1981 Detroit Tigers season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Detroit Tigers
season = 1981
misc =

current league = American League
y1 = 1901
division = East Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform
ballpark = Tiger Stadium
y4 = 1912
city = Detroit, Michigan
y5 = 1901
owners = John Fetzer
managers = Sparky Anderson
television = WDIV-TV
(George Kell, Al Kaline)
ON-TV
(Norm Cash, Larry Adderley)
radio = WJR
(Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey)|

The 1981 Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 31-26 (.544) in the first half of the season, and in third place with a record of 29-23 (.558) in the second half, for an overall record of 60-49. They outscored their opponents 427 to 404. The Tigers drew 1,149,144 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1981, ranking 5th of the 14 teams in the American League.

Offseason

*December 12, 1980: Dave Stegman was traded by the Tigers to the San Diego Padres for Dennis Kinney. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kinnede01.shtml Dennis Kinney page at Baseball Reference] ]
*January 13, 1981: Mike Sharperson was drafted by the Tigers in the 4th round of the 1981 amateur draft, but did not sign. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sharpmi01.shtml Mike Sharperson page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular Season

Transactions

*April 3, 1981: Chris Codiroli was released by the Detroit Tigers. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/codirch01.shtml]

Roster

Regular season player stats

Batting

"Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In"

Players ranking among top 100 all time at position

The following members of the 1981 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract:
* Lance Parrish: 19th best catcher of all time
* Lou Whitaker: 13th best second baseman of all time
* Alan Trammell: 9th best shortstop of all time
* Kirk Gibson: 36th best left fielder of all time

Award winners and league leaders

Kirk Gibson
* Tiger of the Year Award, from Detroit baseball writers
* #3 in AL in batting average (.328)
* #4 in AL in Power/Speed Number (11.8)

Steve Kemp
* #4 in AL in on base percentage (.389)
* #3 in AL in bases on balls (70)
* #3 in AL in times on base (174)

Jack Morris
* MLB leader in wins (14) (tied with four others)
* MLB leader in bases on balls allowed (78)
* AL All Star Team, pitcher (starter)
* #2 in MLB in innings pitched (198)
* #2 in MLB in games started (25)
* #3 in AL in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (6.95)
* #3 in MLB in complete games (15)
* #3 in MLB in batters faced (798)
* #6 in AL in home runs allowed (14)
* #9 in AL in earned runs allowed (67)

Lance Parrish
* #3 in AL in times grounded into double plays (16)

Kevin Saucier
* #5 in AL in saves (13)

Alan Trammell
* AL Gold Glove Award at shortstop
* AL leader in sacrifice hits (16)

Lou Whitaker
* AL leader in games played (109)
* AL leader in games at second base (108)
* AL leader in innings at second base (918-1/3)
* AL leader in assists by a second baseman (354)

Milt Wilcox
* #5 in AL in games started (24)
* #5 in AL in hit batsmen (6)

ee also

* 1981 in baseball

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1981.shtml 1981 Detroit Tigers Regular Season Statistics]