1981 Toronto Blue Jays season
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Blue Jays
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League
East with a record of 37 wins and 69 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players strike and the league chose as its playoff teams, the division winners from the first and second halves of the season, respectively.
, George Bell, and Lloyd Moseby
in the lineup, the team continued to struggle.
On May 15, , Len Barker
of the Cleveland Indians
pitched a perfect game
against the Blue Jays. It was the tenth perfect game ever pitched, is one of only seventeen in the history of the major leagues, and remains the last no-hitter thrown by an Indian.
The result was one of the more controversial times in franchise history. The President of the Blue Jays, Peter Bavasi, went to see the team in Anaheim against the California Angels
. Bavasi's father, Buzzie Bavasi
was the president of the Angels, and his team had gotten off to a lacklustre start. Buzzie wanted to fire Angels manager Jim Fregosi
, and Peter Bavasi had the idea to fire his manager, Bobby Mattick
. Both thought it would be big news if father and son fired their manager on the same night. One of the Blue Jays executives advised the Jays Vice-Chairman of the Board, Peter Hardy. After a brief conversation, Hardy made it clear to Peter Bavasi that Mattick would not be fired in this way.
After the strike was resolved, the Blue Jays started the second half of the season with a close to .500 winning percentage. Peter Bavasi was heard to muse aloud the requirement to print World Series tickets. The Jays would finish the second half with 21 wins and 27 losses, seven and a half games out of first place. Despite the attempted Bavasi firing, Mattick would resign as manager at the end of the season. On November 22, 1981, Hardy forced Bavasi to resign from the Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
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 Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
East with a record of 37 wins and 69 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players strike and the league chose as its playoff teams, the division winners from the first and second halves of the season, respectively.
Offseason
- December 8, 1980: 1980 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...
- George Bell was drafted by the Blue Jays from the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. - Dan WhitmerDan WhitmerDaniel Charles Whitmer is a former professional baseball player and coach. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, 1980 for the California Angels and 1981 for the Toronto Blue Jays, primarily as a catcher....
was drafted by the Blue Jays from 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...
.
- George Bell was drafted by the Blue Jays from the Philadelphia Phillies
- January 15, 1981: Ken MachaKen MachaKenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...
was purchased by the Blue Jays from the Montreal ExposMontreal ExposThe Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
.
Regular season
The Blue Jays were one of the worst teams in the majors in the first half of the split season, as the Blue Jays had a record of 16 wins and 42 losses, a percentage of .276. Although the Blue Jays had future stars Jesse BarfieldJesse Barfield
Jesse Lee Barfield is a former Major League Baseball right fielder who played for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed. He lived in Tenafly, a suburb of New York City.Barfield was well known for his powerful, accurate throwing arm...
, George Bell, and Lloyd Moseby
Lloyd Moseby
Lloyd Anthony Moseby was a Major League Baseball player. A center fielder, and good all-around athlete, Moseby's nickname Shaker was said to stem from his ability to get away from or "shake" players who attempted to defend him on the basketball court.Born in Portland, Arkansas, Moseby graduated...
in the lineup, the team continued to struggle.
On May 15, , Len Barker
Len Barker
Leonard Harold Barker III , better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Cleveland Indians
1981 Cleveland Indians season
- Offseason :* December 8, 1980: Dan Spillner was signed as a free agent by the Indians. * December 9, 1980: Gary Alexander, Víctor Cruz, Rafael Vásquez, and Bob Owchinko were traded by the Indians to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillen....
pitched a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
against the Blue Jays. It was the tenth perfect game ever pitched, is one of only seventeen in the history of the major leagues, and remains the last no-hitter thrown by an Indian.
The result was one of the more controversial times in franchise history. The President of the Blue Jays, Peter Bavasi, went to see the team in Anaheim against the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The 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...
. Bavasi's father, Buzzie Bavasi
Buzzie Bavasi
Emil Joseph "Buzzie" Bavasi was an American executive in Major League Baseball who played a major role in the operation of three franchises from the late 1940s through the mid-1980s....
was the president of the Angels, and his team had gotten off to a lacklustre start. Buzzie wanted to fire Angels manager Jim Fregosi
Jim Fregosi
James Louis Fregosi is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played from 1961–1978 for four different teams, primarily the Los Angeles and California Angels. In that franchise's first eleven years of play, he became its first star as the team's...
, and Peter Bavasi had the idea to fire his manager, Bobby Mattick
Bobby Mattick
Robert James Mattick was a shortstop, manager and scout in Major League Baseball, most notably in the Toronto Blue Jays organization....
. Both thought it would be big news if father and son fired their manager on the same night. One of the Blue Jays executives advised the Jays Vice-Chairman of the Board, Peter Hardy. After a brief conversation, Hardy made it clear to Peter Bavasi that Mattick would not be fired in this way.
After the strike was resolved, the Blue Jays started the second half of the season with a close to .500 winning percentage. Peter Bavasi was heard to muse aloud the requirement to print World Series tickets. The Jays would finish the second half with 21 wins and 27 losses, seven and a half games out of first place. Despite the attempted Bavasi firing, Mattick would resign as manager at the end of the season. On November 22, 1981, Hardy forced Bavasi to resign from the Blue Jays.
