1981 Seattle Mariners season
Encyclopedia
The Seattle Mariners
1981 season
was their 5th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 6th in the American League West
, finishing with a record of 44-65. Due to the 1981 player's strike, the division's were split in half, pre-strike and post-strike results. The Mariners finished 6th with a 21-36 record in the first half and 5th with a 23-29 record in the second half.
, a California
real estate developer, for an estimated $12.5 million. The sale of the team, that needed the approval of 10 out of 14 owners of American League teams, received a unanimous vote of consent. On April 25, 1981, Mariners' manager Maury Wills
advised the Kingdome groundskeepers to enlarge the batter's box by a foot. A's manager Billy Martin
noticed. Martin showed umpire Bill Kunkel that the batter's box was seven feet long instead of six feet. Martin felt that batters being able to move up a foot in the box could cut at pitches before a curveball broke. Wills was suspended for two games and fined $500. In June, while the Mariners were in Arlington, Texas
playing the Texas Rangers
, the Mariners had their uniforms stolen and were forced to ware their warm-up jerseys, Milwaukee Brewers
' caps, and Rangers' batting helmets.
Seattle Mariners
The 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...
1981 season
1981 in baseball
-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...
was their 5th since the franchise creation, and ended the season finishing 6th in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
, finishing with a record of 44-65. Due to the 1981 player's strike, the division's were split in half, pre-strike and post-strike results. The Mariners finished 6th with a 21-36 record in the first half and 5th with a 23-29 record in the second half.
Offseason
- November 18, 1980: Brad GuldenBrad GuldenBradley "Brad" Lee Gulden is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Montreal Expos, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. He debuted with the Dodgers on September 22, 1978 against the San Diego Padres after being...
was traded by the New York Yankees with $150,000 to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later and Larry Milbourne. The Seattle Mariners sent back Brad Gulden (May 18, 1981) to the New York Yankees to complete the trade. In effect, Brad Gulden was traded for himself. - December 8, 1980: Gary GrayGary Gray (baseball)Gary George Gray is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played parts of six seasons from until...
was selected by the Mariners from the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - December 12, 1980: Byron McLaughlinByron McLaughlinByron Scott McLaughlin is a retired professional baseball player, alleged counterfeit shoes manufacturer, and convicted money launderer. His baseball career spanned nine seasons, four of which were spent in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners , and the California Angels...
was traded by the Mariners to the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Willie NorwoodWillie Norwood (baseball)Willie Norwood is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for the Minnesota Twins from to .-External links:...
. - December 12, 1980: Willie Horton, Larry Cox, Rick HoneycuttRick HoneycuttFrederick Wayne "Rick" Honeycutt is the current pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Honeycutt was a left-handed pitcher for 21 years from 1977 to 1997. He played with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, and the St. Louis Cardinals...
, Mario MendozaMario MendozaMario Mendoza Aizpuru is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Mendoza, a lifetime 0.215 hitter, is best known as the threshold for batting aptitude, with the "Mendoza Line", meaning a batting average of .200....
, and Leon RobertsLeon RobertsLeon Kauffman Roberts is a former major league outfielder who played for the Detroit Tigers , Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , Toronto Blue Jays , and Kansas City Royals...
were traded by the Mariners to the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for Richie ZiskRichie ZiskRichard Walter Zisk is a retired Major League Baseball player currently in charge of pro scouting in Florida for the Chicago Cubs.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
, Rick AuerbachRick AuerbachFrederick "Rick" Steven Auerbach was a shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played from - with the Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners...
, Ken ClayKen ClayKenneth Earl Clay is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues from to for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners. Clay appeared at the Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium...
, Jerry Don GleatonJerry Don GleatonJerry Don Gleaton was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1979 to 1992 for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Became an All-American at the University of Texas and the Most Valuable Player of the Southwest Conference...
, Brian AllardBrian AllardBrian Marshall Allard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners . His fastball was 90-95 mph. He also threw a curveball, slider, and changeup...
, and Steve Finch (minors). - March 26, 1981: Dave HeaverloDave HeaverloDavid Wallace Heaverlo is a former right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.He attended Moses Lake High School in Moses Lake, Washington, graduating in 1968. He then went on to Central Washington University, in Ellensburg, Washington, where he graduated in 1973...
was released by the Mariners. - March 26, 1981: Willie Norwood was released by the Seattle Mariners.
Overview
On January 14, 1981, the Mariners' were sold to George ArgyrosGeorge Argyros
George Leon Argyros is the former United States Ambassador to Spain. He is also a successful real estate investor, and was the owner of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners from 1981 to 1989.-Early and personal life:...
, a California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
real estate developer, for an estimated $12.5 million. The sale of the team, that needed the approval of 10 out of 14 owners of American League teams, received a unanimous vote of consent. On April 25, 1981, Mariners' manager Maury Wills
Maury Wills
Maurice Morning "Maury" Wills is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitting batter who played most prominently with the Los Angeles Dodgers , and also with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Montreal Expos...
advised the Kingdome groundskeepers to enlarge the batter's box by a foot. A's manager Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
noticed. Martin showed umpire Bill Kunkel that the batter's box was seven feet long instead of six feet. Martin felt that batters being able to move up a foot in the box could cut at pitches before a curveball broke. Wills was suspended for two games and fined $500. In June, while the Mariners were in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
playing the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, the Mariners had their uniforms stolen and were forced to ware their warm-up jerseys, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' caps, and Rangers' batting helmets.
Notable transactions
- April 8, 1981: 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"...
was traded by the Mariners to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe 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"...
for 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...
. - April 8, 1981: Bob GalassoBob GalassoRobert Joseph Galasso is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in three seasons in the major leagues between and .-External links:...
was signed as a free agent by the Mariners. - June 8, 1981: 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...
- Phil BradleyPhil BradleyPhilip Poole Bradley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder/designated hitter with an 8 year career from to . He played for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox of the American League and Philadelphia Phillies of the National League. He was elected to the American...
was drafted by the Mariners in the 3rd round. - Charlie O'BrienCharlie O'BrienCharles Hugh O'Brien is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Oakland Athletics , Milwaukee Brewers , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , Toronto Blue Jays , Chicago White Sox , Anaheim Angels and Montreal Expos .While growing up in Tulsa, O'Brien attended and graduated...
was drafted by the Mariners in the 21st round, but did not sign.
- Phil Bradley
Roster
| 1981 Seattle Mariners roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 94 | 352 | 90 | .256 | 2 | 24 | |
| 3B | 83 | 252 | 66 | .262 | 3 | 22 | |
| DH | 94 | 357 | 111 | .311 | 16 | 43 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | 208 | 51 | .245 | 13 | 31 | |
| 30 | 94 | 24 | .255 | 4 | 9 | |
| 38 | 84 | 13 | .155 | 1 | 6 | |
| 36 | 22 | 5 | .227 | 1 | 5 | |
| 15 | 18 | 4 | .222 | 0 | 2 | |
| 12 | 6 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | 2 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 130.1 | 4 | 9 | 3.94 | 35 | |
| 21 | 121.1 | 9 | 9 | 4.45 | 85 | |
| 13 | 66.2 | 3 | 2 | 2.97 | 36 | |
| 7 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 3.75 | 20 | |
| 5 | 34.2 | 2 | 1 | 2.60 | 22 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 101 | 2 | 7 | 4.63 | 32 | |
| 20 | 85.1 | 4 | 7 | 4.75 | 31 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2.66 | 40 | |
| 39 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5.53 | 27 | |
| 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4.83 | 14 | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10.61 | 6 | |
Awards and records
- Julio Cruz, American League record, Most chances accepted in one nine-inning game (18 chances on June 7, 1981)