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1981 National League Championship Series
The 1981 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five series to end the 1981 National League season. It was the 13th NLCS in all. The series featured the first-half West Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the second-half East Division champion Montreal Expos. The Dodgers won the series three games to two over the Expos, thanks to a ninth-inning home run in Game 5 by Rick Monday in what has ever since been referred to as "Blue Monday" by Expos fans. The Dodgers would go on to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series. Background Due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, a team had to win two postseason series in order to go to the World Series. Teams that finished first in their division in the first and second halves of the season advanced to the postseason. This was the first year the baseball postseason had three rounds, an arrangement that would permanently return beginning with the 1995 season. The Expos advanced to the NLCS after defeating ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers Season
The 1981 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 halves because of a players' strike in mid-season. The Dodgers won the Western Division of the National League in the first half and advanced to the playoffs. They beat the Houston Astros in a divisional playoff and the Montreal Expos in the National League Championship Series before beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series. Offseason *December 4, 1980: Don Sutton signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent. *March 30, 1981: Acquired Ken Landreaux from the Minnesota Twins for Mickey Hatcher and Matt Reeves Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Opening Day lineup Roster Game log Regular season Game log First half , -style=backgrou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Major League Baseball On CBS Radio
''Major League Baseball on CBS Radio'' was the de facto title for the CBS Radio Network's coverage of Major League Baseball. Produced by CBS Radio Sports, the program was the official national radio broadcaster for the All-Star Game and the postseason (including the World Series) from 1976 to 1997. History Historically, the sports coverage now produced by Westwood One was branded as CBS Radio Sports and, like the news features, associated with the CBS Radio Network; however, after CBS began managing the original Westwood One in the mid-1990s, the sports broadcasts would come under the Westwood One banner (with both identities used in the late 1990s), a practice that would continue even after CBS stopped managing Westwood One in 2007. CBS launched a 24/7 sports radio network, "CBS Sports Radio" in fall 2012 through Cumulus Media Networks, owned by Cumulus Media (Cumulus Media Networks was merged into Westwood One in 2013, following Cumulus' acquisition of Westwood One). Contracts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League East
The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National League (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its partitioning was really more north and south instead of east and west. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East division. During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Phillies–Pirates rivalry, Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates toget ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League West
The National League West is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was formed for the 1969 season when the National League expanded to 12 teams by adding the San Diego Padres and the Montreal Expos. For purpose of keeping a regular-season of 162 games, half of the teams were put into the new National League East, East Division and half into the new West Division. Within each division, the teams played 18 games each against their five division mates (90 games), and also 12 games against the teams in the opposite division (72 games), totaling 162 games. Geography Despite the geography, the owners of the Chicago Cubs insisted that their team be placed into the East Division along with the teams in New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Also, the owners of the St. Louis Cardinals wanted that team to be in the same division with their natural rivals of the Cubs. The league could have insisted on a purely geographical alignment like the American League did. But ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League Championship Series
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two National League (NL) Division Series. The winner of the NLCS wins the NL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the American League's (AL) Championship Series. The NLCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to its current best-of-seven format. History Prior to 1969, the National League champion (the " pennant winner") was determined by the best win–loss record at the end of the regular season. There were four ''ad hoc'' three-game playoff series due to ties under this formulation (in 1946, 1951, 1959, and 1962). A structured postseason series began in 1969, when both the National and American Leagues were reorganized into two divisions each ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1981 Philadelphia Phillies Season
The Philadelphia Phillies' 1981 season was a season in American baseball. Offseason * November 25, 1980: Rick Schu was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies. * December 8, 1980: George Bell was drafted from the Phillies by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1980 rule 5 draft. * December 22, 1980: Del Unser was signed as a free agent by the Phillies. * March 1, 1981: Randy Lerch was traded by the Phillies to the Milwaukee Brewers for Dick Davis. * March 25, 1981: Bob Walk was traded by the Phillies to the Atlanta Braves for Gary Matthews. Regular season * April 29, 1981: Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton struck out Tim Wallach of the Montreal Expos for the 3000th strikeout of his career. * August 10, 1981: First Baseman Pete Rose hits his 3,631st hit of his career, passing Stan Musial to become the all-time hit leader in the National League. Season standings Record vs. opponents Notable transactions * June 8, 1981: Vince Coleman was drafted by the Phillies in the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1981 Houston Astros Season
