The
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
' 1981 season-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
consisted of the Reds finishing with an overall record of 66-42 the
National League WestThe National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
, putting them in first place. However, due to a split-season format, caused by a mid-season players' strike, they failed to make the MLB Playoffs that year. The Reds finished the first half of the season in second place with a record of 35-21, just one-half game behind the eventual World Champion
Los Angeles DodgersThe 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...
, and one-and-a-half games behind the
Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros' 1981 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League West.- Offseason :* December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros....
in the second half, in which the Reds were 31-21, good for second place, again. The Reds were managed by
John McNamaraJohn Francis McNamara is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He managed six major league teams, directing the 1986 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, only to experience an excruciating defeat in that season's World Series at the hands of the New York Mets.-Playing,...
and played their home games at
Riverfront StadiumRiverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
.
Offseason
- January 22, 1981: Mike Grace and John Hale
John Steven Hale is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played from - for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners.-External links:...
were traded by the Reds to the Baltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Joe KerriganJoseph Thomas Kerrigan is a former relief pitcher, manager and longtime pitching coach in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
and John Buffamoyer (minors).
Notable transactions
- June 8, 1981: Terry McGriff was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 8th round of the 1981 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1981.
- September 10, 1981: Doug Bair
Charles Douglas Bair is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or part of fifteen seasons in the majors, from until , for seven different teams...
was traded by the Reds to the St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for Joe EdelenBenny Joe Edelen was touted as one of the all-time great high school athletes in the state of Oklahoma. A recipient of the Jim Thorpe award, Joe excelled in basketball and baseball receiving All-State and All-America honors in both sports. Joe is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who...
and Neil FialaNeil Stephen Fiala is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in five games in the majors in September , all as a pinch hitter. He pinch-hit three times for the St...
.
Roster
| 1981 Cincinnati Reds roster |
| Roster |
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
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Outfielders
Other batters
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Manager
Coaches
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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 |
| CF |
|
101 |
396 |
123 |
.311 |
2 |
34 |
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 |
| |
9 |
6 |
2 |
.333 |
0 |
1 |
| |
2 |
2 |
1 |
.500 |
0 |
1 |
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 |
| |
21 |
126 |
9 |
6 |
3.50 |
106 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
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 |
| |
24 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
5.77 |
16 |
| |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0.71 |
5 |
Farm system