1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season


The 1981 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 halves because of a players' strike in mid-season. The Dodgers won the Western Division of the National League in the first half and advanced to the playoffs. They beat the Houston Astros in a divisional playoff and the Montreal Expos in the National League Championship Series before beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series.

Offseason

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Roster

Starting pitchers stats

Relief pitchers stats

Batting stats

Postseason

1981 National League Division Series

In the divisional series, the Dodgers fell behind the Houston Astros two games to zero but came back to win the next three games to take the series and advance to the LCS.

Game 1

October 6, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 2

October 7, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 3

October 9, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 4

October 10, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 5

October 11, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

1981 National League Championship Series

The Dodgers faced the Montreal Expos in the 1981 NLCS and beat them three games to two, thanks to a ninth-inning home run by Rick Monday in Game 5.

Game 1

October 13, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 2

October 14, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 3

October 16, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Game 4

October 17, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Game 5

October 19, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

1981 World Series

The Dodgers met the New York Yankees in the World Series once again, this time beating them in six games to claim their first championship since 1965.

Game 1

October 20, Yankee Stadium, New York

Game 2

October 21, Yankee Stadium, New York

Game 3

October 23, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 4

October 24, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 5

October 25, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 6

October 28, Yankee Stadium, New York

1981 awards

Teams in BOLD won League Championships

Major League Baseball Draft

The Dodgers drafted 33 players in the June draft and 18 in the January draft. Of those, eight players would eventually play in the Major Leagues. They received an extra pick in the 2nd round from the Houston Astros as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Don Sutton.
The Dodgers first round pick in the June draft was shortstop Dave Anderson from the University of Memphis. He played 10 seasons in the Majors, primarily as a utility infielder. The draft also included pitchers Sid Fernandez and John Franco, both of whom would have lengthy Major League careers primarily with the New York Mets after the Dodgers traded them.

January draft

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Kelvin WhiteRHPCosumnes River CollegeNo
2Robert SeymourOFSacramento City CollegeYes1981–1982A
3Frederick Bass3BSacramento City CollegeYes1981A
4John SylviaSSCollege of the SequoiasYes1981–1982A
5Jack Loop1BPasadena City CollegeNo
6Eugene SteinbachCGeorgia Perimeter CollegeYes1981–1994AA
7Brad HarlowSSCosumnes River CollegeNo
8Brett RadlandRHPValencia Community CollegeNo
9Jon Van DortOFChaffey CollegeNo
10Larry RiddleRHPAlvin Community CollegeNo
Red Sox-1984		1984A
11Andy HargroveRHPBarstow Community CollegeNo
12James SewellOFSacramento City CollegeNo
13Ronnie Chapman2BLouisburg CollegeNo
Blue Jays-1982		1982–1986AA
14James WoodsIFSan Jacinto CollegeNo
15Charles Byers3BChaffey CollegeNo
16Benny Distefano1BAlvin Community CollegeNo
Pirates-1982		1982–1993MLB

January secondary phase

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Shayne HammondLHPSoutheastern Illinois CollegeYes1981–1983AA
2Tom DiCeglioSSGulf Coast Community CollegeNo
Twins-1984		1984–1986A

June draft

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Dave AndersonSSUniversity of MemphisYes1981–1992MLB
2Sid Bream1BLiberty UniversityYes1981–1994MLB
2Lemmie MillerOFArizona State UniversityYes1981–1989MLB
3Sid FernandezLHPKaiser High SchoolNo
Angels-1984		1981–2001MLB
4Steven BoncoreCUniversity of La VerneYes1981–1983A
5John FrancoLHPSt. John's UniversityYes1981–2005MLB
6Brian WilliamsOFSouth High SchoolYes1981–1986A
7Michael BeuderLHPSanta Clara UniversityYes1981–1983A
8Gregory ChinnOFCalifornia State University, SacramentoYes1981–1983A
9Stu PedersonOFUniversity of Southern CaliforniaYes1981–1992MLB
10Mark PirruccelloCCalifornia State University, FullertonNo
Royals-1982		1982–1984AA
11Gregory CarneRHPRedondo High SchoolYes1981–1984A
12Peyton MosherRHPUniversity of GeorgiaYes1981–1984A
13David AndersonRHPUniversity of Nevada, RenoYes1982–1990AAA
14Dean RennickeRHPUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonYes1981–1985AAA
15Jimmy GuillenRHPRoosevelt High SchoolNo
16Harold PerkinsSSCalifornia State University, Los AngelesYes1981–1991AAA
17Christopher ChavezSSUniversity of Nebraska at LincolnYes1981–1982AA
18Jerry BendorfSSGonzaga UniversityYes1981–1982AA
19Jeffrey GreeneSSUniversity of VermontYes1981Rookie
20Tim CriswellRHPCarrollton High SchoolNo
Dodgers-1983		1983–1987AA
21John Gregory1BLake Worth High SchoolYes1981–1984A
22Craig ThompsonOFDallas Baptist UniversityYes1981–1982A
23William Murray2BUniversity of San FranciscoYes1981A
24Steven YoungOFChambersburg High SchoolYes1981Rookie
25Robert PhilpsRHPCarmichaels High SchoolNo
26Charles BeardRHPCalifornia State University, SacramentoYes1981–1983A
27David DunlapIFCalifornia State University, SacramentoNo
28Brett DavisOFPearland High SchoolNo
29Jeff CarterIFEvanston Township High SchoolNo
Giants-1985		1985–1996AAA
30Ronald RobbinsRHPLouisiana State University at AlexandriaNo
Blue Jays-1983		1983–1984A

June secondary phase

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Ralph BryantOFAbraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeYes1981–1996MLB
2Michael MooreCEdmonds Community CollegeYes1981–1982A
3Ethan McHenryRHPYakima Valley Community CollegeNo