1981 Boston Red Sox season
Encyclopedia
The Boston Red Sox
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League East
with a record of 59 wins and 49 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players strike.
|24 || Dwight Evans
|| RF
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|11 || Dave Stapleton || 2B
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|26 || Joe Rudi
|| DH
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|14 || Jim Rice
|| LF
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| 5|| Tony Pérez
|| 1B
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| 4 || Carney Lansford
|| 3B
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|18 || Glenn Hoffman
|| SS
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|39 || Gary Allenson
|| C
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| 3 || Rick Miller || CF
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|43 || Dennis Eckersley
|| P
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Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
with a record of 59 wins and 49 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players strike.
Offseason
- On October 27, 1980: the Red Sox lured Ralph HoukRalph HoukRalph George Houk , nicknamed The Major, was an American catcher, coach, manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball...
out of retirement to become the 35th Manager in Red Sox history.
- December 10, 1980: The Red Sox traded shortstop Rick BurlesonRick BurlesonRichard Paul Burleson is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. "Rooster," as he was nicknamed was a famously intense ballplayer...
and third baseman Butch HobsonButch HobsonClell Lavern "Butch" Hobson, Jr. is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Hobson played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed.After retiring, he managed the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Boston Red Sox...
to the California Angels in exchange for Carney LansfordCarney LansfordCarney Ray Lansford is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball and the hitting coach of the Colorado Rockies...
, former Red Sox player Rick Miller, and Mark ClearMark ClearMark Alan Clear is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels , Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers . He batted and threw right-handed....
. Burleson was unhappy with his contract negotiations with the Red Sox and hinted at leaving via free agency.
- January 23, 1981: Fred LynnFred LynnFredric Michael "Fred" Lynn is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres .Fred Lynn was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in and to the College Baseball Hall of Fame...
and Steve RenkoSteve RenkoSteve Renko, Jr. is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos , Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Oakland Athletics , Boston Red Sox , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .He helped the Angels win the 1982 American League Western...
were traded by the Red Sox to the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
for Joe RudiJoe RudiJoseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Jim DorseyJim DorseyJames Edward Dorsey is a retired professional baseball player who played 3 seasons for the California Angels and Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-References:...
and Frank TananaFrank TananaFrank Daryl Tanana is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was the California Angels' 1st round draft pick in 1971....
.
Notable transactions
- April 8, 1981: Dick DragoDick DragoRichard Anthony "Dick" Drago is a former American League relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners...
was traded by the Red Sox to the Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Manny SarmientoManny SarmientoManny Sarmiento [sar-ME-EN-toh], born Manuel Eduardo Sarmiento Aponte , is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates .Sarmiento was a four-year member of Cincinnati's "Big Red Machine"...
. - June 8, 1981: Steve LyonsSteve Lyons (baseball)Stephen John Lyons is a former Major League Baseball player and a television sportscaster. He is of French and Irish descent, and currently resides in Hermosa Beach, California....
was drafted by the Red Sox in the 1st round (19th pick) of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft1981 Major League Baseball Draft-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
.
Opening Day lineup
{||24 || Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
|| RF
|-
|11 || Dave Stapleton || 2B
|-
|26 || Joe Rudi
Joe Rudi
Joseph Oden Rudi is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics , California Angels and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
|| DH
|-
|14 || Jim Rice
Jim Rice
James Edward "Jim" Rice , nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder.Jim Rice played his entire career for the Boston Red Sox from 1974 to 1989...
|| LF
|-
| 5|| Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
|| 1B
|-
| 4 || Carney Lansford
Carney Lansford
Carney Ray Lansford is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball and the hitting coach of the Colorado Rockies...
|| 3B
|-
|18 || Glenn Hoffman
Glenn Hoffman
Glenn Edward Hoffman is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball and the current third base coach for the San Diego Padres...
|| SS
|-
|39 || Gary Allenson
Gary Allenson
Gary Martin Allenson is a former Major League Baseball catcher and the current manager of the Norfolk Tides, the AAA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.-Playing career:...
|| C
|-
| 3 || Rick Miller || CF
|-
|43 || Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck", is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
|| P
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Roster
| 1981 Boston Red Sox | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Designated hitters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 62 | 205 | 59 | .288 | 5 | 26 | |
| 1B | 84 | 306 | 77 | .252 | 9 | 39 | |
| 2B | 88 | 358 | 110 | .307 | 0 | 31 | |
| 3B | 102 | 399 | 134 | .336 | 4 | 52 | |
| SS | 78 | 242 | 56 | .231 | 1 | 20 | |
| LF | 108 | 451 | 128 | .284 | 17 | 62 | |
| CF | 97 | 316 | 92 | .291 | 2 | 33 | |
| RF | 108 | 412 | 122 | .296 | 22 | 71 | |
| DH | 91 | 338 | 83 | .246 | 7 | 53 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | 355 | 101 | .285 | 10 | 42 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|