The 1981 Philadelphia Phillies season was the 99th season in the history of the franchise, and the 11th season for the Philadelphia Phillies at Veterans Stadium.

Offseason November 25, 1980: Rick Schu was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.Rick Schu at Baseball Reference December 8, 1980: George Bell was drafted from the Phillies by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980 rule 5 draft.George Bell at Baseball Reference December 22, 1980: Del Unser was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.Del Unser at Baseball Reference March 1, 1981: Randy Lerch was traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dick Davis.Dick Davis at Baseball Reference March 25, 1981: Bob Walk was traded by the Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Gary Matthews. at Baseball Reference

Regular season April 29, 1981: Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton struck out Tim Wallach of the Montreal Expos for the 3000th strikeout of his career.Steve Carlton | The Baseball Page August 10, 1981: First baseman Pete Rose records his 3,631st hit of his career, passing Stan Musial to become the all-time hit leader in the National League.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 8, 1981: Vince Coleman was drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.Vince Coleman at Baseball Reference July 12, 1981: Mike LaValliere was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent.Mike LaValliere at Baseball Reference

1981 Game Log Legend Phillies win Phillies loss PostponementBoldPhillies team member

|- style="background:#fbb" | 1 || April 8 || @ Reds || 2–3 || Tom Hume (1–0) || Sparky Lyle (0–1) || None || 51,716 || 0–1 |- style="background:#bfb" | 2 || April 11 || @ Cardinals || 5–2 || Dick Ruthven (1–0) || Bob Forsch (0–1) || None || 38,473 || 1–1 |- style="background:#fbb" | 3 || April 12 || @ Cardinals || 3–7 || Lary Sorensen (1–0) || Larry Christenson (0–1) || Bruce Sutter (1) || 21,462 || 1–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 4 || April 13 || Pirates || 5–1 || Steve Carlton (1–0) || John Candelaria (0–1) || None || 60,404 || 2–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 5 || April 15 || Pirates || 4–3 (11) || Tug McGraw (1–0) || Enrique Romo (0–1) || None || 27,450 || 3–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 6 || April 16 || Pirates || 5–3 || Dick Ruthven (2–0) || Don Robinson (0–1) || Tug McGraw (1) || 26,780 || 4–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 7 || April 17 || Cubs || 6–2 || Larry Christenson (1–1) || Ken Kravec (0–1) || None || 21,948 || 5–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 8 || April 18 || Cubs || 4–3 (10) || Steve Carlton (2–0) || Lee Smith (0–1) || None || 27,780 || 6–2 |- style="background:#bfb" | 9 || April 19 || Cubs || 7–3 || Nino Espinosa (1–0) || Rick Reuschel (0–2) || None || 30,204 || 7–2 |- style="background:#fbb" | 10 || April 20 || @ Expos || 8–9 || Steve Rogers (1–0) || Tug McGraw (1–1) || Woodie Fryman (2) || 24,817 || 7–3 |- style="background:#fbb" | 11 || April 21 || @ Expos || 3–10 || Scott Sanderson (2–0) || Dick Ruthven (2–1) || None || 10,887 || 7–4 |- style="background:#fbb" | 12 || April 22 || @ Expos || 3–4 (11) || Elías Sosa (1–0) || Tug McGraw (1–2) || None || 14,176 || 7–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 13 || April 24 || @ Cubs || 6–4 || Steve Carlton (3–0) || Rick Reuschel (0–3) || Ron Reed (1) || 6,274 || 8–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 14 || April 25 || @ Cubs || 7–5 || Sparky Lyle (1–1) || Dick Tidrow (1–2) || None || 10,990 || 9–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 15 || April 26 || @ Cubs || 6–2 || Marty Bystrom (1–0) || Bill Caudill (0–1) || None || 10,093 || 10–5 |- style="background:#bfb" | 16 || April 27 || Expos || 3–1 || Dick Ruthven (3–1) || Bill Gullickson (1–1) || None || 27,347 || 11–5 |- style="background:#fbb" | 17 || April 28 || Expos || 3–6 || Steve Ratzer (1–0) || Larry Christenson (1–2) || Elías Sosa (1) || 26,192 || 11–6 |- style="background:#bfb" | 18 || April 29 || Expos || 6–2 || Steve Carlton (4–0) || Steve Rogers (2–1) || None || 30,142 || 12–6

