1983 Major League Baseball season

The 1983 Major League Baseball season ended with the Baltimore Orioles defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth game of the World Series. Rick Dempsey was named MVP of the Series. The All-Star Game was held on July 6 at Comiskey Park; the American League won by a score of 13–3, with California Angels outfielder Fred Lynn being named MVP. As of the end of the 2026 season this remains the most recent full season where no player hit for the cycle in a game (excluding the 2020 season which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This would be the final full season for Bowie Kuhn as commissioner of baseball.

Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Walter Alston George Kell Juan Marichal Brooks Robinson

+Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearDarryl Strawberry (NYM)Ron Kittle (CWS)Cy Young AwardJohn Denny (PHI)LaMarr Hoyt (CWS)Manager of the YearTommy Lasorda (LAD)Tony La Russa (CWS)Most Valuable PlayerDale Murphy (ATL)Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherPhil Niekro (ATL)Ron Guidry (NYY)CatcherTony Peña (PIT)Lance Parrish (DET)First BasemanKeith Hernandez (NYM)/(STL)Eddie Murray (BAL)Second BasemanRyne Sandberg (CHC)Lou Whitaker (DET)Third BasemanMike Schmidt (PHI)Buddy Bell (TEX)ShortstopOzzie Smith (STL)Alan Trammell (DET)OutfieldersAndre Dawson (MON)Dwight Evans (BOS)Willie McGee (STL)Dwayne Murphy (OAK)Dale Murphy (ATL)Dave Winfield (NYY)Silver Slugger AwardsPitcher/Designated HitterFernando Valenzuela (LAD)Don Baylor (NYY)CatcherTerry Kennedy (SD)Lance Parrish (DET)First BasemanGeorge Hendrick (STL)Eddie Murray (BAL)Second BasemanJohnny Ray (PIT)Lou Whitaker (DET)Third BasemanMike Schmidt (PHI)Wade Boggs (BOS)ShortstopDickie Thon (HOU)Cal Ripken Jr. (BAL)OutfieldersJosé Cruz (HOU)Lloyd Moseby (TOR)Andre Dawson (MON)Jim Rice (BOS)Dale Murphy (ATL)Dave Winfield (NYY)

Other awards Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Greg Luzinski (CWS) Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Cecil Cooper (MIL) Rolaids Relief Man Award: Dan Quisenberry (KC, American); Al Holland (PHI, National).

Player of the Month Month American League National League April George Brett Terry Kennedy May Rod Carew Darrell Evans June Lou Whitaker Andre Dawson July Cecil Cooper Dusty Baker August Lloyd Moseby Mel Hall September Cal Ripken Jr. Dale Murphy

Pitcher of the Month Month American League National League April Rick Honeycutt Pascual Pérez May Dave Stieb Bill Laskey June Charlie Hough Burt Hooton July Scott McGregor Joe Price August Jack Morris Jesse Orosco September Richard Dotson John Denny

Standings

American League

National League

Postseason

Bracket

League leaders Statistic American League National League AVG Wade Boggs BOS .361 Bill Madlock PIT .323 HR Jim Rice BOS 39 Mike Schmidt PHI 40 RBI Cecil Cooper MILJim Rice BOS 126 Dale Murphy ATL 121 Wins LaMarr Hoyt CWS 24 John Denny PHI 19 ERA Rick Honeycutt TEX 2.42 Atlee Hammaker SF 2.25 SO Jack Morris DET 232 Steve Carlton PHI 275 SV Dan Quisenberry KC 45 Lee Smith CHC 29 SB Rickey Henderson OAK 108 Tim Raines MON 90

Milestones Pitchers Don Sutton (MIL): Recorded his 3,000th career strikeout on June 24 by striking out Alan Bannister of the Cleveland Indians in the eighth inning. Sutton becomes the eighth player to reach this mark. Nolan Ryan (HOU): Set a Major League record in career strikeouts by striking out Brad Mills of the Montreal Expos. It is the 3,509th strikeout of Ryan's career, breaking the long time record established by Walter Johnson. Ryan will go on to break his own record 2,205 times before retiring. Steve Carlton (PHI): Became the 16th member of the 300-win club, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals on September 23, winning 6–2.

