Champions Major League Baseball World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees (4–2); Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPs
NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half. The division winner of the first half (denoted East 1, West 1) played the division winner of the second half (denoted East 2, West 2). American League Championship Series MVP: Graig Nettles National League Championship Series MVP: Burt Hooton All-Star Game, August 9 at Cleveland Stadium: National League, 5–4; Gary Carter, MVP
Other champions Minor League Baseball AAA American Association: Denver Bears (Montreal Expos) International League: Columbus Clippers (New York Yankees) Pacific Coast League: Albuquerque Dukes (Los Angeles Dodgers) Mexican League: Diablos Rojos del México AA Eastern League: Bristol Red Sox (Boston Red Sox) Southern League: Orlando Twins (Minnesota Twins) Texas League: Jackson Mets (New York Mets) A California League: Lodi Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers) Carolina League: Hagerstown Suns (Baltimore Orioles) Florida State League: Daytona Beach Astros (Houston Astros) Midwest League: Wausau Timbers (Seattle Mariners) South Atlantic League: Greensboro Hornets (New York Yankees) New York–Penn League: Oneonta Yankees (New York Yankees) Northwest League: Medford Athletics (Oakland Athletics) Rookie Appalachian League: Paintsville Yankees (New York Yankees) Gulf Coast League: Royals Gold (Kansas City Royals) Pioneer League: Butte Copper Kings (Milwaukee Brewers) International Cuban National Series: Vegueros de Pinar del Río Japan Series: Yomiuri Giants over Nippon-Ham Fighters (4–2) Winter Leagues 1981 Caribbean Series: Leones del Escogido Dominican Republic League: Leones del Escogido Mexican Pacific League: Yaquis de Obregón Puerto Rican League: Criollos de Caguas Venezuelan League: Leones del Caracas College College World Series: Arizona State Youth Big League World Series: Taipei, Taiwan Junior League World Series: Boardman, Ohio Little League World Series: Tai-Ping, Taichung, Taiwan Senior League World Series: Georgetown, Delaware
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Rube Foster Bob Gibson Johnny Mize Most Valuable Player Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers, P (AL) Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B (NL) Cy Young Award Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers (AL) Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) Rookie of the Year Dave Righetti, New York Yankees, P (AL) Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers, P (NL) Gold Glove Award (P) Mike Norris, Oakland Athletics (AL); Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) (C) Jim Sundberg, Texas Rangers (AL); Gary Carter, Montreal Expos (NL) (1B) Mike Squires, Chicago White Sox (AL); Keith Hernandez, St. Louis Cardinals (NL) (2B) Frank White, Kansas City Royals (AL); Manny Trillo, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) (3B) Buddy Bell, Texas Rangers (AL); Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (NL) (SS) Alan Trammell, Detroit Tigers (AL); Ozzie Smith, San Diego Padres (NL) (OF) Dwight Evans, Boston Red Sox (AL); Dusty Baker, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL) (OF) Rickey Henderson, Oakland Athletics (AL); Andre Dawson, Montreal Expos (NL) (OF) Dwayne Murphy, Oakland Athletics (AL); Garry Maddox, Philadelphia Phillies (NL)
MLB statistical leaders American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Carney Lansford BOS .336 Bill Madlock PIT .341 HR Tony Armas OAKDwight Evans BOSBobby Grich CALEddie Murray BAL 22 Mike Schmidt PHI 31 RBI Eddie Murray BAL 78 Mike Schmidt PHI 91 Wins Dennis Martínez BALSteve McCatty OAKJack Morris DETPete Vuckovich MIL 14 Tom Seaver CIN 14 ERA Sammy Stewart BAL 2.32 Nolan Ryan HOU 1.69
Major league Baseball final standings
First half of season
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st New York Yankees 34 22 .607 -- 2nd Baltimore Orioles 31 23 .574 2.0 3rd Milwaukee Brewers 31 25 .568 3.0 4th Detroit Tigers 31 26 .544 3.5 5th Boston Red Sox 30 26 .536 4.0 6th Cleveland Indians 26 24 .520 5.0 7th Toronto Blue Jays 16 42 .276 19.0 West Division 1st Oakland Athletics 37 23 .617 -- 2nd Texas Rangers 33 22 .600 1.5 3rd Chicago White Sox 31 22 .585 2.5 4th California Angels 31 29 .517 6.0 5th Kansas City Royals 20 30 .400 12.0 6th Seattle Mariners 21 36 .368 14.5 7th Minnesota Twins 17 39 .304 18.0
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Philadelphia Phillies 34 21 .618 -- 2nd St. Louis Cardinals 30 20 .600 2.5 3rd Montreal Expos 30 25 .545 4.0 4th Pittsburgh Pirates 25 23 .521 5.5 5th New York Mets 17 34 .333 15.0 6th Chicago Cubs 15 37 .288 17.5 West Division 1st Los Angeles Dodgers 36 21 .632 -- 2nd Cincinnati Reds 35 21 .625 0.5 3rd Houston Astros 28 29 .491 8.0 4th Atlanta Braves 25 29 .463 9.5 5th San Francisco Giants 27 32 .458 10.0 6th San Diego Padres 23 33 .411 12.5
Second half of season
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Milwaukee Brewers 31 22 .585 -- 2nd Boston Red Sox 29 23 .558 1.5 2nd Detroit Tigers 29 23 .558 1.5 4th Baltimore Orioles 28 23 .549 2.0 5th Cleveland Indians 26 27 .491 5.0 6th New York Yankees 25 26 .490 5.0 7th Toronto Blue Jays 21 27 .438 7.5 West Division 1st Kansas City Royals 30 23 .566 -- 2nd Oakland Athletics 27 22 .551 2.0 3rd Texas Rangers 24 26 .480 5.5 4th Minnesota Twins 24 29 .453 6.0 5th Seattle Mariners 23 29 .442 6.5 6th Chicago White Sox 23 30 .434 7.0 7th California Angels 20 30 .400 8.5
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Montreal Expos 30 23 .566 -- 2nd St. Louis Cardinals 29 23 .558 0.5 3rd Philadelphia Phillies 25 27 .481 4.5 4th New York Mets 24 28 .462 5.5 5th Chicago Cubs 23 28 .451 6.0 6th Pittsburgh Pirates 21 33 .389 9.5 West Division 1st Houston Astros 33 20 .623 -- 2nd Cincinnati Reds 31 21 .596 1.5 3rd San Francisco Giants 29 23 .558 3.5 4th Los Angeles Dodgers 27 26 .509 6.0 5th Atlanta Braves 25 27 .481 7.5 6th San Diego Padres 18 36 .333 15.5
Overall record
American League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st Milwaukee Brewers 62 47 .569 -- 2nd Baltimore Orioles 59 46 .562 1.0 3rd New York Yankees 59 48 .551 2.0 4th Detroit Tigers 60 49 .550 2.0 5th Boston Red Sox 59 49 .546 2.5 6th Cleveland Indians 52 51 .505 7.0 7th Toronto Blue Jays 37 69 .349 23.5 West Division 1st Oakland Athletics 64 45 .587 -- 2nd Texas Rangers 57 48 .543 5.0 3rd Chicago White Sox 54 52 .509 8.5 4th Kansas City Royals 50 53 .485 11.0 5th California Angels 51 59 .464 13.5 6th Seattle Mariners 44 65 .404 20.0 7th Minnesota Twins 41 68 .376 23.0
National League Rank Club Wins Losses Win % GB East Division 1st St. Louis Cardinals 59 43 .578 -- 2nd Montreal Expos 60 48 .556 2.0 3rd Philadelphia Phillies 59 48 .551 2.5 4th Pittsburgh Pirates 46 56 .451 13.0 5th New York Mets 41 62 .398 18.5 6th Chicago Cubs 38 65 .369 21.5 West Division 1st Cincinnati Reds 66 42 .611 -- 2nd Los Angeles Dodgers 63 47 .573 4.0 3rd Houston Astros 61 49 .555 6.0 4th San Francisco Giants 56 55 .505 11.5 5th Atlanta Braves 50 56 .472 15.0 6th San Diego Padres 41 69 .373 26.0
Events
January January 4 – The New York Mets sign left-handed pitcher Dave Roberts, granted free agency from the Seattle Mariners November 4, 1980. January 7 – The Chicago Cubs sign relief pitcher Rawly Eastwick, released by the Kansas City Royals on August 21, 1980. January 12: The Atlanta Braves sign 42-year-old future Baseball Hall of Fame hurler Gaylord Perry, granted free agency from the New York Yankees last October 23. The Cincinnati Reds sign first baseman Larry Biittner, granted free agency from the Chicago Cubs, also on October 23. The Reds become the last team to sign a free agent under the system established in 1976. January 14: Frank Robinson, who became MLB's first African-American manager in with the Cleveland Indians of the American League, becomes the National League's first black pilot as well, when the San Francisco Giants name him to succeed Dave Bristol at the team's helm. Although the future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger never played for the Giants, Robinson, now 45, grew up in cross-bay Oakland, where he starred at McClymonds High School. Southern California real estate mogul George Argyros, 43, purchases controlling interest in the four-year-old Seattle Mariners for a price between $10.4 million and $12.5M. Four of the six original owners of the expansion team, including Danny Kaye, remain as limited partners. January 15: In his first year of eligibility, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson is the only person elected this year to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, gathering 337 votes (84.04%). Players falling short of the 301 votes needed for election include Don Drysdale (243), Gil Hodges (241), Harmon Killebrew (239), Hoyt Wilhelm (238) and Juan Marichal (233). The Toronto Blue Jays purchase the contract of utilityman Ken Macha from the Montreal Expos. January 21 – The Cincinnati Reds deal veteran centerfielder, two-time World Series champion and 4× Gold Glove Award winner César Gerónimo to the Kansas City Royals for second baseman Germán Barranca.
January 23: In the midst of an arbitration hearing that could grant him total free agency, six-time American League All-Star centerfielder Fred Lynn is hurriedly traded by the Boston Red Sox to the California Angels with veteran pitcher Steve Renko for southpaw Frank Tanana, right-hander Jim Dorsey and 34-year-old outfielder Joe Rudi. The self-inflicted crisis is triggered by the Red Sox' front office, which mailed Lynn's 1981 contract to him two days after the mandated deadline. The Angels immediately sign Lynn to a four-year, $5.25 million contract. With Lynn's trade, catcher Carlton Fisk's arbitration hearing continues in New York. Fisk is also seeking free agency from the Red Sox, stemming from the same contract blunder that forced Boston to trade Lynn while he was still under club control. Granted free agency from the Pittsburgh Pirates last October 22, first baseman John Milner opts to return to Pittsburgh for 1981. January 26 – The California Angels sign pitchers Jesse Jefferson and Bill Travers. Jefferson had been granted free agency from the Pirates October 22, while Travers gained free-agent status from the Milwaukee Brewers one month later. January 29 – Bill Veeck sells the Chicago White Sox to Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn for a reported $20 million. "Sportshirt Bill," 66, who bought the franchise in December 1975, had placed it on the market in July 1980. The deal ends Veeck's ownership career in Major League Baseball, which began in 1946.
February February 4 – The Chicago White Sox sign free agent shortstop Bill Almon, released by the New York Mets in December 1980. The former first overall pick in the 1974 June amateur draft will hit .301 in 103 games for the 1981 Pale Hose. February 5 – The Mets release 33-year-old outfielder Elliott Maddox. He'll play 1981 at Triple-A in the Philadelphia Phillies' system, but never return to the majors. February 9 – The San Francisco Giants sign free-agent second baseman Joe Morgan. The future Hall of Famer, now 37, will give the Giants two strong seasons, finishing in the team's top five in wins above replacement each year. February 10 – The Oakland Athletics obtain infielder Jimmy Sexton from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later (PTBNL); pitcher Rick Lysander will be added to the deal October 20, 1981. February 11 – The Houston Astros trade catcher Bruce Bochy to the New York Mets for two players to be named later. Minor league shortstop Randy Rogers and catcher Stan Hough will be sent to Houston on April 3 to complete the trade. February 12: