1981 Houston Astros
National League West Co-Champions
LeagueNational League
DivisionWest
BallparkAstrodome
CityHouston, Texas
Record61–49 (55.5%)
Divisional place3rd (first half); 1st (second half)
OwnersJohn McMullen
General managersAl Rosen
ManagersBill Virdon
TelevisionKRIV–TV 26
(Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker)
RadioKENR–AM 1070
(Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker)
← 1980 Seasons 1982 →

The 1981 Houston Astros season was the 20th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. The season was divided into two halves because of a players' strike in mid-season. The Astros won the National League West in the second half with a loss by the Cincinnati Reds on October 3, the penultimate day of the season.[1] The Astros advanced to the playoffs, which matched the winners of the two halves in a Division Series (the name would be re-introduced fourteen years later). However, they were defeated in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

NL West 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cincinnati Reds 66 42 0.611 — 32–22 34–20
Los Angeles Dodgers 63 47 0.573 4 33–23 30–24
Houston Astros 61 49 0.555 6 31–20 30–29
San Francisco Giants 56 55 0.505 11½ 29–24 27–31
Atlanta Braves 50 56 0.472 15 22–27 28–29
San Diego Padres 41 69 0.373 26 20–35 21–34
NL West
First Half Standings 		W L Pct. GB
Los Angeles Dodgers 36 21 .632 —
Cincinnati Reds 35 21 .625 1⁄2
Houston Astros 28 29 .491 8
Atlanta Braves 25 29 .463 9+1⁄2
San Francisco Giants 27 32 .458 10
San Diego Padres 23 33 .411 12+1⁄2
NL West
Second Half Standings 		W L Pct. GB
Houston Astros 33 20 .623 —
Cincinnati Reds 31 21 .596 1+1⁄2
San Francisco Giants 29 23 .558 3+1⁄2
Los Angeles Dodgers 27 26 .509 6
Atlanta Braves 25 27 .481 7+1⁄2
San Diego Padres 18 36 .333 15+1⁄2

Record vs. opponents

1981 National League record

Sources: [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Team ATL CHC CIN HOU LAD MON NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL
Atlanta — 3–2–1 6–5 4–8 7–7 3–7 3–3 4–5 2–3 9–6 5–7 4–3
Chicago 2–3–1 — 1–5 1–6 6–4 4–7 5–8–1 2–10 4–10 3–3 5–5 5–4–1
Cincinnati 5–6 5–1 — 8–4 8–8 5–4 7–3 5–2 4–2 10–2 9–5 0–5
Houston 8–4 6–1 4–8 — 4–8 5–2 6–3 4–6 2–4 11–3 9–6 2–4
Los Angeles 7–7 4–6 8–8 8–4 — 5–2 5–1 3–3 5–1 6–5 7–5 5–5
Montreal 7–3 7–4 4–5 2–5 2–5 — 9–3 7–4 10–3 4–2 2–5 6–9
New York 3–3 8–5–1 3–7 3–6 1–5 3–9 — 7–7 3–6–1 2–5 2–4 6–5
Philadelphia 5-4 10–2 2–5 6–4 3–3 4–7 7–7 — 7–5 4–2 4–3 7–6
Pittsburgh 3–2 10–4 2–4 4–2 1–5 3–10 6–3–1 5–7 — 6–4 3–7 3–8
San Diego 6–9 3–3 2–10 3–11 5–6 2–4 5–2 2–4 4–6 — 6–7 3–7
San Francisco 7–5 5–5 5–9 6–9 5–7 5–2 4–2 3–4 7–3 7–6 — 2–3
St. Louis 3–4 4–5–1 5–0 4–2 5–5 9–6 5–6 6–7 8–3 7–3 3–2 —


Notable transactions

Nolan Ryan's 5th No-Hitter

On September 26, 1981, Nolan Ryan no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, on national television. The 34-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher to throw five career no-hitters.[10] It had been six years since Ryan's last no-hitter; he pitched for the California Angels for the last of four no-hitters.

Roster

1981 Houston Astros
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Game log

Regular season (First half)

1981 regular season game log: 28–29 (home: 14–14; away: 14–15)
April: 7–12 (home: 4–9; away: 3–3)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
1 April 9 3:05 p.m. CST @ Dodgers L 0–2 Valenzuela (1–0) Niekro (0–1) – 2:17 50,511 0–1 L1
2 April 11 9:05 p.m. CST @ Dodgers L 4–7 Hooton (1–0) Sutton (0–1) – 2:56 51,691 0–2 L2
3 April 12 3:05 p.m. CST @ Dodgers L 2–3 Sutcliffe (1–0) Ruhle (0–1) Howe (1) 2:16 50,734 0–3 L3
4 April 13 7:35 p.m. CST Braves L 1–2 (10) Camp (1–0) Sambito (0–1) Bradford (1) 2:57 34,961 0–4 L4
5 April 14 7:35 p.m. CST Braves W 8–2 Niekro (1–1) Walk (0–1) – 2:38 21,440 1–4 W1
6 April 15 7:35 p.m. CST Braves W 2–0 Ryan (1–0) Boggs (0–1) LaCorte (1) 2:00 22,365 2–4 W2
7 April 17 7:35 p.m. CST Pirates L 3–4 Rhoden (2–0) Sutton (0–2) Romo (2) 2:28 39,119 2–5 L1
8 April 18 12:50 p.m. CST Pirates L 3–6 (11) Jackson (1–0) Smith (0–1) – 3:06 29,790 2–6 L2
9 April 19 2:05 p.m. CST Pirates L 0–2 Scurry (1–0) Niekro (1–2) Solomon (1) 2:21 30,394 2–7 L3
10 April 20 7:35 p.m. CST Dodgers L 2–5 Hooton (3–0) Andújar (0–1) Goltz (1) 2:34 21,370 2–8 L4
11 April 21 7:35 p.m. CST Dodgers W 1–0 Knepper (1–0) Reuss (0–1) – 1:48 21,904 3–8 W1
12 April 22 6:05 p.m. CST Dodgers L 0–1 Valenzuela (4–0) Sutton (0–3) – 2:24 22,830 3–9 L1
13 April 23 7:35 p.m. CST Reds L 4–5 (10) Price (1–0) Smith (0–2) Moskau (1) 3:06 23,173 3–10 L2
14 April 24 7:35 p.m. CST Reds L 0–3 Pastore (1–0) Niekro (1–3) – 2:23 27,087 3–11 L3
15 April 25 12:50 p.m. CST Reds L 1–2 Berenyi (2–0) Ryan (1–1) Hume (1) 2:45 19,957 3–12 L4
16 April 26 2:05 p.m. CDT Reds W 1–0 Knepper (2–0) Soto (1–3) – 2:21 23,428 4–12 W1
17 April 28 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 2–1 Sutton (1–3) Montefusco (1–2) Smith (1) 2:34 8,669 5–12 W2
18 April 29 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 5–4 LaCorte (1–0) Camp (2–1) – 3:18 8,334 6–12 W3
19 April 30 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 5–1 Niekro (2–3) Boggs (1–3) – 2:19 10,006 7–12 W4
May: 17–12 (home: 8–4; away: 9–8)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
20 May 1 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 5–3 Sambito (1–1) Solomon (0–1) – 3:01 7,012 8–12 W5
21 May 2 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Pirates L 4–5 (12) Solomon (1–1) Smith (0–3) – 3:56 21,993 8–13 L1
22 May 3 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Pirates W 3–1 Sutton (2–3) Bibby (1–1) Smith (2) 3:15 10,438 9–13 W1
23 May 4 1:35 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 5–4 Andújar (1–1) Krukow (1–2) Sambito (1) 3:02 2,941 10–13 W2
24 May 5 1:35 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 4–3 Smith (1–3) Smith (0–2) – 2:41 2,092 11–13 W3
25 May 6 1:35 p.m. CDT @ Cubs L 1–2 (11) Smith (1–2) LaCorte (1–1) – 3:27 2,572 11–14 W4
26 May 7 1:35 p.m. CDT @ Cubs W 6–0 Knepper (3–0) Martz (1–1) – 2:40 3,112 12–14 L1
27 May 8 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds L 0–4 Seaver (3–1) Sutton (2–4) – 2:21 31,961 12–15 L1
28 May 9 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Reds L 5–9 Berenyi (3–1) Andújar (1–2) – 2:38 30,860 12–16 L2
29 May 10 1:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 7–5 Niekro (3–3) Pastore (1–1) LaCorte (2) 2:44 31,903 13–16 W1
30 May 11 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 5–0 Ryan (2–1) LaCoss (1–4) – 2:36 11,795 14–16 W2
31 May 12 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals L 2–3 (10) Sutter (1–1) Sambito (1–2) Kaat (2) 2:26 20,020 13–17 L1
32 May 13 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals W 3–0 Sutton (3–4) Shirley (4–1) – 2:24 21,705 14–17 W1
33 May 14 7:35 p.m. CDT Cardinals L 6–7 Otten (1–0) Sambito (1–3) Sutter (6) 2:54 20,042 14–18 L1
34 May 15 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 5–0 Niekro (4–3) Caudill (0–3) – 2:16 23,718 16–18 W1
35 May 16 7:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 6–1 Ryan (3–1) Martz (1–2) Sambito (2) 2:48 43,726 17–18 W2
36 May 17 2:35 p.m. CDT Cubs W 6–1 Knepper (4–0) Krukow (1–4) – 2:34 34,068 18–18 W3
37 May 19 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals L 12–15 Kaat (2–0) Sprowl (0–1) – 3:03 14,585 18–19 L1
38 May 20 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals W 4–3 (11) Niekro (5–3) Sutter (1–2) Sambito (3) 2:47 19,175 19–19 W1
39 May 21 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Cardinals L 1–3 Martin (1–0) Ryan (3–2) – 2:13 19,823 19–20 L1
40 May 22 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants L 3–6 (15) Minton (2–2) Andújar (1–3) – 4:38 30,377 19–21 L2
41 May 23 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 5–3 LaCorte (2–1) Whitson (1–5) – 3:09 38,586 20–21 W1
42 May 24 5:00 p.m. CDT Giants L 1–2 Blue (4–3) Sutton (3–5) Minton (9) 2:26 34,922 20–22 L1
43 May 25 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 6–3 Niekro (6–3) Mura (1–7) Sambito (4) 2:41 19,025 21–22 W1
44 May 26 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 1–0 Ryan (4–2) Eichelberger (4–3) Sambito (5) 2:23 17,709 22–22 W2
45 May 27 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 1–0 Knepper (5–0) Welsh (2–3) – 1:50 21,256 23–22 W3
46 May 29 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Giants L 1–3 Blue (5–3) Sutton (3–6) Holland (2) 2:22 8,397 23–23 L1
47 May 30 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 9–8 (14) Andújar (2–3) Breining (1–1) Ruhle (1) 4:33 8,869 24–23 W1
48 May 31 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants L 1–6 Griffin (4–3) Ryan (4–3) Holland (3) 2:34 20,626 24–24 L1
June: 4–5 (home: 2–1; away: 2–4)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
49 June 2 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 2–1 LaCorte (3–1) Welsh (2–4) Sambito (6) 2:19 9,671 25–24 W1
50 June 3 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 6–1 Sutton (4–6) Wise (2–5) – 2:25 10,023 26–24 W2
51 June 4 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 5–7 Mura (3–7) Niekro (6–4) Lucas (8) 2:31 12,403 26–25 L1
52 June 5 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 3–0 Ryan (5–3) Jones (1–6) – 2:09 28,085 27–25 W1
53 June 6 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 6–2 Ruhle (1–1) Zachry (5–6) Smith (3) 2:17 42,478 28–25 W2
54 June 7 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets L 1–3 Scott (3–4) Knepper (5–1) Allen (6) 2:13 29,873 28–26 L1
55 June 8 7:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 3–4 Ruthven (8–3) Sutton (4–7) McGraw (6) 2:41 31,664 28–27 L2
56 June 9 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 3–10 Bystrom (4–3) Niekro (6–5) Reed (5) 2:17 33,978 28–28 L3
57 June 10 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 4–5 Carlton (9–1) LaCorte (3–2) McGraw (7) 2:22 57,386 28–29 L4
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Regular season (games canceled by the 1981 Major League Baseball strike)

1981 regular season game log
June
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
– June 12 @ Mets Canceled (Strike)
– June 13 @ Mets Canceled (Strike)
– June 14 @ Mets Canceled (Strike)
– June 15 @ Expos Canceled (Strike)
– June 16 @ Expos Canceled (Strike)
– June 17 Phillies Canceled (Strike)
– June 18 Phillies Canceled (Strike)
– June 19 Expos Canceled (Strike)
– June 20 Expos Canceled (Strike)
– June 21 Expos Canceled (Strike)
– June 23 @ Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– June 24 @ Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– June 25 @ Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– June 26 Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– June 27 Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– June 28 Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– June 29 Reds Canceled (Strike)
– June 30 Reds Canceled (Strike)
July
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
– July 1 Reds Canceled (Strike)
– July 3 @ Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 4 @ Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 5 @ Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 7 @ Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– July 8 @ Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– July 9 @ Dodgers Canceled (Strike)
– July 10 Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 11 Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 12 Braves Canceled (Strike)
– July 16 @ Reds Canceled (Strike)
– July 17 @ Reds Canceled (Strike)
– July 18 @ Reds Canceled (Strike)
– July 19 @ Cubs Canceled (Strike)
– July 20 @ Cubs Canceled (Strike)
– July 21 Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– July 22 Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– July 23 Pirates Canceled (Strike)
– July 24 Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
– July 25 Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
– July 26 Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
– July 27 Cubs Canceled (Strike)
– July 28 Cubs Canceled (Strike)
– July 29 Cubs Canceled (Strike)
– July 31 @ Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
August
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
– August 1 @ Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
– August 2 @ Cardinals Canceled (Strike)
– August 3 Giants Canceled (Strike)
– August 4 Giants Canceled (Strike)
– August 5 Giants Canceled (Strike)
– August 7 Padres Canceled (Strike)
– August 8 Padres Canceled (Strike)
– August 9 Padres Canceled (Strike)
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Regular season (Second half)

1981 regular season game log: 33–20 (home: 17–6; away: 16–14)
August: 13–8 (home: 7–1; away: 6–7)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
52nd All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio
1 {58) August 10 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 6–5 Sambito (2–3) Breining (2–2) LaCorte (3) 3:08 11,115 1–0 (29–29) W1
2 (59) August 11 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Giants L 2–3 Griffin (5–5) Niekro (6–6) Minton (10) 2:36 12,354 1–1 (29–30) L1
3 (60) August 12 2:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 5–4 Sambito (3–3) Holland (3–3) Smith (1) 2:51 8,707 2–1 (30–30) W1
4 (61) August 13 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres L 1–9 Welsh (4–4) Knepper (5–2) – 2:29 4,899 2–2 (30–31) L1
5 (62) August 14 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–1 Ryan (6–3) Lollar (1–5) – 2:24 8,414 3–2 (31–31) W1
6 (63) August 15 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–0 Sutton (5–7) Eichelberger (6–4) – 1:59 5,852 4–2 (32–31) W2
7 (64) August 16 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 3–0 Niekro (7–6) Mura (4–9) Smith (4) 2:16 5,880 5–2 (33–31) W3
8 (65) August 17 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos L 2–6 Burris (5–5) Ruhle (1–2) Fryman (4) 2:19 24,203 5–3 (33–32) L1
9 {66) August 18 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 4–2 Knepper (6–2) Rogers (8–5) Sambito (7) 2:04 23,306 6–3 (34–32) W1
10 (67) August 19 7:35 p.m. CDT Expos W 9–1 Ryan (7–3) Sanderson (6–4) Smith (5) 2:39 27,169 7–3 (35–32) W2
11 (68) August 21 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 4–5 Lyle (6–2) Ruhle (1–3) McGraw (8) 2:41 31,693 7–4 (35–33) L1
12 (69) August 22 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 4–8 Ruthven (9–5) Niekro (7–7) – 2:16 35,199 7–5 (35–34) L2
13 (70) August 23 6:05 p.m. CDT @ Phillies L 0–6 Carlton (10–3) Knepper (6–3) – 1:51 30,630 7–6 (35–35) L3
14 (71) August 25 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 1–2 Marshall (1–0) Sambito (3–4) – 2:32 15,622 7–7 (35–36) L4
15 (72) August 26 7:05 p.m. CDT @ Mets W 9–3 Sutton (6–7) Zachry (6–9) – 2:34 16,731 8–7 (36–36) W1
16 (73) August 27 1:05 p.m. CDT @ Mets L 2–3 Marshall (2–0) Sambito (3–5) Allen (12) 2:28 17,488 8–8 (36–37) L1
17 (74) August 28 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies W 3–2 (10) Smith (2–3) Lyle (6–3) – 2:37 29,482 9–8 (37–37) W1
18 (75) August 29 (1) 5:35 p.m. CDT Phillies W 6–1 Ruhle (2–3) Davis (0–2) – 2:22 N/A 10–8 (38–37) W2
19 (76) August 29 (2) 8:32 p.m. CDT Phillies W 2–1 Smith (1–0) Noles (0–1) LaCorte (4) 2:01 33,327 11–8 (39–37) W3
20 77) August 30 7:35 p.m. CDT Phillies W 5–4 (10) Smith (3–3) Lyle (6–4) – 2:53 23,102 12–8 (40–37) W4
21 (78) August 31 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 6–1 Sutton (7–7) Zachry (6–10) – 2:27 10,669 13–8 (41–37) W5
September: 18–10 (home: 10–5; away: 8–5)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
22 (79) September 1 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 3–2 Sambito (4–5) Marshall (2–1) – 2:39 16,339 14–8 (42–37) W6
23 (80) September 2 7:35 p.m. CDT Mets W 8–0 Knepper (7–3) Scott (4–8) – 2:21 18,938 15–8 (43–37) W7
24 {81) September 3 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 2–1 Ruhle (3–3) Sanderson (7–5) Smith (6) 2:20 24,833 16–8 (44–37) W8
25 (82) September 4 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 5–0 Ryan (8–3) Gullickson (4–7) Sambito (8) 2:54 32,580 17–8 (45–37) W9
26 (83) September 5 1:15 p.m. CDT @ Expos L 2–5 Burris (7–5) Sutton (7–8) – 2:13 30,471 17–9 (45–38) L1
27 (84) September 6 12:35 p.m. CDT @ Expos W 4–3 (12) LaCorte (4–2) Sosa (1–2) – 3:33 47,193 18–9 (46–38) W1
28 (85) September 7 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves W 3–2 Smith (4–3) Camp (7–2) Sambito (9) 2:40 7,358 19–9 (47–38) W2
29 (86) September 8 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves L 2–3 Camp (8–2) Smith (1–1) – 2:13 2,800 19–10 (47–39) L1
30 (87) September 9 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Braves L 0–9 Niekro (7–5) Ryan (8–4) – 2:34 4,482 19–11 (47–40) L2
31 (88) September 11 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 6–0 Sutton (8–8) Blue (8–6) – 2:30 23,677 20–11 (48–40) W1
32 (89) September 12 7:35 p.m. CDT Giants W 5–2 Niekro (8–7) Whitson (5–8) Smith (7) 2:39 35,867 21–11 (49–40) W2
33 (90) September 13 5:00 p.m. CDT Giants W 3–0 Knepper (8–3) Alexander (8–7) LaCorte (5) 2:32 19,642 22–11 (50–40) W3
34 (91) September 14 7:35 p.m. CDT Reds L 2–4 Berenyi (8–5) Ruhle (3–4) – 2:30 19,742 22–12 (50–41) L1
35 (92) September 15 5:00 p.m. CDT Reds L 0–4 Leibrandt (1–0) Ryan (8–5) – 2:26 16,354 22–13 (50–42) L2
36 (93) September 16 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 5–2 Sutton (9–8) Lollar (1–8) Sambito (10) 2:35 4,241 23–13 (51–42) W1
37 (94) September 17 9:05 p.m. CDT @ Padres W 9–0 Niekro (9–7) Mura (5–13) – 2:14 2,428 24–13 (52–42) W2
38 (95) September 18 9:35 p.m. CDT @ Giants L 2–5 Alexander (9–7) Knepper (8–4) Holland (7) 2:26 8,183 24–14 (52–43) L1
39 (96) September 19 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 8–1 Ruhle (4–4) Griffin (8–7) – 2:26 11,522 25–14 (53–43) W1
40 (97) September 20 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Giants W 7–3 Ryan (9–5) Lavelle (0–6) – 3:04 16,824 26–14 (54–43) W2
41 (98) September 22 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves W 3–0 Sutton (10–8) Perry (7–8) – 2:16 22,564 27–14 (55–43) W3
42 (99) September 23 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves L 1–3 Mahler (6–6) Niekro (9–8) – 2:13 24,142 27–15 (55–44) L1
43 (100) September 24 7:35 p.m. CDT Braves W 5–3 Knepper (9–4) McWilliams (1–1) Smith (8) 2:17 23,341 28–15 (56–44) W1
44 (101) September 25 7:35 p.m. CDT Dodgers L 0–3 Hooton (11–6) Ruhle (4–5) – 2:18 35,481 28–16 (56–45) L1
45 (102) September 26 1:20 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 5–0 Ryan (10–5) Power (1–3) – 2:46 32,115 29–16 (57–45) W1
46 (103) September 27 5:05 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 4–1 Sutton (11–8) Valenzuela (13–6) – 2:23 41,686 30–16 (58–45) W2
47 (104) September 28 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres W 2–1 Sambito (5–5) Eichelberger (8–8) – 2:07 21,576 31–16 (59–45) W3
48 (105) September 29 7:35 p.m. CDT Padres L 1–2 Wise (4–8) Knepper (9–5) Lucas (12) 2:19 34,732 31–17 (59–46) L1
49 (106) September 30 6:35 p.m. CDT @ Reds L 2–3 Soto (11–9) Ruhle (4–6) Hume (13) 2:14 24,394 31–18 (59–47) L2
October: 2–2 (home: 0–0; away: 2–2)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Record Box/
Streak
50 (107) October 1 4:00 p.m. CDT @ Reds W 8–1 Ryan (11–5) Berenyi (9–6) – 3:12 26,484 32–18 (60–47) W1
51 (108) October 2 9:30 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 1–6 Reuss (10–4) Sutton (11–9) – 2:30 46,108 32–19 (60–48) L1
52 (109) October 3 2:50 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 2–7 Welch (9–5) Niekro (9–9) – 2:43 42,272 32–20 (60–49) L2
53 (110) October 4 3:00 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers W 5–3 Smith (5–2) Goltz (2–7) – 3:17 47,072 33–20 (61–49) W1
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Postseason Game log

1981 Postseason game log: 2–3 (home: 2–0; away: 0–3)
NL Western Division Series: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 2–3 (home: 2–0; away: 0–3)
# Date Time (CT) Opponent Score Win Loss Save Time of Game Attendance Series Box/
Streak
1 October 6 7:15 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 3–1 Ryan (1–0) Stewart (0–1) – 2:22 44,836 HOU 1–0 W1
2 October 7 12:05 p.m. CDT Dodgers W 1–0 (11) Sambito (1–0) Stewart (0–2) – 3:39 42,398 HOU 2–0 W2
3 October 9 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 1–6 Hooton (1–0) Knepper (0–1) – 2:35 46,820 HOU 2–1 L1
4 October 10 7:15 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 1–2 Valenzuela (1–0) Ruhle (0–1) – 2:00 55,983 Tied 2–2 L2
5 October 11 3:05 p.m. CDT @ Dodgers L 0–4 Reuss (1–0) Ryan (1–1) – 2:52 55,979 LA 3–2 L3
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Player stats

Batting

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 Alan Ashby 83 255 69 .271 4 33
1B César Cedeño 82 306 83 .271 5 34
2B Joe Pittman 52 135 38 .281 0 7
SS Craig Reynolds 87 323 84 .260 4 31
3B Art Howe 103 361 107 .296 3 36
LF José Cruz 107 409 109 .267 13 55
CF Tony Scott 55 225 66 .293 2 22
RF Terry Puhl 96 350 88 .251 3 28

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
Denny Walling 65 158 37 .234 5 23
Kiko Garcia 48 136 37 .272 0 15
Luis Pujols 40 117 28 .239 1 14
Phil Garner 31 113 27 .239 0 6
Gary Woods 54 110 23 .209 0 12
Danny Heep 33 96 24 .250 0 11
Dickie Thon 49 95 26 .274 0 3
Rafael Landestoy 35 74 11 .149 0 4
Dave Roberts 27 54 13 .241 1 5
Mike Ivie 19 42 10 .238 0 6
Harry Spilman 28 34 10 .294 0 1
Jeffrey Leonard 7 18 3 .167 0 3
Tim Tolman 4 8 1 .125 0 0
Scott Loucks 10 7 4 .571 0 0
Alan Knicely 3 7 4 .571 2 2
Dave Bergman 6 6 1 .167 1 1
Bert Peña 4 2 1 .500 0 0

Pitching

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
Joe Niekro 24 166.0 9 9 2.82 77
Don Sutton 23 158.2 11 9 2.61 104
Bob Knepper 22 156.2 9 5 2.18 75
Nolan Ryan 21 149.0 11 5 1.69 140
Vern Ruhle 20 102.0 4 6 2.91 39

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
Joaquín Andújar 9 23.2 2 3 4.94 18

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Joe Sambito 49 63.2 5 5 10 1.84 41
Dave Smith 42 75.0 5 3 8 2.76 52
Frank LaCorte 37 42.0 4 2 5 3.64 40
Bobby Sprowl 15 28.2 0 1 0 5.97 18
Billy Smith 10 20.2 1 1 1 3.05 3
Gordie Pladson 2 4.0 0 0 0 9.00 3

1981 National League Division Series

See also: 1981 National League Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros

Los Angeles wins series, 3-2.

Game Score Date
1 Houston 3, Los Angeles 1 October 6
2 Houston 1, Los Angeles 0 (11 innings) October 7
3 Los Angeles 6, Houston 1 October 9
4 Los Angeles 2, Houston 1 October 10
5 Los Angeles 4, Houston 0 October 11

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Tucson Toros Pacific Coast League Jimmy Johnson
AA Columbus Astros Southern League Matt Galante
A Daytona Beach Astros Florida State League Carlos Alfonso
Rookie GCL Astros Blue Gulf Coast League Eric Swanson
Rookie GCL Astros Orange Gulf Coast League Lyle Olsen

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Daytona Beach

References

  1. ^ "The Story Of The 1981 Houston Astros". October 18, 2014.
  2. ^ Don Sutton at Baseball Reference
  3. ^ a b "Chris Bourjos Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. ^ Julio González at Baseball Reference
  5. ^ Gary Rajsich at Baseball Reference
  6. ^ David Clyde at Baseball Reference
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ Joaquín Andújar at Baseball Reference
  9. ^ "Eric Bullock Stats".
  10. ^ "Big Days in Astros History – September 26, 1981 – Nolan Ryan pitches his fifth no-hitter". AstrosDaily.com. Retrieved November 15, 2014.

External links

1981 MLB season by team
Houston Astros
Categories