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 Western Division of the National League in the second half and 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 Division Series. Offseason * December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros. * December 8, 1980: Chris Bourjos was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Bob Knepper to the Houston Astros for Enos Cabell. * March 27, 1981: Julio González was released by the Astros. Regular season Season standings Record vs. opponents Notable transactions * April 1, 1981: Chris Bourjos was traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Kiko G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joe West (umpire)
Joseph Henry West (born October 31, 1952), nicknamed "Cowboy Joe" or "Country Joe", is an American former Major League Baseball umpire. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, he grew up in Greenville and played football at East Carolina University (ECU) and Elon College. West entered the National League as an umpire in 1976; he joined the NL staff full-time in 1978. West wore uniform number 22 throughout his career. As a young umpire, West worked Nolan Ryan's fifth career no-hitter, was on the field for Willie McCovey's 500th home run, and was involved in a 1983 pushing incident with manager Joe Torre. On May 25, 2021, West broke Bill Klem's all-time record by umpiring his 5,376th game. West resigned during the 1999 Major League Umpires Association mass resignation, but was rehired in 2002. Since then, he has umpired throughout MLB. He served as crew chief for the 2005 World Series and officiated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. West has worked several no-hitters, including ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Wendelstedt
Harry Hunter Wendelstedt Jr. (July 27, 1938 – March 9, 2012) was an umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1966 to 1998. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He umpired in the World Series in 1973, 1980, 1986, 1991 and 1995, serving as crew chief in 1980 and 1995. He also officiated in seven National League Championship Series (1970, 1972, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1990) and four All-Star games (1968, 1976, 1983, 1992), calling balls and strikes in 1976. He umpired in the National League Division Series in 1995, 1996 and 1997. He wore uniform number 21. Major League Baseball career Wendelstedt called balls and strikes in five no-hitters, tying an NL record held by Bill Klem. As a home plate umpire, Wendelstedt was known for keeping a wide strike zone. When a batter struck out swinging, he flailed his right arm straight up in the air. When a batter struck out looking, he applied the notorious "chainsaw" move. On May 31, 1968, Wendelstedt made a c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dutch Rennert
Laurence Henry "Dutch" Rennert Jr. (June 12, 1930 – June 17, 2018) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1973 to 1992. Early years Rennert was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and graduated from Oshkosh High School. He played semi-pro football with the Oshkosh Comets and semi-pro baseball in Oshkosh. Rennert moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, worked for the post office, and officiated at basketball games. In 1958, Rennert graduated from the Al Somers Umpire School in Daytona, Florida. Umpiring career Considered one of the game's most colorful characters, best known for his animated and loud strike calls; similar to the NFL's colorful referee Red Cashion. A 1983 poll by ''The New York Times'' resulted in his selection as the NL's best umpire. He wore uniform number 16 throughout his career. Reaching the major leagues after umpiring in the Pacific Coast League from 1965 to 1973, Rennert umpired in six National League Championship Series (1977, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Runge (umpire)
Paul Edward Runge (born October 20, 1940 in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada) is a former umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1973 to 1997. He is the most accomplished member of the only three-generation umpiring family in major league history; his father Ed was an American League umpire from 1954 to 1970, and his son Brian was a major league umpire from 1999 to 2012. Paul Runge wore number 17 on his jacket and shirt sleeve for most of his 25-year umpiring career. Runge graduated from Arizona State University,''National League Green Book'' (1997), p. 44. where he lettered in baseball, and after a brief minor league playing career in the farm systems of the Houston Colt .45s and Los Angeles Angels, he became an NL umpire after working in the California League (1965–66), Eastern League (1967) and Pacific Coast League (1968–73). He was the first son of a former major league umpire to reach the majors himself. He officiated in four World Seri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eric Gregg
Eric Eugene Gregg (May 18, 1951 – June 5, 2006) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the National League from 1975 to 1999. He was known for being a pioneering black umpire, for his longtime weight problems, and for his controversial home plate umpiring in Game 5 of the 1997 National League Championship Series—when his generous strike zone helped the Florida Marlins' Liván Hernández strike out 15 Atlanta batters. Throughout his National League career, Gregg wore uniform number 7. Umpiring career Gregg was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His major league career began at the age of 24, making him one of the youngest umpires in big league history. He was only the third black umpire in the big leagues, following Emmett Ashford and Art Williams. He officiated in the 1989 World Series, and was the third base umpire for Game 3, which was postponed due to the Loma Prieta earthquake, but since the series ended in four games, he did not get to work b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
