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1981 Cincinnati Reds season

Field	Value
name	Cincinnati Reds
season	1981
league	National League
division	West
ballpark	Riverfront Stadium
city	Cincinnati
record	66–42 (.611)
divisional_place	1st
owners	William & James Williams
general_managers	Dick Wagner
managers	John McNamara
television	WLWT
(Ray Lane, Bill Brown, Dick Carlson)
radio	WLW
(Marty Brennaman, Joe Nuxhall)

(Ray Lane, Bill Brown, Dick Carlson) (Marty Brennaman, Joe Nuxhall) |}}

The 1981 Cincinnati Reds season was the 112th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 12th and 11th full season at Riverfront Stadium. The Reds finished with an overall record of 66–42, giving them the best win–loss record in all of Major League Baseball. However, due to a split-season format caused by a mid-season players' strike, they failed to make the MLB playoffs because they did not finish first in either half of the season; they finished in second place in both halves by scant margins. The Reds finished the first half of the season in second place with a record of 35–21, just one-half game behind the eventual world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, and one-and-a-half games behind the Houston Astros in the second half, in which the Reds were 31–21, good for second place, again. Before the final game of the season against the Atlanta Braves, the team unveiled a banner which said "Cincinnati Reds: Baseball's best record 1981". The Reds were managed by John McNamara and played their home games at Riverfront Stadium.

Offseason

January 22, 1981: Mike Grace and John Hale were traded by the Reds to the Baltimore Orioles for Joe Kerrigan and John Buffamoyer (minors).

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

June 8, 1981: Terry McGriff was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 8th round of the 1981 amateur draft. Player signed June 12, 1981.
June 8, 1981: Paul O'Neill was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 4th round of the 1981 amateur draft. Player signed June 11, 1981.
September 10, 1981: Doug Bair was traded by the Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joe Edelen and Neil Fiala.

Roster

1981 Cincinnati Reds roster
Roster
Pitchers

Game log

First half

|-style=background:#bfb | 1 || April 8 || Phillies || 3–2 || Hume (1–0) || Lyle (0–1) || || 51,716 || 1–0 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 2 || April 10 || @ Braves || 3–5 || Garber (1–0) || Soto (0–1) || Camp (1) || 34,929 || 1–1 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 3 || April 11 || @ Braves || 3–2 || Bair (1–0) || Garber (1–1) || || 15,973 || 2–1 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 4 || April 12 || @ Braves || 2–3 || Bradford (1–0) || Hume (1–1) || Mahler (1) || 12,227 || 2–2 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 5 || April 13 || @ Padres || 7–1 || Seaver (1–0) || Wise (0–1) || || 36,391 || 3–2 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 6 || April 14 || @ Padres || 4–0 || Berenyi (1–0) || Curtis (0–1) || || 12,198 || 4–2 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 7 || April 15 || @ Padres || 10–1 || Soto (1–1) || Mura (0–1) || || 10,801 || 5–2 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 17 || Cardinals || 5–9 || Sorensen (2–0) || LaCoss (0–1) || || 22,961 || 5–3 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 9 || April 18 || Cardinals || 4–10 || Shirley (1–0) || Seaver (1–1) || || 22,529 || 5–4 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 10 || April 21 || Braves || 1–10 || Boggs (1–1) || Soto (1–2) || || 24,022 || 5–5 || L3 |-style=background:#fbb | 11 || April 22 || Braves || 3–7 || Perry (1–1) || LaCoss (0–2) || || 15,735 || 5–6 || L4 |-style=background:#bfb | 12 || April 23 || @ Astros || 5–4 (10) || Price (1–0) || D. Smith (0–2) || Moskau (1) || 23,173 || 6–6 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 13 || April 24 || @ Astros || 3–0 || Pastore (1–0) || Niekro (1–3) || || 27,087 || 7–6 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 14 || April 25 || @ Astros || 2–1 || Berenyi (2–0) || Ryan (1–1) || Hume (1) || 19,957 || 8–6 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || April 26 || @ Astros || 0–1 || Knepper (2–0) || Soto (1–3) || || 23,428 || 8–7 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || April 28 || Padres || 11–2 || Seaver (2–1) || Lollar (1–1) || || 13,103 || 9–7 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 17 || April 29 || Padres || 8–5 || Moskau (1–0) || Littlefield (0–2) || Hume (2) || 12,291 || 10–7 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 18 || April 30 || Padres || 4–3 || LaCoss (1–2) || Mura (0–3) || Hume (3) || 12,794 || 11–7 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 19 || May 1 || @ Cardinals || 6–7 || Forsch (2–1) || Soto (1–4) || Sutter (5) || 21,315 || 11–8 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 20 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 3–7 || Shirley (3–0) || Berenyi (2–1) || || 16,677 || 11–9 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 21 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 4–5 (11) || Edelen (1–0) || Hume (1–2) || || 21,855 || 11–10 || L3 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 5 || Pirates || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: May 7 |-style=background:#bfb | 22 || May 6 || Pirates || 9–8 || Hume (2–2) || Jackson (1–2) || || 14,551 || 12–10 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 23 || May 7 || Pirates || 1–3 || Rhoden (4–0) || Soto (1–5) || Romo (3) || – || 12–11 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 24 || May 7 || Pirates || 1–7 || Solomon (2–1) || LaCoss (1–3) || || 20,301 || 12–12 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || May 8 || Astros || 4–0 || Seaver (3–1) || Sutton (2–4) || || 31,961 || 13–12 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 9 || Astros || 9–5 || Berenyi (3–1) || Andújar (1–2) || || 30,860 || 14–12 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 27 || May 10 || Astros || 5–7 || Niekro (3–3) || Pastore (1–1) || LaCorte (2) || 31,903 || 14–13 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 28 || May 11 || Astros || 0–5 || Ryan (2–1) || LaCoss (1–4) || || 11,795 || 14–14 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 29 || May 12 || Cubs || 2–1 || Soto (2–5) || Tidrow (1–4) || || 12,016 || 15–14 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 30 || May 13 || Cubs || 8–3 || Seaver (4–1) || Krukow (1–3) || || 12,528 || 16–14 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 31 || May 14 || Cubs || 6–1 || Berenyi (4–1) || Reuschel (1–4) || || 11,098 || 17–14 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 32 || May 15 || @ Pirates || 4–1 || Price (2–0) || Romo (0–2) || Hume (4) || 10,592 || 18–14 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 33 || May 16 || @ Pirates || 4–0 || LaCoss (2–4) || Scurry (1–2) || || 11,890 || 19–14 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 34 || May 17 || @ Pirates || 4–3 || Soto (3–5) || Solomon (2–3) || || 11,775 || 20–14 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 35 || May 19 || @ Cubs || 5–0 || Seaver (5–1) || Reuschel (1–5) || Moskau (2) || 5,896 || 21–14 || W7 |-style=background:#bfb | 36 || May 20 || @ Cubs || 10–7 || Price (3–0) || Smith (1–3) || Hume (5) || 5,914 || 22–14 || W8 |-style=background:#fbb | 37 || May 21 || @ Cubs || 1–5 || Martz (2–2) || Pastore (1–2) || || 7,132 || 22–15 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 38 || May 22 || Dodgers || 2–4 (12) || Stewart (2–0) || Bair (1–1) || || 27,943 || 22–16 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 39 || May 23 || Dodgers || 6–9 (10) || Stewart (3–0) || Moskau (1–1) || Castillo (4) || 40,928 || 22–17 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || May 24 || Dodgers || 3–2 || Moskau (2–1) || Welch (2–3) || Price (1) || – || 23–17 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 41 || May 24 || Dodgers || 3–10 || Castillo (1–4) || Berenyi (4–2) || || 36,113 || 23–18 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 42 || May 25 || Giants || 6–3 || Combe (1–0) || Holland (3–2) || || 15,684 || 24–18 || W1 |-style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 26 || Giants || colspan=7| Postponed (rain); Makeup: August 14 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || May 27 || Giants || 3–2 || Soto (4–5) || Alexander (5–3) || || 12,223 || 25–18 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || May 28 || Giants || 7–4 || Price (4–0) || Lavelle (0–3) || || 20,077 || 26–18 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 45 || May 29 || @ Dodgers || 2–5 || Welch (3–3) || LaCoss (2–5) || Howe (5) || 45,749 || 26–19 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 46 || May 30 || @ Dodgers || 9–1 || Pastore (2–2) || Hooton (7–1) || || 43,582 || 27–19 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 47 || May 31 || @ Dodgers || 4–16 || Goltz (1–0) || Soto (4–6) || || 46,411 || 27–20 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || June 1 || @ Giants || 8–5 || Hume (3–2) || Minton (2–3) || || 4,620 || 28–20 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 49 || June 2 || @ Giants || 7–15 || Whitson (2–5) || LaCoss (2–6) || Holland (4) || 19,007 || 28–21 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 50 || June 3 || @ Giants || 6–2 || Pastore (3–2) || Blue (5–4) || || 7,114 || 29–21 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 51 || June 5 || Expos || 6–3 || Soto (5–6) || Rogers (6–4) || || 21,298 || 30–21 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 52 || June 6 || Expos || 9–3 || Seaver (6–1) || Lea (4–3) || || 26,016 || 31–21 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 53 || June 7 || Expos || 2–0 || Berenyi (5–2) || Burris (3–5) || || 40,010 || 32–21 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 54 || June 9 || @ Mets || 8–4 || Hume (4–2) || Falcone (1–3) || || 12,313 || 33–21 || W5 |-style=background:#bfb | 55 || June 10 || @ Mets || 2–0 || Soto (6–6) || Jones (1–7) || || 9,732 || 34–21 || W6 |-style=background:#bfb | 56 || June 11 || @ Mets || 5–2 || Seaver (7–1) || Zachry (5–7) || || 18,612 || 35–21 || W7

Second half

|-style=background:#bbcaff | ASG || August 9 || All-Star Game || AL 4–5 NL || Blue (1–0) || Fingers (0–1) || Sutter (1) || 72,086 || || |-style=background:#fbb | 57 || August 10 || @ Dodgers || 0–4 || Reuss (6–2) || Pastore (3–3) || Howe (6) || 35,120 || 35–22 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 58 || August 11 || @ Dodgers || 7–6 || Brown (1–0) || Forster (0–1) || Hume (6) || 45,817 || 36–22 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 59 || August 12 || @ Dodgers || 5–8 || Stewart (4–1) || Seaver (7–2) || Howe (7) || 36,494 || 36–23 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 60 || August 14 || Giants || 0–4 || Whitson (3–5) || Berenyi (5–3) || || – || 36–24 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 61 || August 14 || Giants || 7–6 (10) || Hume (5–2) || Holland (3–4) || || 22,404 || 37–24 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 62 || August 15 || Giants || 2–5 || Alexander (6–4) || Pastore (3–4) || Minton (11) || 20,671 || 37–25 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 63 || August 16 || Giants || 2–1 || Soto (7–6) || Griffin (5–6) || Hume (7) || 20,309 || 38–25 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 64 || August 18 || Phillies || 3–1 || Seaver (8–2) || Carlton (9–3) || Hume (8) || 25,363 || 39–25 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 65 || August 19 || Phillies || 6–3 || Hume (6–2) || Lyle (5–2) || || 23,133 || 40–25 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 66 || August 21 || Mets || 2–0 || Soto (8–6) || Zachry (6–8) || || 20,410 || 41–25 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 67 || August 22 || Mets || 4–7 || Boitano (1–0) || Pastore (3–5) || Allen (11) || 25,949 || 41–26 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 68 || August 23 || Mets || 2–3 (10) || Allen (5–3) || Hume (6–3) || || 20,761 || 41–27 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 69 || August 24 || Mets || 2–0 || Berenyi (6–3) || Scott (3–7) || || 19,506 || 42–27 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 70 || August 25 || @ Expos || 1–9 || Sanderson (7–4) || LaCoss (2–7) || || 40,162 || 42–28 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 71 || August 26 || @ Expos || 0–6 || Gullickson (4–6) || Soto (8–7) || || 23,126 || 42–29 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 72 || August 27 || @ Expos || 0–12 || Burris (6–5) || Pastore (3–6) || || 30,874 || 42–30 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 73 || August 28 || @ Mets || 5–2 || Seaver (9–2) || Allen (5–4) || || 23,061 || 43–30 || W1 |-style=background:#fbb | 74 || August 29 || @ Mets || 2–3 || Scott (4–7) || Berenyi (6–4) || Allen (13) || 44,598 || 43–31 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 75 || August 30 || @ Mets || 6–3 || LaCoss (3–7) || Harris (2–4) || || 18,770 || 44–31 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 76 || August 31 || Expos || 9–8 || Bair (2–1) || Lee (2–4) || || 20,506 || 45–31 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 77 || September 1 || Expos || 3–4 || Lea (5–4) || Price (4–1) || Reardon (4) || 15,978 || 45–32 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 78 || September 2 || Expos || 7–0 || Seaver (10–2) || Bahnsen (2–1) || || 12,926 || 46–32 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 79 || September 3 || @ Phillies || 9–3 || Berenyi (7–4) || M. Davis (0–3) || || 26,540 || 47–32 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 80 || September 4 || @ Phillies || 6–7 || Lyle (7–4) || Bair (2–2) || McGraw (9) || 25,020 || 47–33 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 81 || September 5 || @ Phillies || 4–5 || R. Reed (3–1) || Soto (8–8) || || 41,845 || 47–34 || L2 |-style=background:#bfb | 82 || September 6 || @ Phillies || 5–4 || Hume (7–3) || Lyle (7–5) || Price (2) || 30,366 || 48–34 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 83 || September 7 || Padres || 8–7 || Seaver (11–2) || Show (0–1) || Price (3) || 14,443 || 49–34 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 84 || September 8 || Padres || 1–6 || Eichelberger (7–6) || Berenyi (7–5) || || 11,739 || 49–35 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 85 || September 9 || Padres || 5–4 || Hume (8–3) || Urrea (2–2) || || 16,328 || 50–35 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 86 || September 11 || Dodgers || 3–2 (10) || Price (5–1) || Peña (1–1) || || 25,237 || 51–35 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 87 || September 12 || Dodgers || 6–5 (11) || LaCoss (4–7) || Power (0–1) || || 34,090 || 52–35 || W3 |-style=background:#fbb | 88 || September 13 || Dodgers || 2–4 || Castillo (2–4) || Pastore (3–7) || Stewart (5) || 27,858 || 52–36 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 89 || September 14 || @ Astros || 4–2 || Berenyi (8–5) || Ruhle (3–4) || || 19,742 || 53–36 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 90 || September 15 || @ Astros || 4–0 || Leibrandt (1–0) || Ryan (8–5) || || 16,354 || 54–36 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 91 || September 16 || @ Giants || 7–12 || Breining (4–2) || Soto (8–9) || || 4,168 || 54–37 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 92 || September 17 || @ Giants || 1–0 (10) || Seaver (12–2) || Holland (6–5) || Hume (9) || 4,721 || 55–37 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 93 || September 18 || @ Dodgers || 5–4 || Price (6–1) || Stewart (4–3) || Hume (10) || 44,258 || 56–37 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 94 || September 19 || @ Dodgers || 7–3 || Edelen (2–0) || Hooton (10–6) || || 48,352 || 57–37 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 95 || September 20 || @ Dodgers || 5–1 || Soto (9–9) || Power (1–2) || || 39,560 || 58–37 || W4 |-style=background:#fbb | 96 || September 21 || @ Padres || 0–6 || Welsh (6–6) || Leibrandt (1–1) || || 5,501 || 58–38 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 97 || September 22 || @ Padres || 3–2 || Seaver (13–2) || Eichelberger (8–7) || Hume (11) || 4,764 || 59–38 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 98 || September 23 || @ Padres || 5–1 || Pastore (4–7) || Wise (3–8) || Price (4) || 4,831 || 60–38 || W2 |-style=background:#bfb | 99 || September 25 || @ Braves || 10–2 || Soto (10–9) || Boggs (3–12) || || 7,817 || 61–38 || W3 |-style=background:#bfb | 100 || September 26 || @ Braves || 2–0 || Berenyi (9–5) || Niekro (7–6) || Hume (12) || 5,117 || 62–38 || W4 |-style=background:#bfb | 101 || September 27 || @ Braves || 4–2 || Seaver (14–2) || Perry (7–9) || LaCoss (1) || 7,455 || 63–38 || W5 |-style=background:#fbb | 102 || September 28 || Giants || 0–4 || Hargesheimer (1–1) || Pastore (4–8) || || 12,944 || 63–39 || L1 |-style=background:#bfb | 103 || September 29 || Giants || 4–3 || Hume (9–3) || Minton (4–5) || || 13,117 || 64–39 || W1 |-style=background:#bfb | 104 || September 30 || Astros || 5–2 || Soto (11–9) || Ruhle (4–6) || Hume (13) || 24,394 || 65–39 || W2 |-style=background:#fbb | 105 || October 1 || Astros || 1–8 || Ryan (11–5) || Berenyi (9–6) || || 26,484 || 65–40 || L1 |-style=background:#fbb | 106 || October 2 || Braves || 5–11 || Perry (8–9) || Pastore (4–9) || || 14,793 || 65–41 || L2 |-style=background:#fbb | 107 || October 3 || Braves || 3–4 || Mahler (8–6) || Hume (9–4) || Camp (17) || 17,544 || 65–42 || L3 |-style=background:#bfb | 108 || October 4 || Braves || 3–0 || Soto (12–9) || Boggs (3–13) || || 31,764 || 66–42 || W1

Player stats

Batting

	= Indicates team leader

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	Joe Nolan	81	236	73	.309	1	26
1B	Dan Driessen	82	233	55	.236	7	33
2B	Ron Oester	105	354	96	.271	5	42
SS	Dave Concepción	106	421	129	.306	5	67
3B	Ray Knight	106	386	100	.259	6	34
LF	George Foster	108	414	122	.295	22	90
CF		101	396	123	.311	2	34
RF	Dave Collins	95	360	98	.272	3	23

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
Johnny Bench	52	178	55	.309	8	25
Mike O'Berry	55	111	20	.180	1	5
Paul Householder	23	69	19	.275	2	9
Larry Biittner	42	61	13	.213	0	8
Sam Mejías	66	49	14	.286	0	7
Junior Kennedy	27	44	11	.250	0	5
Mike Vail	31	31	5	.161	0	3
Harry Spilman	23	24	4	.167	0	3
Rafael Landestoy	12	11	2	.182	0	1
	9	6	2	.333	0	1
Eddie Milner	8	5	1	.200	0	1
	2	2	1	.500	0	1

Pitching

	= Indicates league leader

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Base on Balls

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO	BB
Mario Soto	25	175.0	12	9	3.29	151	61
Tom Seaver	23	166.1	14	2	2.54	87	66
Frank Pastore	22	132.0	4	9	4.02	81	35
	21	126.0	9	6	3.50	106	77

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
Mike LaCoss	20	78.0	4	7	6.12	22
Charlie Liebrandt	7	30.0	1	1	3.60	9

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Tom Hume	51	9	4	13	3.46	27
Joe Price	41	6	1	4	2.52	41
Paul Moskau	27	2	1	2	.494	32
	24	2	2	0	5.77	16
Geoff Combe	14	1	0	0	7.64	9
Scott Brown	10	1	0	0	2.77	7
	5	1	0	0	0.71	5

Awards and honors

Johnny Bench, Hutch Award

Farm system

Notes

References

1981 Cincinnati Reds season at Baseball Reference

References

[https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kerrijo01.shtml Joe Kerrigan page at Baseball Reference]
"Terry McGriff Stats".
"Paul O'Neill Stats {{!".
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fialane01.shtml Neil Fiala page at Baseball Reference]
"Hutch Award | Baseball Almanac".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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