Miscellaneous Philadelphia Phillies: Defeat the Chicago Cubs 13–6 on September 28, for the 7,000th regular season win in their history to clinch the National League East Division title. Texas Rangers: Score twelve runs in the fifteenth inning on July 3 to defeat the Oakland Athletics 16–4, in the process breaking the MLB record for most runs scored during one single extra inning, previously held by the 1928 New York Yankees.'Rangers Rout A's 16–4 in 15-Inning Marathon'; The Greenville News, July 5, 1983, p. 18 Steve Garvey (SD): Ends his streak of 1,207 consecutive games played after dislocating his thumb on July 29. It is still the National League record for consecutive games played, but less than half the American League and MLB record of 2,632 by Cal Ripken Jr. from 1982–1998.

Pine Tar Game On July 24, in the game now known as the Pine Tar Game, George Brett hits an apparent go-ahead 2-run home run off Goose Gossage in the ninth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. However, Yankees manager Billy Martin challenges that Brett's bat had more than the of pine tar allowed, and home plate umpire Tim McClelland upholds Martin's challenge. After being called out and having the home run nullified, Brett goes ballistic and charges out of the dugout after McClelland. The AL president's office later upholds the Kansas City Royals protest, restoring the home run, and the game is completed on August 18, with the Royals winning 5–4.

Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceLos Angeles Dodgers913.4%3,510,313 −2.7%43,879California Angels70 −24.7%2,555,016 −9.0%31,543Milwaukee Brewers87 −8.4%2,397,13121.1%29,594Montreal Expos82 −4.7%2,320,6510.1%28,650St. Louis Cardinals79 −14.1%2,317,9149.8%28,616New York Yankees9115.2%2,257,97610.6%27,876Chicago White Sox9913.8%2,132,82136.0%26,331Philadelphia Phillies901.1%2,128,339 −10.4%25,955Atlanta Braves88 −1.1%2,119,93517.6%26,499Baltimore Orioles984.3%2,042,07126.6%25,211Kansas City Royals79 −12.2%1,963,875 −14.0%23,950Toronto Blue Jays8914.1%1,930,41551.3%23,832Detroit Tigers9210.8%1,829,63611.8%22,588Boston Red Sox78 −12.4%1,782,285 −8.6%22,004San Diego Padres810.0%1,539,815 −4.2%18,778Chicago Cubs71 −2.7%1,479,71718.4%18,268Texas Rangers7720.3%1,363,46918.1%16,833Houston Astros8510.4%1,351,962 −13.3%16,487Oakland Athletics748.8%1,294,941 −25.4%15,987San Francisco Giants79 −9.2%1,251,5304.2%15,451Pittsburgh Pirates840.0%1,225,91619.7%15,135Cincinnati Reds7421.3%1,190,419 −10.3%14,697New York Mets684.6%1,112,774 −15.9%13,570Minnesota Twins7016.7%858,939 −6.8%10,604Seattle Mariners60 −21.1%813,537 −24.0%10,044Cleveland Indians70 −10.3%768,941 −26.3%9,493

Media Television This was the last season of USA Network Thursday Night Baseball, as MLB decided to only renew the contracts with ABC and NBC.

Network Day of week Announcers ABC Monday nightsSunday afternoons Al Michaels, Howard Cosell, Earl Weaver, Don Drysdale, Steve Stone NBC Saturday afternoons Vin Scully, Joe Garagiola, Bob Costas, Tony Kubek USA Thursday nights Eddie Doucette, Nelson Briles, Monte Moore, Wes Parker

References

External links 1983 Major League Baseball season at ESPN 1983 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference