The 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 92nd season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 24th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 20th season playing their home games at Dodger Stadium. The 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 two-month long mid-season players' strike. The Dodgers won the National League West in the first half and advanced to the playoffs. They beat the Houston Astros in the NLDS and the Montreal Expos in the NLCS before beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series.
Offseason December 4, 1980: Don Sutton signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent. March 30, 1981: Acquired Ken Landreaux from the Minnesota Twins for Mickey Hatcher and Matt Reeves Matt Reeves
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup +Opening Day startersName Position Davey Lopes Second basemanKen Landreaux Center fielderDusty Baker Left fielderSteve Garvey First basemanRon Cey Third basemanPedro Guerrero Right fielderMike SciosciaCatcherBill Russell ShortstopFernando Valenzuela Starting pitcher
Roster 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Game log Regular season Legend Dodgers win Dodgers loss Postponement Clinched divisionBoldDodgers team member
|- bgcolor=#bfb | 1 || || 1:11p.m. PST || Astros || W 2–0 || Valenzuela (1–0) || Niekro (0–1) || — || 2:17 || 50,511 || 1–0 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 2 || || 7:08p.m. PST || Astros || W 7–4 || Hooton (1–0) || Sutton (0–1) || — || 2:56 || 51,691 || 2–0 || W2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 3 || || 1:08p.m. PST || Astros || W 3–2 || Sutcliffe (1–0) || Ruhle (0–1) || Howe (1) || 2:16 || 50,734 || 3–0 || W3 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 4 || || 7:35p.m. PST || @ Giants || W 4–3 || Stewart (1–0) || Ripley (0–1) || Castillo (1) || 2:54 || 20,698 || 4–0 || W4 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 5 || || 7:37p.m. PST || @ Giants || W 7–1 || Valenzuela (2–0) || Blue (0–1) || — || 2:27 || 23,790 || 5–0 || W5 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 6 || || 7:35p.m. PST || @ Giants || W 4–2 || Hooton (2–0) || Whitson (0–1) || Castillo (2) || 2:45 || 20,775 || 6–0 || W6 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 10 || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Astros || W 5–2 || Hooton (3–0) || Andújar (0–1) || Goltz (1) || 2:34 || 21,730 || 9–1 || W3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 11 || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Astros || L 0–1 || Knepper (1–0) || Reuss (0–1) || — || 1:48 || 21,904 || 9–2 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 12 || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Astros || W 1–0 || Valenzuela (4–0) || Sutton (0–3) || — || 2:24 || 22,830 || 10–2 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 17 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Giants || W 5–0 || Valenzuela (5–0) || Griffin (1–2) || — || 2:54 || 49,478 || 14–3 || W3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 18 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Giants || L 1–6 || Ripley (1–2) || Sutcliffe (2–1) || — || 2:09 || 39,899 || 14–4 || L1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 19 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Giants || L 2–3 || Blue (2–2) || Welch (1–1) || Minton (3) || 2:27 || 39,110 || 14–5 || L2
|- bgcolor=#fbb | 20 || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Expos || L 8–9 || Lee (1–0) || Castillo (0–2) || — || 4:18 || 28,179 || 14–6 || L3 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 21 || || 1:05p.m. PDT || @ Expos || W 4–0 || Reuss (2–1) || Sanderson (3–1) || — || 2:23 || 22,820 || 15–6 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 22 || || 10:35a.m. PDT || @ Expos || W 6–1 || Valenzuela (6–0) || Gullickson (1–2) || — || 2:55 || 46,405 || 16–6 || W2 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 23 || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Expos || L 3–4 || Rogers (3–1) || Sutcliffe (2–2) || Sosa (2) || 3:04 || 21,507 || 16–7 || L1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 24 || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || L 7–8 || Lyle (2–1) || Castillo (0–3) || — || 2:58 || 27,241 || 16–8 || L2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 25 || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || W 2–1 || Hooton (4–0) || Espinosa (1–2) || — || 2:09 || 25,850 || 17–8 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 26 || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || W 2–1 || Reuss (3–1) || Bystrom (2–1) || — || 2:12 || 29,259 || 18–8 || W2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 27 || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Mets || W 1–0 || Valenzuela (6–0) || Scott (1–3) || — || 2:42 || 39,848 || 19–8 || W3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 28 || || 11:15a.m. PDT || @ Mets || L 4–7 || Allen (2–0) || Castillo (0–4) || Reardon (1) || 2:53 || 16,776 || 19–9 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 29 || || 11:05a.m. PDT || @ Mets || W 5–3 || Welch (2–1) || Jones (0–5) || Howe (3) || 2:43 || 12,102 || 20–9 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 30 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Expos || W 5–0 || Hooton (5–0) || Burris (2–3) || Howe (4) || 2:46 || 34,367 || 21–9 || W2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 31 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Expos || W 8–6 || Howe (2–1) || Fryman (2–1) || — || 2:52 || 42,712 || 22–9 || W3 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 32 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Expos || W 3–2 || Valenzuela (8–0) || Ratzer (1–1) || — || 2:22 || 53,906 || 23–9 || W4 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 33 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Mets || W 6–5 || Howe (3–1) || Allen (2–1) || — || 2:35 || 49,860 || 24–9 || W5 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 34 || || 7:05p.m. PDT || Mets || W 9–0 || Hooton (6–0) || Roberts (0–3) || — || 2:21 || 51,000 || 25–9 || W6 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 35 || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Mets || W 6–1 || Reuss (4–1) || Zachry (3–5) || — || 2:17 || 50,746 || 26–9 || W7 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 36 