0 0 0 3.7 7 2 3 2 |+ 8-11 156 3.11 1.25 75
George Frazier 3 17.18 0-3 0 0 3.7 9 7 3 2 | 0-1 28 1.63 1.34 17 3
Ron Davis 4 23.14 0-0 0 0 2.3 4 6 5 4 | 4-5 73 2.71 0.99 83 6
*Dave Righetti 1 13.50 0-0 0 0 2.0 5 3 2 1 | 8-4 105 2.05 1.07 89
*Dave LaRoche 1 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 2 | 4-1 47 2.49 1.15 24
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 4.24 2-4 2 0 51.0 51 24 20 44 | 2.90 1.180
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Yankees pitcher George Frazier tied a World Series record for losing three of the six games in 1981. The only other pitcher to lose that many was the Chicago White Sox
's Lefty Williams
, who intentionally lost his three starts in the infamous 1919 World Series
.
, Howard Cosell
, in a context clearly referring to the Yankees, used the term "our pitchers." He was later criticized for such a partial statement and denied having made it. Cosell grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
This was also the first World Series in which the teams' local flagship radio stations provided their own coverage of the Series in addition to CBS Radio
's national coverage; coincidentally, both the Dodgers' then-flagship KABC
and the Yankees' then-flagship WABC
were co-owned with the ABC
television network, which also aired this World Series. Also coincidentally, CBS Radio's play-by-play announcer for the Series, Vin Scully
, was the Dodgers' primary local announcer during the regular season.
when one character asked a supposedly all-knowing tree, "Who won the 1981 World Series," to which the tree replied, "The Graywood Elves. However, if you are referring to the World Series in your world, it was the Dodgers over the Yankees, four games to two."
After the series, Johnstone, Yeager, Reuss, and Rick Monday
of the Dodgers recorded a cover version of Queen
's "We Are the Champions
". The quartet performed the song on an episode of Solid Gold
, the syndicated TV-show.
1981 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1981 season was the 79th season for the Yankees. In the ALCS, the Yankees swept the Oakland Athletics for their only pennant of the 1980s. However, they lost in the World Series in 6 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York was managed by Gene Michael and Bob Lemon...
against the Los Angeles Dodgers
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 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...
, marking their third meeting in the Series in five years as well as a record eleventh Series meeting overall and last Series meeting to date. The Dodgers won the Series in six games for their first title since 1965
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
, and their first victory over the Yankees since 1963
1963 World Series
The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers sweeping the Series in four games to capture their second title in five years, and their third in franchise history....
and third over them overall.
This is the last World Series that a team won after losing the first two games on the road. It's also the last World Series that a team lost after winning the first game at home.
Background
The Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
won the National League West
National League West
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 division and the other...
division (first half) over the Cincinnati Reds
1981 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1981 season consisted of the Reds finishing with an overall record of 66-42 the National League West, putting them in first place. However, due to a split-season format, caused by a mid-season players' strike, they failed to make the MLB Playoffs that year...
then defeated the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The 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...
, three games to two, in the National League Division Series
1981 National League Division Series
-Philadelphia Phillies vs. Montreal Expos:-Game 1, October 6:Astrodome in Houston, TexasFernando Valenzuela faced Nolan Ryan, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth. Tony Scott singled home Terry Puhl to score the game's first run, but Steve...
then defeated the Montreal Expos
1981 Montreal Expos season
The Montreal Expos made it to the postseason for the only time in franchise history. The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike.- Offseason :...
, three games to two, in the National League Championship Series
1981 National League Championship Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 13, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Dodgers took the first game of the series behind the strong pitching of starter Burt Hooton. For the first seven innings the game stayed close, with the only scoring coming in the second inning when the Dodgers got...
. The New York Yankees
1981 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees' 1981 season was the 79th season for the Yankees. In the ALCS, the Yankees swept the Oakland Athletics for their only pennant of the 1980s. However, they lost in the World Series in 6 games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York was managed by Gene Michael and Bob Lemon...
won the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
division over the Baltimore Orioles
1981 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 59 wins and 46 losses...
(first half) then defeated the Milwaukee Brewers
1981 Milwaukee Brewers season
The Milwaukee Brewers' 1981 season involved the Brewers' finishing 1st in American League East during the second half of the split schedule with an overall record of 62 wins and 47 losses. They proceeded to lose to the New York Yankees in the ALDS...
, three games to two, in the American League Division Series
1981 American League Division Series
-New York Yankees vs. Milwaukee Brewers:-Game 1, October 6:Royals Stadium in Kansas City, MissouriMike Norris faced Dennis Leonard 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...
, then defeated the Oakland Athletics
1981 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1981 season involved the A's finishing with the best overall record in the American League West with a record of 64 wins and 45 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players strike, and the league resorted to a split-season format with the...
, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series
1981 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 13, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkIn Billy Martin's return to Yankee Stadium , the Yankees drew first blood in front of their old skipper...
.
The strike
Baseball was marred this summer by a two month player's strike starting at 12:30 a.m. on June 12 finally resuming play on August 10. In total seven hundred and six games were scrapped, about 38% of the schedule. A make-shift playoffs were agreed upon by the owners pitting the first and second half winners leaving the team with the best overall record, the Cincinnati Reds1981 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1981 season consisted of the Reds finishing with an overall record of 66-42 the National League West, putting them in first place. However, due to a split-season format, caused by a mid-season players' strike, they failed to make the MLB Playoffs that year...
(66–42), out of the postseason.
The series is sometimes called "The World Series that Never Was." This refers to the fact that the team with the best overall record (as previously mentioned), the Cincinnati Reds did not make the playoffs due to a modified playoff schedule established by the Commissioner
Commissioner of Baseball
The Commissioner of Baseball is the chief executive of Major League Baseball and its associated minor leagues. Under the direction of the Commissioner, the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball hires and maintains the sport's umpiring crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts...
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kuhn
Bowie Kent Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, , to September 30,...
due to a midseason strike. In the NL East, the St. Louis Cardinals
1981 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals 1981 season was the team's 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 90th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 59-43 during the season and finished second in the National League East in the first and second halves of the season...
had the best overall record, but failed to make the playoffs after finishing second in each half.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
got to the Series with help from rookie phenom, Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
, whose wicked screwball
Screwball
A screwball , is a baseball pitch that is thrown so as to break in the opposite direction of a slider or curveball. Depending on the pitcher's arm angle, the ball may also have a sinking action....
won him his first eight games including five by shutout. The Mexican pitcher would pitch eight shutouts in all and win the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
. Joining Valenzuela in the rotation, with fine seasons of their own, were veterans Burt Hooton
Burt Hooton
Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
(11–6, 2.28) and Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss -- 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 to ....
(10–4, 2.30). The core of the position players remained intact with perennial all-star Steve Garvey
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...
at first, Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
at second, Bill Russell
Bill Russell (baseball)
William Ellis Russell is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Russell played his entire 18-year, 2,181-game career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the starting shortstop for four National League pennant winners and one World Series champion...
at shortstop, and team leader in home runs with thirteen, Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
at third. Budding star, Pedro Guerrero, would move to the outfield becoming a regular starter for the first time in his career, in place of the aging and often injured Reggie Smith
Reggie Smith
Carl Reginald Smith is a former Major League Baseball outfielder, coach and front office executive. During a 17-year big league career , Smith appeared in 1,987 games, hit 314 home runs and batted .287. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. In his prime, he had one of the strongest...
.
Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
was looking for his first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
win in his fifth full season with the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
after losing to the 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...
in and .
New York Yankees
Bob LemonBob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
's 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...
had a losing second-half (25–26) but managed to win the first-half (34–22) to qualify for the playoffs. Dependable 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...
won eleven games (against five losses) with Dave Righetti
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...
coming into his own as a starter winning eight games with a 2.05 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. Righetti
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...
would later move to the bullpen saving over 200 games from to . 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...
was unhittable saving twenty games with an incredible 0.77 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
striking out 48 in 47 innings.
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...
was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the off-season joining superstar
Superstar
A superstar is a widely acclaimed celebrity.Superstar or superstars may also refer to:-People:* Warhol Superstar, associates of Andy Warhol* WWE Superstar, the term used to refer to entertainers from the WWE...
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...
in the outfield and would lead the club with 25 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 68 RBIs. Winfield's huge contract, $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
21 million over ten years, along with a strong lineup and terrific left-handed starting pitching, was not enough to deny the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
their first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Championship since 1965
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
.
Summary
†: postponed from October 27 due to rainGame 1
Tuesday, October 20, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkBob Watson smashed a three-run homer off Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss -- 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 to ....
in the first to get the Yankees started. 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...
chased Reuss with an RBI single in the third, and Dodger reliever Bobby Castillo
Bobby Castillo
Robert Ernie Castillo Jr. is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins between and . He was in the bullpen for the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series, pitching one inning against the New York Yankees. He also pitched one season in Japan for...
walked four batters in the fourth to give New York a 5–0 lead. 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...
held the Dodgers to four hits and a run (on a Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
homer) through seven innings. Ron Davis gave up two in the eighth, but 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...
closed out the win in the ninth. Yankee third baseman 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...
broke his thumb when he made a diving stop. The injury caused him to miss Games 3, 4, and 5, but he played in Game 6.
Game 2
Wednesday, October 21, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkFormer pitching mates Burt Hooton
Burt Hooton
Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
and 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...
locked in a scoreless duel until the fifth, when Larry Milbourne
Larry Milbourne
Lawrence William "Larry" Milbourne is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , the Seattle Mariners , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins , the Cleveland Indians , and...
doubled in Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
for the only run John would really need. The Yankees pushed across two more in the eighth off Steve Howe on a RBI single by Bob Watson and a sacrifice fly by Randolph. John pitched seven shutout innings, and 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...
closed for his second save in two games.
Game 3
Friday, October 23, 1981 at Dodger StadiumDodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Prior to this game, Yankee manager Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
made a questionable move by not playing 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...
. Jackson injured himself running the bases in Game 2 of the ALCS and missed the first two games of the World Series, but was medically cleared to play Game 3. Jackson was not even allowed to pinch-hit. Some have said Lemon was acting under George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
's orders.
NL Rookie of the Year Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
pitched a gutty game, going the distance despite allowing nine hits and walking seven and constantly pitching out of trouble. He walked two Yankee batters in the first, but pitched out of it. Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
, meanwhile, provided him a 3–0 lead in the Dodger half with a three-run homer off Dave Righetti
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...
.
The Yankees cut it to 3–2 in the second on a Bob Watson homer and a Larry Milbourne
Larry Milbourne
Lawrence William "Larry" Milbourne is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , the Seattle Mariners , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins , the Cleveland Indians , and...
RBI single. Valenzuela stranded two runners in this inning. 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...
gave the Yanks a 4–3 lead in the third with a two-run homer, but the Yankees left two on once again. Watson led off the fifth with a double, but no one scored as Valenzuela pitched out of it again. In both the third and fifth innings, the Dodgers were helped by the Yankees' being unable to use a designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
(since it was used in last season's Series). In both innings, Valenzuela issued two-out intentional walks to Larry Milbourne
Larry Milbourne
Lawrence William "Larry" Milbourne is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , the Seattle Mariners , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins , the Cleveland Indians , and...
in order to pitch to Dave Righetti
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...
and George Frazier. Valenzuela struck out the pitchers both times.
The Dodgers gave Valenzuela the lead back in the bottom of the fifth when Pedro Guerrero doubled in Steve Garvey
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...
to tie it, and Cey scored on a double play grounder by Mike Scioscia
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
. Now, with a lead and the Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
crowd behind him, Valenzuela appeared to finally settle down.
The Yankees mounted their final threat in the eighth when Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez
Aurelio Rodríguez Ituarte, Jr. , was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles...
and Milbourne led off with back-to-back singles. Pinch-hitter Bobby Murcer
Bobby Murcer
Bobby Ray Murcer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster...
attempted a sacrifice bunt (another questionable decision by Lemon), but popped it foul. Cey dove and caught it and doubled Milbourne off first.
mlb.com coverage of Game 3
Game 4
Saturday, October 24, 1981 at Dodger StadiumDodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
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...
did indeed start this game and looked determined to show George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
and anyone else that he was OK to play. The Yankees jumped all over Bob Welch, as he faced four batters without recording an out before being relieved by Dave Goltz
Dave Goltz
David Allan "Dave" Goltz , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1972-1983....
. Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
led the game off with a triple and scored on a Larry Milbourne
Larry Milbourne
Lawrence William "Larry" Milbourne is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , the Seattle Mariners , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins , the Cleveland Indians , and...
double. 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...
walked and Jackson singled before Goltz gave up a sacrifice fly to Bob Watson. Randolph smashed a two-out solo homer in the second and 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...
batted in a run with a single in the third for a 4–0 Yankee lead.
But, Yankee starter 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...
had problems of his own. He allowed an RBI single to Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
and an RBI groundout to Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
in the third before leaving in favor of Rudy May
Rudy May
Rudolph May, Jr. is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from to for the California Angels, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos...
. May gave up a double to Steve Garvey
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...
and an RBI single to Cey in the fifth, but the Yankees countered with two in the sixth on RBI singles by 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...
and Watson off Tom Niedenfuer
Tom Niedenfuer
Thomas Edward Niedenfuer , is a retired American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He attended high school in Redmond, Washington and was a standout pitcher in college for Washington State University under coach Bobo Brayton. He left school before completing his senior season. He is a...
.
With a 6–3 lead, the Yankees turned the pitching over to their seemingly unbeatable relief combination of Ron Davis and 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...
. But, Davis had his troubles in the sixth. He issued a one-out walk to Mike Scioscia
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
and gave up a two-out pinch-hit homer to Jay Johnstone
Jay Johnstone
John William Johnstone Jr. is an American former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs...
to make the score 6–5. Then, Lopes lifted a fly ball to right that Jackson lost in the sun and dropped. Lopes reached second and stole third when Davis, flustered at not being out of the inning, pitched from a windup. Davis then gave up a game-tying single to Bill Russell
Bill Russell (baseball)
William Ellis Russell is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Russell played his entire 18-year, 2,181-game career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the starting shortstop for four National League pennant winners and one World Series champion...
.
In the seventh, the Dodgers got two off George Frazier on a sacrifice fly by Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
and an RBI single by Lopes. Jackson homered in the eighth off Steve Howe, capping a 3-for-3 day, but Howe was able to close out the win. The series was now tied 2–2.
According to Johnstone's book Temporary Insanity (1985), Steinbrenner confronted Davis in the Yankees' locker room after the game and demanded, "Why did you throw a Johnstone a fastball?"
Game 5
Sunday, October 25, 1981 at Dodger StadiumDodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Desperately needing a win to stop the Dodgers' momentum in this series, the Yankees trotted out their ace, 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...
. Guidry was as sharp as ever through six innings, holding the Dodgers to two singles. 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...
, continuing his torrid hitting, helped provide Guidry a lead by doubling to left in the second off Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss
Jerry Reuss -- 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 to ....
, moving to third on a Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
error, and scoring on an 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...
groundout. That appeared to be all Guidry would need.
But, in the seventh, after fanning Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Guidry surrendered back-to-back solo homers to Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
. Both homers were hit almost to the same place in left-center. Meanwhile, Reuss was just as effective as Guidry, holding the Yanks to five hits and the lone run and going the distance.
A scary moment occurred in the eighth when 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...
beaned Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
. Cey had to be carried off the field with a concussion, but was cleared to play Game 6.
Game 6
Wednesday, October 28, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe Yankees traveled back to the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
desperate for a win. 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...
would be on the mound opposing Burt Hooton
Burt Hooton
Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
. Willie Randolph
Willie Randolph
Willie Larry Randolph is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and manager, most recently the third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles...
provided John an early lead with a solo homer in the third. The Dodgers tied it in the fourth on an RBI single by Game 5 hero Steve Yeager
Steve Yeager
Stephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
.
In the bottom of the fourth, Yankee manager Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
made possibly his most controversial decision of the series. 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...
led off the inning with a double. After Hooton retired the next two batters, he intentionally walked Larry Milbourne
Larry Milbourne
Lawrence William "Larry" Milbourne is a retired professional baseball player whose career spanned 15 seasons, 11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , the Seattle Mariners , the New York Yankees , the Minnesota Twins , the Cleveland Indians , and...
to face John (there was no designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
in this series). At that moment, Lemon decided to pinch-hit Bobby Murcer
Bobby Murcer
Bobby Ray Murcer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster...
out of desperation for offense. As ABC cameras clearly showed, John could not believe the move and paced up and down the Yankee dugout in disbelief. Murcer flied out to end the inning. In his autobiography, "T.J.: My 26 Years in Baseball" (1991), John revealed that before the game, Lemon and team owner George Steinbrenner
George Steinbrenner
George Michael Steinbrenner III was an American businessman who was the principal owner and managing partner of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. During Steinbrenner's 37-year ownership from 1973 to his death in July 2010, the longest in club history, the Yankees earned seven World Series...
settled on the following strategy: get the lead early in the game and then protect the lead with the bullpen. John observed that such preconceived strategies, are impractical in baseball because of the sport's many unpredictable variables that come into play during a game.
In the fifth, George Frazier, who relieved John, gave up an RBI single to Ron Cey
Ron Cey
Ronald Charles Cey |Washington]]) is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
and a two-run triple to Pedro Guerrero. Frazier would take the loss and become the second pitcher to lose three games in a World Series (the first being Lefty Williams
Lefty Williams
Claude Preston "Lefty" Williams was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is probably best known for his involvement in the 1919 World Series fix, known as the Black Sox scandal.-Career:...
, a member of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
team that threw
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
the 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
).
The Yankee bullpen further collapsed in the sixth. Ron Davis issued one-out walks to pitcher Hooton and Davey Lopes
Davey Lopes
David Earle Lopes is a former second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He batted and threw right-handed. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.He is of Cape Verdean descent.-Playing:...
. Bill Russell
Bill Russell (baseball)
William Ellis Russell is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Russell played his entire 18-year, 2,181-game career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the starting shortstop for four National League pennant winners and one World Series champion...
singled home Hooton, then Lopes and Russell pulled a double steal. Davis walked Steve Garvey
Steve Garvey
Steven Patrick Garvey , nicknamed "Mr. Clean" because of the squeaky clean image he held throughout his career in baseball, is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current Southern California businessman...
intentionally, and then gave up an RBI force-out to pinch-hitter Derrel Thomas
Derrel Thomas
Derrel Osborn Thomas is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a second baseman, center fielder, and shortstop from 1971-85...
. After Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
reached on an error by Nettles, loading the bases again, Guerrero singled in two more runs. Guerrero would cap a five-RBI night, and the Dodgers' World Series win, by blasting a solo home run in the eighth.
On Russell's RBI single in the sixth, 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...
stumbled as he was fielding the ball and preparing to throw home for a possible play at the plate. His throw bounced on the outfield grass and rolled home as Burt Hooton
Burt Hooton
Burt Carlton Hooton , nicknamed "Happy" , is a coach and former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball...
scored easily. This miscue typified Winfield's struggles in this, his first World Series. At the plate, he went 1-for-22 with one RBI, hardly what the Yankees expected when they signed him before the season. After the series Steinbrenner issued a public apology to the City of New York for his team's performance, while at the same time assuring the fans that plans to put the team together for 1982 would begin immediately. The Yankee owner was criticized heartily by players and press alike for doing so, as most people felt losing in the World Series was not something that needed to be apologized for.
For the first time ever, there were co-MVP's in this World Series. Cey (.350 avg., 7-for-20, HR, 6 RBIs), Yeager (4-for-14, 2 HR's), and Guerrero (.333 avg, 7-for-21, 2 HR's, 7 RBIs) would share the award.
Composite box
1981 World Series (4–2): Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(N.L.) over 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...
(A.L.)
Los Angeles Dodgers
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Dusty Baker 6 24 3 4 0 0 0 1 1 6 .167 .192 .167 0 | 400 128 9 .320 .808 10
Bobby Castillo 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 9 4 0 .444 1.111 0
Ron Cey 6 20 3 7 0 0 1 6 3 3 .350 .458 .500 0 | 312 90 13 .288 .846 0
*Terry Forster 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 2 0 0 .000 .000 0
Steve Garvey 6 24 3 10 1 0 0 0 2 5 .417 .462 .458 0 | 431 122 10 .283 .732 3
Dave Goltz 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 17 1 0 .059 .217 0
Pedro Guerrero 6 21 2 7 1 1 2 7 2 6 .333 .417 .762 0 | 347 104 12 .300 .829 5
Burt Hooton 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 .000 .200 .000 0 | 42 8 0 .190 .523 0
*Steve Howe 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 0 | 1 0 0 .000 .500 0
*Jay Johnstone 3 3 1 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 .667 .667 1.66 0 | 83 17 3 .205 .616 0
*Ken Landreaux 5 6 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 .167 .167 .333 1 | 390 98 7 .251 .664 18
Davey Lopes 6 22 6 5 1 0 0 2 4 3 .227 .346 .273 4 | 214 44 5 .206 .574 20
*Rick Monday 5 13 1 3 1 0 0 0 3 6 .231 .375 .308 0 | 130 41 11 .315 1.031 1
Tom Niedenfuer 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Jerry Reuss 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 .000 .250 .000 0 | 51 10 0 .196 .392 0
Bill Russell 6 25 1 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 .240 .240 .240 1 | 262 61 0 .233 .567 2
Steve Sax 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 119 33 2 .277 .662 5
*Mike Scioscia
Mike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
3 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .250 .400 .250 0 | 290 80 2 .276 .685 0
#Reggie Smith 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 0 | 35 7 1 .200 .632 0
Dave Stewart 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 5 2 0 .400 1.300 0
#Derrel Thomas 5 7 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 .000 .125 .000 0 | 218 54 4 .248 .644 7
*Fernando Valenzuela 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000 .250 .000 0 | 64 16 0 .250 .543 0
Bob Welch 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 45 10 0 .222 .506 0
Steve Yeager 6 14 2 4 1 0 2 4 0 2 .286 .267 .786 0 | 86 18 3 .209 .598 0
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Total 6 198 27 51 6 1 6 26 20 44 .258 .329 .389 6 | 82 .262 .696 73
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
New York Yankees
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
#Bobby Brown 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 62 14 0 .226 .521 4
Rick Cerone 6 21 2 4 1 0 1 3 4 2 .190 .320 .381 0 | 234 57 2 .244 .618 0
Ron Davis 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
Barry Foote 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 |+147 26 6 .177 .559 0
George Frazier 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Oscar Gamble 3 6 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .333 .429 .333 0 | 189 45 10 .238 .796 0
Rich Gossage 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Ron Guidry 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Reggie Jackson 3 12 3 4 1 0 1 1 2 3 .333 .429 .667 0 | 334 79 15 .237 .758 0
Tommy John 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Dave LaRoche 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0
*Rudy May 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
#Larry Milbourne 6 20 2 5 2 0 0 3 4 0 .250 .375 .350 0 | 163 51 1 .313 .749 2
#Jerry Mumphrey 5 15 2 3 0 0 0 0 3 2 .200 .333 .200 1 | 319 98 6 .307 .783 14
*Bobby Murcer 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 117 31 6 .265 .801 0
*Graig Nettles 3 10 1 4 1 0 0 0 1 1 .400 .455 .500 0 | 349 85 15 .244 .731 0
Lou Piniella 6 16 2 7 1 0 0 3 0 1 .438 .438 .500 1 | 159 44 5 .277 .759 0
Willie Randolph 6 18 5 4 1 1 2 3 9 0 .222 .464 .722 1 | 357 83 2 .232 .641 14
Rick Reuschel 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 |+ 25 2 0 .080 .195 0
*Dave Righetti 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0
Andre Robertson 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 19 5 0 .263 .579 1
Aurelio Rodriguez 4 12 1 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .417 .462 .417 0 | 52 18 2 .346 .870 0
Bob Watson 6 22 2 7 1 0 2 7 3 0 .318 .385 .636 0 | 156 33 6 .212 .701 0
Dave Winfield 6 22 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 4 .045 .222 .045 1 | 388 114 13 .294 .824 11
+-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+---+--+-----+-----+---+
Total 6 193 22 46 8 1 6 22 33 24 .238 .346 .383 4 | 100 .252 .718 47
* - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Los Angeles Dodgers
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
*Jerry Reuss 2 3.86 1-1 0 1 11.7 10 5 3 8 | 10-4 153 2.30 1.08 51
Burt Hooton 2 1.59 1-1 0 0 11.3 8 2 9 3 | 11-6 142 2.28 1.10 74
*Fernando Valenzuela 1 4.00 1-0 0 1 9.0 9 4 7 6 | 13-7 192 2.48 1.05 180
*Steve Howe 3 3.86 1-0 1 0 7.0 7 3 1 4 | 5-3 54 2.50 1.28 32 8
Tom Niedenfuer 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 5.0 3 0 1 0 | 3-1 26 3.81 1.19 12 2
Dave Goltz 2 5.40 0-0 0 0 3.3 4 2 1 2 | 2-7 77 4.09 1.40 48 1
*Terry Forster 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 2.0 1 0 3 0 | 0-1 31 4.11 1.70 17
Dave Stewart 2 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.7 1 0 2 1 | 4-3 43 2.49 1.25 29 6
Bobby Castillo 1 9.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 1 5 0 | 2-4 51 5.33 1.46 35 5
Bob Welch 1 inf 0-0 0 0 0.0 3 2 1 0 | 9-5 141 3.44 1.29 88
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 3.29 4-2 1 2 52.0 46 19 33 24 | 3.01 1.210
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
New York Yankees
SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASONPlayer G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
*Ron Guidry 2 1.93 1-1 0 0 14.0 8 3 4 15 | 11-5 127 2.76 0.99 104
*Tommy John 3 0.69 1-0 0 0 13.0 11 1 0 8 | 9-8 140 2.63 1.24 50
*Rudy May 3 2.84 0-0 0 0 6.3 5 2 1 5 | 6-11 148 4.14 1.21 79 1
Goose Gossage 3 0.00 0-0 2 0 5.0 2 0 2 5 | 3-2 47 0.77 0.77 48 20
Rick Reuschel 2 4.91 0-0 0 0 3.7 7 2 3 2 |+ 8-11 156 3.11 1.25 75
George Frazier 3 17.18 0-3 0 0 3.7 9 7 3 2 | 0-1 28 1.63 1.34 17 3
Ron Davis 4 23.14 0-0 0 0 2.3 4 6 5 4 | 4-5 73 2.71 0.99 83 6
*Dave Righetti 1 13.50 0-0 0 0 2.0 5 3 2 1 | 8-4 105 2.05 1.07 89
*Dave LaRoche 1 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 2 | 4-1 47 2.49 1.15 24
+-------------------+-+------+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+---+-----+-----+---+--+
Total 4.24 2-4 2 0 51.0 51 24 20 44 | 2.90 1.180
* - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed
A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year.
Yankees pitcher George Frazier tied a World Series record for losing three of the six games in 1981. The only other pitcher to lose that many was the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
's Lefty Williams
Lefty Williams
Claude Preston "Lefty" Williams was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is probably best known for his involvement in the 1919 World Series fix, known as the Black Sox scandal.-Career:...
, who intentionally lost his three starts in the infamous 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
.
Broadcasting
As one of the television commentators during a game played in Yankee StadiumYankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, Howard Cosell
Howard Cosell
Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
, in a context clearly referring to the Yankees, used the term "our pitchers." He was later criticized for such a partial statement and denied having made it. Cosell grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
This was also the first World Series in which the teams' local flagship radio stations provided their own coverage of the Series in addition to CBS Radio
CBS Radio
CBS Radio, Inc., formerly known as Infinity Broadcasting Corporation, is one of the largest owners and operators of radio stations in the United States, third behind main rival Clear Channel Communications and Cumulus Media. CBS Radio owns around 130 radio stations across the country...
's national coverage; coincidentally, both the Dodgers' then-flagship KABC
KABC (AM)
KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
and the Yankees' then-flagship WABC
WABC (AM)
WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
were co-owned with the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network, which also aired this World Series. Also coincidentally, CBS Radio's play-by-play announcer for the Series, Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
, was the Dodgers' primary local announcer during the regular season.
In popular culture
Referenced in Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons (TV series)
Dungeons & Dragons is an American fantasy animated television series based on TSR's Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. A co-production of Marvel Productions and TSR, the show originally ran from 1985 through 1987 for three seasons on CBS for a total of twenty seven episodes.The show focused on a...
when one character asked a supposedly all-knowing tree, "Who won the 1981 World Series," to which the tree replied, "The Graywood Elves. However, if you are referring to the World Series in your world, it was the Dodgers over the Yankees, four games to two."
After the series, Johnstone, Yeager, Reuss, and Rick Monday
Rick Monday
Robert James "Rick" Monday, Jr. is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a center fielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics , Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers...
of the Dodgers recorded a cover version of Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
's "We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
"We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems...
". The quartet performed the song on an episode of Solid Gold
Solid Gold (TV series)
Solid Gold is an American syndicated music television series that debuted on September 13, 1980. Like many other shows of its genre, such as American Bandstand, Solid Gold featured musical performances and various other elements such as music videos...
, the syndicated TV-show.