1981 Chicago Cubs season
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Cubs
' 1981 season
was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Chicago Cubs finishing the first-half in last place at 15-37, 17½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and the second-half in fifth place at 23-28, six games behind the eventual NL East Champion Montreal Expos
in the National League East
. It was also the final season for the Cubs under the Wrigley family ownership, as the Tribune Company
took over the club late in the year.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
' 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 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 Chicago Cubs finishing the first-half in last place at 15-37, 17½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and the second-half in fifth place at 23-28, six games behind the eventual NL East Champion Montreal Expos
1981 Montreal Expos season
The Montreal Expos made it to the postseason for the only time in franchise history. The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike.- Offseason :...
in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
. It was also the final season for the Cubs under the Wrigley family ownership, as the Tribune Company
Tribune Company
The Tribune Company is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, with ten daily newspapers and commuter tabloids including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida...
took over the club late in the year.
Offseason
- December 9, 1980: Bruce SutterBruce SutterHoward Bruce Sutter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the splitter....
was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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 Leon DurhamLeon DurhamLeon "Bull" Durham is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 10 seasons. Durham played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , and Cincinnati Reds...
, Ken ReitzKen ReitzKenneth John Reitz is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. A right-handed hitter, Reitz played for the St...
, and a player to be named later. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending Tye WallerTye WallerElliott Tyrone Waller or more commonly known as Tye Waller or Ty Waller, is the first base coach for Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics franchise, and a former major league third baseman....
to the Cubs on December 22. - December 12, 1980: Jerry MartinJerry MartinJerry Lindsey Martin is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is the son of major league pitcher Barney Martin....
, Jesús FigueroaJesus FigueroaJesús Maria Figueroa is a former Major League Baseball player. He played in the 1980 baseball season with the Chicago Cubs. Figueroa batted and threw left-handed....
and a player to be named later was traded by the Cubs to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Joe StrainJoe StrainJoseph Allan Strain , was a professional baseball player who was an infielder in the Major Leagues from to for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants.He was born in Denver, Colorado.-External links:...
and Philip NastuPhilip NastuPhilip "Phil" Nastu is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Nastu played for the San Francisco Giants from to .-External links:*...
. The Cubs completed the deal by sending Mike Turgeon (minors) to the Giants on August 11, 1981. - February 26, 1981: George RileyGeorge Riley (baseball)George Michael Riley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Montreal Expos.-Sources:...
was released by the Cubs. - March 28, 1981: Dennis LampDennis LampDennis Patrick Lamp is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1977 through 1992, Lamp played for the Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox , Toronto Blue Jays , Oakland Athletics , Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates .-Career:In a 19-season career, Lamp posted a...
was traded by the Cubs to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Ken KravecKen KravecKen Kravec , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975-1982. Ken graduated from Midpark High School and played college baseball at Ashland University.-Fast Facts:...
.
Notable transactions
- April 6, 1981: Butch BentonButch BentonAlfred Lee "Butch" Benton was a right-handed catcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland Indians from 1978 to 1985....
was acquired by the Cubs from the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
as part of a conditional deal. - June 8, 1981: Joe CarterJoe CarterJoseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
was drafted by the Cubs in the 1st round (2nd 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...
. Player signed June 12, 1981. - June 12, 1981: Rick ReuschelRick ReuschelRickey Eugene Reuschel is a former professional baseball pitcher from the early 1970s into the early 1990s. His nickname was "Big Daddy" because of his portly physique...
was traded by the Cubs to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Doug BirdDoug BirdJames Douglas Bird was a Major League Baseball pitcher from to . Bird was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 3rd round of the 1969 amateur draft's secondary phase....
, a player to be named later, and $400,000. The Yankees completed the trade by sending Mike GriffinMike Griffin (pitcher)Michael Leroy Griffin is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during six seasons at the major league level for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 3rd round of the amateur draft...
on August 5. - August 19, 1981: The Cubs traded players to be named later to the New York Yankees for Pat TablerPat TablerPatrick Sean "Pat" Tabler is a former Major League Baseball player and currently a color analyst for the Toronto Blue Jays on the Canadian sports television network Rogers Sportsnet and formerly with Rod Black on TSN....
. The Cubs completed the trade by sending Bill CaudillBill CaudillWilliam Holland Caudill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. One of the wackier players to play the game, Caudill was also one of baseball's top closers from to . Caudill is perhaps most notable for being agent Scott Boras' first client.-Early years:Caudill was drafted by the St...
to the Yankees on April 1, 1982, and Jay HowellJay HowellJay Canfield Howell is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers .Howell was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when they won the 1988 World Series...
to the Yankees on August 2, 1982.
Roster
| 1981 Chicago Cubs | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 82 | 260 | 56 | .215 | 2 | 28 | |
| RF | 87 | 328 | 95 | .290 | 10 | 35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 71 | 19 | .268 | 3 | 13 | |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 75.1 | 4 | 5 | 3.58 | 34 | |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0.56 | 7 | |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|