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Phillies || L 0–4 || Bystrom (3–2) || Valenzuela (8–1) || — || 2:16 || 52,439 || 26–10 || L1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 37 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Phillies || L 2–3 || Ruthven (6–1) || Welch (2–2) || — || 2:30 || 43,812 || 26–11 || L2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 38 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Phillies || W 3–2 || Howe (4–1) || McGraw (1–4) || — || 2:30 || 50,917 || 27–11 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 39 || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 4–2 || Stewart (2–0) || Bair (1–1) || — || 3:15 || 27,943 || 28–11 || W2 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 40 || || 12:15p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 9–6 || Stewart (3–0) || Mosaku (1–1) || Castillo (4) || 3:17 || 40,928 || 29–11 || W3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 41 || || 10:15a.m. PDT || @ Reds || L 2–3 || Mosaku (2–1) || Welch (2–3) || Price (1) || 2:33 || — || 29–12 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 42 || || 1:18p.m. PDT || @ Reds || W 10–3 || Castillo (1–4) || Berenyi (4–2) || — || 2:33 || 36,113 || 30–12 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 46 || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Reds || W 5–2 || Welch (3–3) || LaCoss (2–5) || Howe (5) || 2:44 || 45,749 || 32–14 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 47 || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Reds || L 1–9 || Pastore (2–2) || Hooton (7–1) || — || 2:46 || 43,582 || 32–15 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 48 || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Reds || W 16–4 || Goltz (1–0) || Soto (4–6) || — || 3:08 || 46,411 || 33–15 || W1
|- bgcolor=#fbb | 52 || || 11:25a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 3–4 || Reuschel (3–7) || Reuss (4–2) || Tidrow (4) || 2:23 || 7,815 || 34–18 || L3 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 53 || || 11:15a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 5–11 || McGlothen (1–3) || Valenzuela (9–3) || — || 2:58 || 30,556 || 34–19 || L4 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 54 || || 11:15a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || W 7–0 || Welch (4–3) || Martz (2–5) || — || 2:35 || 20,024 || 35–19 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 55 || || 5:38p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || L 1–6 || Forsch (6–2) || Hooton (7–3) || Sutter (10) || 2:34 || 19,654 || 35–20 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 56 || || 5:37p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–1 || Reuss (5–2) || Sorenson (5–5) || — || 2:05 || 17,779 || 36–20 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 57 || || 5:39p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || L 1–2 || Martínez (2–4) || Valenzuela (9–4) || Sutter (11) || 2:01 || 39,250 || 36–21 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 11:15a.m. PDT || @ Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 10:35a.m. PDT || @ Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Cubs || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Cubs || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Cardinals || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Cardinals || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:05p.m. PDT || Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Pirates || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 5:35p.m. PDT || @ Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 3:00p.m. PDT || @ Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike)
|- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || @ Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || @ Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || @ Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:30p.m. PDT || Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:30p.m. PDT || Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Astros || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:05p.m. PDT || Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Giants || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Expos || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Expos || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:05p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 10:35a.m. PDT || @ Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 5:05p.m. PDT || @ Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Expos || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:05p.m. PDT || Expos || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Expos || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Mets || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 7:35p.m. PDT || Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike)
|- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 1:05p.m. PDT || Phillies || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Reds || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor=#bbb | — || || 4:35p.m. PDT || @ Reds || colspan=8| Canceled (Strike) |- bgcolor="bbbbbb" | — || || 5:35p.m. PDT || 52nd All-Star Game || colspan=8 | National League vs. American League (Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio) |- bgcolor=#bfb | 58 || || 5:40p.m. PDT || Reds || W 4–0 || Reuss (6–2) || Pastore (3–3) || Howe (6) || 2:08 || 35,120 || 37–21 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 59 || || 7:39p.m. PDT || Reds || L 6–7 || Brown (1–0) || Forster (0–1) || Hume (6) || 2:50 || 45,817 || 37–22 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 60 || || 7:39p.m. PDT || Reds || W 8–5 || Stewart (4–1) || Seaver (7–2) || Howe (7) || 2:48 || 36,494 || 38–22 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 65 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 1–3 || Bird (7–1) || Welch (4–4) || — || 2:23 || 10,153 || 40–25 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 66 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || W 5–0 || Hooton (8–4) || Griffin (0–1) || — || 2:33 || 15,973 || 41–25 || W1 |- bgcolor=#fbb | 67 || || 11:30a.m. PDT || @ Cubs || L 3–4 || Krokow (4–6) || Goltz (2–1) || Martz (2) || 2:27 || 26,860 || 41–26 || L1 |- bgcolor=#bfb | 68 || || 5:38p.m. PDT || @ Cardinals || W 4–0 || Reuss (7–3) || Andújar (3–4) || — || 2:05 || 33,375 || 42–26 || W1 |- bgcolor=#bfb