1981 World Series

Infobox World Series Expanded


year = 1981
champion = Los Angeles Dodgers (4)
champion_manager = Tommy Lasorda
champion_games = 36-21, .632, GA: ½ (1st Half)
27-26, .509, GB: 6 (2nd Half)
runnerup = New York Yankees (2)
runnerup_manager = Bob Lemon
runnerup_games = 34-22, .607, GA: 2 (1st Half)
25-26, .490, GB: 5 (2nd Half)
date = October 20 – October 27
MVP = Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager (Los Angeles)
television = ABC
announcers = Keith Jackson (Games 1, 2, 6) / Al Michaels (Game 3-5) , Howard Cosell, and Jim Palmer
radio_network =CBS
radio_announcers =Vin Scully and Sparky Anderson
umpires = Larry Barnett (AL), Doug Harvey (NL), Rich Garcia (AL), Nick Colosi (NL), Terry Cooney (AL), Dick Stello (NL)
HOFers = Dodgers: Tommy Lasorda (mgr.).
Yankees: Goose Gossage, Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield.
ALCS = New York Yankees over Oakland Athletics (3-0)
NLCS = Los Angeles Dodgers over Montreal Expos (3-2) The 1981 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking their third meeting in the Series in five years. The Dodgers won the Series in six games for their first title since 1965, and their first victory over the Yankees since 1963.

The Dodgers are the last team to win a World Series after losing the first two games on the road.

Background

The Los Angeles Dodgers 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 Divisional 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 Divisional Series, then defeated the Oakland Athletics, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series.

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 Reds (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, 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.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers got to the Series with help from rookie phenom, Fernando Valenzuela, whose wicked screwball won him his first 8 games including 5 by shutout. The Mexican would pitch 8 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.

Tommy Lasorda was looking for his first World Series win in his 5th full season with the Dodgers after losing to the New York Yankees in 1977 and 1978.

New York Yankees

Bob Lemon'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 11 games (against 5 losses) with Dave Righetti coming into his own as a starter winning 8 games with a 2.05 ERA. Righetti would later move to the bullpen saving over 400 games from by|1984 to by|1990. Goose Gossage was unhittable saving 20 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 10 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.

ummary

NL Los Angeles Dodgers (4) vs AL New York Yankees (2)

Matchups

Game 1

Tuesday, October 20, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New YorkLinescore
Road=Los Angeles|RoadAbr=LAD
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=2|R9=0|RR=3|RH=5|RE=0
Home=New York|HomeAbr=NYY
H1=3|H2=0|H3=1|H4=1|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=5|HH=6|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Ron Guidry (1-0)|LP=Jerry Reuss (0-1)|SV=Rich Gossage (1)
RoadHR=Steve Yeager (1)|HomeHR=Bob Watson (1)|

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 Rich Gossage closed out the win in the ninth.

Game 2

Wednesday, October 21, 1981 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New YorkLinescore
Road=Los Angeles|RoadAbr=LAD
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=0|RH=4|RE=2
Home=New York|HomeAbr=NYY
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=2|H9=X|HR=3|HH=6|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Tommy John (1-0)|LP=Burt Hooton (0-1)|SV=Rich Gossage (2)|

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 Rich Gossage closed for his second save in two games.

Game 3

Friday, October 23, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=New York|RoadAbr=NYY
R1=0|R2=2|R3=2|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=4|RH=9|RE=0
Home=Los Angeles|HomeAbr=LAD
H1=3|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=5|HH=11|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Fernando Valenzuela (1-0)|LP=George Frazier (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Bob Watson (2), Rick Cerone (1)|HomeHR=Ron Cey (1)|

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 Rodriguez 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.

Valenzuela's performance was seen as the turning point in this series.

[http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_81ws_gm3_nyyla mlb.com coverage of Game 3]

Game 4

Saturday, October 24, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=New York|RoadAbr=NYY
R1=2|R2=1|R3=1|R4=0|R5=0|R6=2|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|RR=7|RH=13|RE=1
Home=Los Angeles|HomeAbr=LAD
H1=0|H2=0|H3=2|H4=0|H5=1|H6=3|H7=2|H8=0|H9=X|HR=8|HH=14|HE=2
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Steve Howe (1-0)|LP=George Frazier (0-2)|SV=
RoadHR=Willie Randolph (1), Reggie Jackson (1)|HomeHR=Jay Johnstone (1)|

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 Rich 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.

Game 5

Sunday, October 25, 1981 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=New York|RoadAbr=NYY
R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=5|RE=0
Home=Los Angeles|HomeAbr=LAD
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=2|H8=0|H9=X|HR=2|HH=4|HE=3
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Jerry Reuss (1-1)|LP=Ron Guidry (1-1)|SV=
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Pedro Guerrero (1), Steve Yeager (2)|

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 Rich Gossage beaned Ron Cey. 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 New York, New YorkLinescore
Road=Los Angeles|RoadAbr=LAD
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=3|R6=4|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|RR=9|RH=13|RE=1
Home=New York|HomeAbr=NYY
H1=0|H2=0|H3=1|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=7|HE=2
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Burt Hooton (1-1)|LP=George Frazier (0-3)|SV=Steve Howe (1)
RoadHR=Pedro Guerrero (2)|HomeHR=Willie Randolph (2)|

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 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.

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 Dodgers (N.L.) over New York Yankees (A.L.)Linescore
Road=Los Angeles Dodgers
R1=3|R2=0|R3=2|R4=1|R5=7|R6=7|R7=4|R8=3|R9=0|RR=27|RH=51|RE=9
Home=New York Yankees
H1=5|H2=4|H3=5|H4=1|H5=1|H6=3|H7=0|H8=3|H9=0|HR=22|HH=46|HE=4Total Attendance: 338,081 Average Attendance: 56,347Winning Player’s Share: – $38,119 Losing Player’s Share – $28,845cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/ws/wsshares.shtml|title=World Series Gate Receipts and Player Shares|accessdate=2008-05-07|publisher=Baseball Almanac] |

eries batting stats

Los Angeles Dodgers

SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON 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.

New York Yankees

SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON 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.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who allegedly got into a fistfight with unknown assailants in a Los Angeles elevator during the 1981 World Series, was so frustrated with star outfielder Dave Winfield's performance (having just one hit in 22 at-bats) during the entire World Series, that he went on to dub Winfeld the dubious title of "Mr. May". Winfield would ultimately redeem himself as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, when he knocked in the World Series clinching run in Game 6 of the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

eries pitching stats

Los Angeles Dodgers

SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON 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.

New York Yankees

SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON 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 Rich 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.

Broadcasting

As one of the television commentators during a game played in Yankee Stadium, 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, by the way, grew up in Brooklyn, New York.

In popular culture

Referenced in "Dungeons & Dragons" 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."

eries quotes

Notes

References

*Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series. 1st ed. New York: St Martins, 1990. (Neft and Cohen 388-392)
*Reichler, Joseph, ed. (1982). "The Baseball Encyclopedia" (5th ed.), p. 2219. MacMillian Publishing. ISBN 0-02-579010-2.
*cite web |author=Forman, Sean L. |title=1981 World Series |date= |work=Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. |url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1981_WS.shtml |accessdate=2007-12-09

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1981_WS.shtml 1981 World Series at Baseball-Reference.com]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/history/postseason/mlb_ws_recaps.jsp?feature=1981 1981 World Series at "WorldSeries.com (MLB.com)"]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_81nlcs_gm5_lamon 1981 NLCS |Game 5 at MLB.com]
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/baseballs_best/mlb_bb_gamepage.jsp?story_page=bb_81nlwest_playoff_lahou 1981 NL West Playoff |Game 1 at MLB.com]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/ws/yr1981ws.shtml 1981 World Series at Baseball-Almanac.com]
* [http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/worldseries/1981.html History of the World Series - 1981 at SportingNews.com]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/features/1997/wsarchive/1981.html A Last Hurrah For Los Angeles at SI.com]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1981/YPS_1981.htm 1981 World Series box scores and play-by-play at Retrosheet.org]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1981dodgers.stm 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers at baseballlibrary.com]
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1981yankees.stm 1981 New York Yankees at baseballlibrary.com]