Opening Day starters
- Danny AingeDanny AingeDaniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
- Barry BonnellBarry BonnellRobert Barry Bonnell , is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball.He was a star athlete at Milford High School near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he played both varsity baseball and basketball on championship teams...
- Jim ClancyJim Clancy (baseball)James Clancy is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays , Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves . He batted and threw right-handed....
- Dámaso GarcíaDámaso GarcíaDámaso Domingo García Sánchez is a former Major League Baseball player best known for his time spent with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980s....
- Alfredo GriffinAlfredo GriffinAlfredo Claudino Griffin is a former Major League Baseball player, who played shortstop for four teams from 1976 to 1993. He is currently the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.-Playing career:...
- John MayberryJohn MayberryJohn Claiborn Mayberry is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees from 1968 to 1982.-High school and minor leagues:...
- Lloyd MosebyLloyd MosebyLloyd Anthony Moseby was a Major League Baseball player. A center fielder, and good all-around athlete, Moseby's nickname Shaker was said to stem from his ability to get away from or "shake" players who attempted to defend him on the basketball court.Born in Portland, Arkansas, Moseby graduated...
- Otto VélezOtto VélezOtoniel "Otto" Vélez Franceschi was a Major League Baseball outfielder from to . He was nicknamed "The Swatto"....
- Ernie WhittErnie WhittLeo Ernest "Ernie" Whitt is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach who is the current manager for the minor league Clearwater Threshers. He is noted for the twelve years he spent as a player with the Toronto Blue Jays...
- Al WoodsAlvis WoodsAlvis "Al" Woods is a former left fielder who played in Major League Baseball between and . He batted and threw left-handed....
Notable transactions
- 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...
- Matt WilliamsMatt Williams (right-handed pitcher)Matthew Evan Williams is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball: 1983 for the Toronto Blue Jays and 1985 for the Texas Rangers....
was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (5th pick). - Mike SharpersonMike SharpersonMichael Tyrone Sharperson was an infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays , Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves . Sharperson batted and threw right-handed...
was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (11th pick) of the Secondary Phase.
- Matt Williams
- June 10, 1981: Rick BosettiRick BosettiRichard Alan Bosetti is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, and Oakland Athletics....
was purchased from the Blue Jays by the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Roster
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Game log
| 1981 Game Log | |
|---|---|
|
|
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 74 | 195 | 16 | 46 | 9 | 0 | .236 | 1 | 16 | 5 | |
| 1B | 94 | 290 | 34 | 72 | 6 | 1 | .248 | 17 | 43 | 1 | |
| 2B | 64 | 250 | 24 | 63 | 8 | 1 | .252 | 1 | 13 | 13 | |
| 3B | 86 | 246 | 20 | 46 | 6 | 2 | .187 | 0 | 14 | 8 | |
| SS | 101 | 388 | 30 | 81 | 19 | 6 | .209 | 0 | 21 | 8 | |
| LF | 85 | 288 | 20 | 71 | 15 | 0 | .247 | 1 | 21 | 3 | |
| CF | 100 | 378 | 36 | 88 | 16 | 2 | .233 | 9 | 43 | 11 | |
| RF | 66 | 227 | 21 | 50 | 7 | 4 | .220 | 4 | 28 | 4 | |
| DH | 80 | 240 | 32 | 51 | 9 | 2 | .213 | 11 | 28 | 0 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | 215 | 17 | 52 | 11 | 0 | .242 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 61 | 111 | 15 | 19 | 3 | 1 | .171 | 4 | 10 | 2 | |
| 60 | 163 | 19 | 38 | 2 | 1 | .233 | 5 | 12 | 3 | |
| 45 | 128 | 13 | 29 | 8 | 1 | .227 | 4 | 21 | 1 | |
| 37 | 85 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 0 | .200 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 32 | 73 | 7 | 18 | 5 | 0 | .247 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 25 | 95 | 7 | 22 | 3 | 2 | .232 | 2 | 9 | 4 | |
| 25 | 47 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 0 | .234 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 16 | 50 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 0 | .300 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 14 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .143 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 8 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .111 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 25 | 183.2 | 11 | 10 | 3.19 | 70 | 65 | 61 | 89 | |
| 22 | 22 | 125.0 | 6 | 12 | 4.90 | 77 | 68 | 64 | 56 | |
| 12 | 11 | 71.0 | 2 | 9 | 4.31 | 41 | 34 | 35 | 29 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 19 | 129.2 | 7 | 13 | 1 | 3.68 | 63 | 53 | 44 | 71 | |
| 21 | 13 | 97.2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3.96 | 51 | 43 | 31 | 41 | |
| 20 | 11 | 90.1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3.89 | 42 | 39 | 35 | 33 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60.0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 2.85 | 24 | 19 | 21 | 38 | |
| 39 | 62.0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 2.61 | 23 | 18 | 25 | 27 | |
| 35 | 53.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.40 | 20 | 20 | 23 | 25 | |
| 20 | 35.0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5.91 | 25 | 23 | 20 | 16 | |
| 12 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.20 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 5 | |
| 11 | 15.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1.17 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | |
| 8 | 14.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.36 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 9 | |
| 1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Award winners
All-Star Game1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 52nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on August 9, 1981, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of...
- Dave Stieb, Pitcher