|- style="background:#bbb" | – || May 1 || Giants || colspan=6 | Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 2 as a traditional double-header |- style="background:#fbb" | 19 || May 2 (1) || Giants || 2–6 || Doyle Alexander (4–1) || Nino Espinosa (1–1) || Greg Minton (4) || see 2nd game || 12–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 20 || May 2 (2) || Giants || 3–1 || Marty Bystrom (2–0) || Ed Whitson (0–3) || None || 27,376 || 13–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 21 || May 3 || Giants || 7–5 || Dick Ruthven (4–1) || Gary Lavelle (0–2) || Tug McGraw (2) || 41,283 || 14–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 22 || May 4 || Giants || 6–4 || Steve Carlton (5–0) || Allen Ripley (1–3) || None || 25,492 || 15–7 |- style="background:#bfb" | 23 || May 5 || Dodgers || 8–7 || Sparky Lyle (2–1) || Bobby Castillo (0–3) || None || 27,241 || 16–7 |- style="background:#fbb" | 24 || May 6 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Burt Hooton (4–0) || Nino Espinosa (1–2) || None || 25,850 || 16–8 |- style="background:#fbb" | 25 || May 7 || Dodgers || 1–2 || Jerry Reuss (3–1) || Marty Bystrom (2–1) || None || 29,259 || 16–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 26 || May 8 || Padres || 11–7 || Sparky Lyle (3–1) || Gary Lucas (2–3) || None || 30,830 || 17–9 |- style="background:#bfb" | 27 || May 9 || Padres || 9–6 || Steve Carlton (6–0) || Tim Lollar (1–3) || None || 30,907 || 18–9 |- style="background:#fbb" | 28 || May 10 || Padres || 4–8 || Steve Mura (1–4) || Larry Christenson (1–3) || Gary Lucas (5) || 40,447 || 18–10 |- style="background:#fbb" | 29 || May 12 || @ Giants || 0–4 || Doyle Alexander (5–2) || Nino Espinosa (1–3) || None || 10,307 || 18–11 |- style="background:#fbb" | 30 || May 13 || @ Giants || 2–5 || Allen Ripley (3–3) || Marty Bystrom (2–2) || Greg Minton (6) || 6,946 || 18–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 31 || May 14 || @ Giants || 3–1 || Dick Ruthven (5–1) || Vida Blue (3–3) || Tug McGraw (3) || 6,561 || 19–12 |- style="background:#bfb" | 32 || May 15 || @ Padres || 2–1 || Steve Carlton (7–0) || Steve Mura (1–5) || None || 15,939 || 20–12 |- style="background:#fbb" | 33 || May 16 || @ Padres || 1–2 || John Littlefield (1–2) || Tug McGraw (1–3) || None || 40,656 || 20–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Padres || 6–3 || Nino Espinosa (2–3) || Juan Eichelberger (3–2) || None || 18,330 || 21–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 35 || May 18 || @ Dodgers || 4–0 || Marty Bystrom (3–2) || Fernando Valenzuela (8–1) || None || 52,439 || 22–13 |- style="background:#bfb" | 36 || May 19 || @ Dodgers || 3–2 || Dick Ruthven (6–1) || Bob Welch (2–2) || None || 43,812 || 23–13 |- style="background:#fbb" | 37 || May 20 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 (10) || Steve Howe (4–1) || Tug McGraw (1–4) || None || 50,917 || 23–14 |- style="background:#fbb" | 38 || May 22 || @ Pirates || 1–3 || Pascual Pérez (1–0) || Larry Christenson (1–4) || None || 20,695 || 23–15 |- style="background:#bfb" | 39 || May 23 || @ Pirates || 6–4 || Mike Proly (1–0) || Kent Tekulve (0–3) || Ron Reed (2) || 20,340 || 24–15 |- style="background:#fbb" | 40 || May 24 || @ Pirates || 1–7 || Jim Bibby (3–2) || Marty Bystrom (3–3) || Víctor Cruz (1) || 21,771 || 24–16 |- style="background:#fbb" | 41 || May 25 || @ Mets || 3–13 || Greg A. Harris (1–0) || Dick Ruthven (6–2) || Jeff Reardon (2) || 20,469 || 24–17 |- style="background:#bfb" | 42 || May 26 || @ Mets || 7–5 || Ron Reed (1–0) || Neil Allen (3–2) || Tug McGraw (4) || 13,973 || 25–17 |- style="background:#fbb" | 43 || May 27 || @ Mets || 1–3 || Pat Zachry (5–5) || Larry Christenson (1–5) || None || 10,930 || 25–18 |- style="background:#fbb" | 44 || May 29 || Cardinals || 4–11 || Bob Forsch (5–2) || Nino Espinosa (2–4) || Mark Littell (1) || 32,358 || 25–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 45 || May 30 || Cardinals || 10–2 || Dick Ruthven (7–2) || Lary Sorensen (4–4) || None || 35,034 || 26–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 46 || May 31 || Cardinals || 6–1 || Steve Carlton (8–0) || Silvio Martínez (1–4) || None || 54,103 || 27–19

|- style="background:#bfb" | 47 || June 1 || Mets || 5–4 || Sparky Lyle (4–1) || Neil Allen (3–3) || Tug McGraw (5) || 27,631 || 28–19 |- style="background:#bfb" | 48 || June 2 || Mets || 9–7 || Mike Proly (2–0) || Ed Lynch (1–3) || Ron Reed (3) || 25,375 || 29–19 |- style="background:#fbb" | 49 || June 3 || Mets || 2–6 || Greg A. Harris (2–1) || Dick Ruthven (7–3) || Neil Allen (5) || 27,588 || 29–20 |- style="background:#fbb" | 50 || June 5 || @ Braves || 1–4 || Rick Mahler (3–1) || Steve Carlton (8–1) || Rick Camp (8) || 17,059 || 29–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 51 || June 6 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Larry Christenson (2–5) || Tommy Boggs (1–9) || Mike Proly (1) || 15,291 || 30–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 52 || June 7 || @ Braves || 7–5 || Sparky Lyle (5–1) || Gaylord Perry (5–4) || Ron Reed (4) || 23,482 || 31–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 53 || June 8 || Astros || 4–3 || Dick Ruthven (8–3) || Don Sutton (4–6) || Tug McGraw (6) || 31,664 || 32–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 54 || June 9 || Astros || 10–3 || Marty Bystrom (4–3) || Joe Niekro (6–5) || Ron Reed (5) || 33,978 || 33–21 |- style="background:#bfb" | 55 || June 10 || Astros || 5–4 || Steve Carlton (9–1) || Frank LaCorte (3–2) || Tug McGraw (7) || 57,386 || 34–21 |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 12 || Braves || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 13 || Braves || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 14 || Braves || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 15 || Reds || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 16 || Reds || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 17 || @ Astros || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 18 || @ Astros || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 19 || @ Reds || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 20 || @ Reds || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 21 || @ Reds || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 23 || @ Cubs || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 24 || @ Cubs || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 25 || @ Cubs || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 26 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 27 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 28 || Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 29 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 30 (1) || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || June 30 (2) || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike

|- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 1 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 2 || @ Cardinals || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 3 || Expos || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 4 || Expos || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 5 || Expos || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 7 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 8 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 9 || @ Pirates || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike |- style="background:#bbb" | – || July 10 || Mets || colspan=6 | Game cancelled: players' strike