1981 Houston Astros season explained

Houston Astros
Season:	1981
Misc:	National League West Co-Champions
League:	National League
Division:	West
Ballpark:	Astrodome
City:	Houston, Texas
Record:	61–49 (55.5%)
Divisional Place:	3rd (first half); 1st (second half)
Owners:	John McMullen
General Managers:	Al Rosen
Managers:	Bill Virdon
Television:	KRIV–TV 26 (Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker)
Radio:	KENR–AM 1070 (Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker)

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

• December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[2]
• December 8, 1980: Chris Bourjos was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Bob Knepper to the Houston Astros for Enos Cabell.^[3]
• March 27, 1981: Julio González was released by the Astros.^[4]

Regular season

Notable transactions

• April 1, 1981: Chris Bourjos was traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Kiko Garcia.^[3]
• April 3, 1981: Gary Rajsich was traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for John Csefalvay (minors).^[5]
• April 17, 1981: David Clyde was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[6]
• April 20, 1981 - Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard were traded by the Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Ivie.^[7]
• June 7, 1981: Joaquín Andújar was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Scott.^[8]
• June 8, 1981: Eric Bullock was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (secondary phase).^[9]

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)

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

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

|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 12 || || @ Mets || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 13 || || @ Mets || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 14 || || @ Mets || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 15 || || @ Expos || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 16 || || @ Expos || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 17 || || Phillies || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 18 || || Phillies || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 19 || || Expos || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 20 || || Expos || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 21 || || Expos || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 23 || || @ Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 24 || || @ Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 25 || || @ Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 26 || || Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 27 || || Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 28 || || Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 29 || || Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| June 30 || || Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 1 || || Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 3 || || @ Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 4 || || @ Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 5 || || @ Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 7 || || @ Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 8 || || @ Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 9 || || @ Dodgers || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 10 || || Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 11 || || Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 12 || || Braves || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 16 || || @ Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 17 || || @ Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 18 || || @ Reds || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 19 || || @ Cubs || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 20 || || @ Cubs || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 21 || || Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 22 || || Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 23 || || Pirates || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 24 || || Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 25 || || Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 26 || || Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 27 || || Cubs || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 28 || || Cubs || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 29 || || Cubs || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| July 31 || || @ Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 1 || || @ Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 2 || || @ Cardinals || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 3 || || Giants || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 4 || || Giants || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 5 || || Giants || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 7 || || Padres || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 8 || || Padres || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-style="background:#bbb;"|–|| August 9 || || Padres || colspan=8 | Canceled (Strike)|-|- style="text-align:center;"| Legend:      = Win      = Loss      = Postponement
Bold = Astros team member

Regular season (Second half)

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbcaff;"| colspan="12" | 52nd All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio|-style="background:#cfc;"| 1

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Story Of The 1981 Houston Astros. October 18, 2014.
2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/suttodo01.shtml Don Sutton
3. Web site: Chris Bourjos Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More. Baseball-Reference.com.
4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gonzaju02.shtml Julio González
5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rajsiga01.shtml Gary Rajsich
6. https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clydeda01.shtml David Clyde
7. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/iviemi01.shtml
8. https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/andujjo01.shtml Joaquín Andújar
9. Web site: Eric Bullock Stats.
10. Web site: Big Days in Astros History – September 26, 1981 – Nolan Ryan pitches his fifth no-hitter. AstrosDaily.com. November 15, 2014.