1981 Houston Astros season

The 1981 Houston Astros season was the 20th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 17th as the Astros, 20th in the National League (NL), 13th in the NL West division, and 17th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season as defending NL West division-champions with a 93–70 record for their first-ever division title and playoff appearance, ultimately losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1980 National League Championship Series (NLCS).

On April 9 at Dodger Stadium, Joe Niekro made his first Opening Day start on the road for Houston, who were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2–0. The Astros attained a record of 28–29, in third place and 8 games behind behind Los Angeles in the NL West until a players' strike interrupted the season, later classified as the season's first half. In the amateur draft, Houston's top selection was outfielder Curtis Burke in the third round.

With nearly one-third of the season eventually lost (52 games for Houston), a one-time modified format with a split regular season and a new opening round to the playoffs, the Division Series (DS), was introduced.^{[Note 1]} Pitchers Bob Knepper (first career selection) and Nolan Ryan (sixth) represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game. The Astros acquired second baseman Phil Garner, another All-Star that year, after the event.

On September 26, Ryan pitched the seventh no-hitter in franchise history, a 5–0 victory over the Dodgers. The fifth no-hitter of Ryan's career, this surpassed Sandy Koufax for most in major league history.

Houston won the NL West in the second half with a loss by the Cincinnati Reds on October 3, the penultimate day of the season.^[1] With a 33–20 record, the Astros claimed an NL West division title and advanced to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, to the first-ever National League Division Series (NLDS). Here, they faced the Dodgers, the NL West-division winners of the first half of the season. However, the Astros were defeated in five games, ending their season, and the Dodgers became World Series champions.

Following the season, Knepper was named The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year, the first Houston Astros to win this award. Ryan led the major leagues in earned run average (1.69 ERA), the first time in his career winning the title.

• October 26, 1980: Hired Al Rosen as team president and general manager.^[2]
• December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[3]
• December 8, 1980: Chris Bourjos was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Bob Knepper to the Houston Astros for Enos Cabell.^[4]
• March 27, 1981: Julio González was released by the Astros.^[5]

The Astros played Opening Day at Dodger Stadium on April 9, where they were shut out by Los Angeles, 2–0. Both starting pitchers made their first Opening Day starts, with 36-year-old Astros veteran Joe Niekro—who, by winning the 1980 National League West tie-breaker game over the Dodgers, cemented his status as the Astros' first-ever two-time 20-game winner—faced off against 20-year-old southpaw phenom Fernando Valenzuela. The Astros became befuddled by Valenzuela's unusual delivery and screwball—an offering not shown with regularity since Carl Hubbell in the 1930s and 1940s—as Valenzuela went the distance on a five-hitter. Hence, Valenzuela's sensational performance resulted in the birth of "Fernandomania." Only Craig Reynolds (two hits) and Art Howe (one hit and one base on balls) reached base more than once.^[8] César Cedeño became the first player to make as many as 10 Opening Day starts for the Astros.^{[Note 2][9]}

Right-hander Don Sutton, a key free agent acquisition in the prior off-season, made his Astros debut on April 11 against his former team, the Dodgers. He surrendered six in runs in a 7–4 loss.^[10]

On April 28, Sutton earned his first victory in an Astros uniform, after having lost each of his first three starts—two of which were to the Dodgers. This time, he pitched into the ninth inning versus the Atlanta Braves,^[11] allowing just two hits and one run in a masterful performance and 2–1 victory, struck out eight and earned a game score of 82. The only blemish was a fifth inning home run by Bob Horner. José Cruz doubled and homered, scoring both of Houston's tallies, while Art Howe sliced three hits. Dave Smith spun a clean ninth to earn his first save.^[12]

From May 1 to 24, Art Howe achieved a hitting streak of 23 games, setting a team record that stood for 19 years. During the hitting streak, Howe batted .460, collecting 40 base hits in just 87 at bats. It eclipsed César Cedeño's 22-game effort from August 25 to September 21, 1977, for the club record.^[13] Luis Gonzalez tied Howe's club record from May 26 to June 20, 1997, which stood until July 9 to August 28, 2000, when Tony Eusebio connected in 24 straight.^[14]

On May 4, José Cruz homered in the same game as—and against—his brother, Héctor,^[15] who was playing for the Chicago Cubs. José and Héctor Cruz were the first brother combo to homer in the same contest since Graig and Jim Nettles on September 14, 1974.^[16] José lifted off in the first inning, a three-run bomb for a lead that Houston would not relinquish. Héctor went deep off Astros starter Joaquín Andújar during the bottom of the sixth; however, Cruz' shot was the lone run that Andújar (1–1) surrendered to obtain the victory.^[17]

Craig Reynolds golfed three triples on May 16 to become just the tenth major leaguer and seventh in the National League since 1950 to do so.^[18] On the day, Reynolds accumulated four hits and four RBI to lead a 6–1 decision over the Chicago Cubs. Nolan Ryan (3–1) diffused six hits, three walks, with the run being unearned over seven frames, tallying eight punchouts to pick up the victory. Ryan also singled and scored a run.^[19]

On May 24, Art Howe tripled off Vida Blue to extend his hitting streak to 23 games, to set the then-franchise record. However, the San Francisco Giants triumphed over Houston by a narrow margin, 2 to 1. Luis Pujols hit a solo home run to account for Houston's only run.^[20]

Howe was recognized with the NL Player of the Month honors for May, succeeding (and again matching) Cedeño as the most recent Astro in September, 1977.^[21] During the month, Howe batted .432 /.500 on-base percentage (OBP) /.579 slugging percentage (SLG) / 1.079 on-base plus slugging (OPS). He accumulated 41 hits, 13 walks, 11 RBI, 7 doubles, two triples, and one home run.^[22]

With a second base on balls issued on June 5, Nolan Ryan passed Early Wynn for all-time most walks issued in major league history with 1,776. In this game, Ryan also struck out 10 and tossed a 3–0 shutout of the New York Mets.^[23]

The Philadelphia Phillies hosted the Astros at Veterans Stadium on June 10, opponents during the previous year's National League Championship Series, featuring a marquee matchup between Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton. Moreover, Pete Rose stood just two hits away from surpassing St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial for the National League record in hits (3,630). During his first at bat, Rose singled off Ryan to tie Musial for the National League record. This remained the only hit that Ryan surrendered during the first 7+2⁄3 innings, and Rose's only hit the contest. Moreover, Ryan proceeded to strike Rose out in each of his final three at bats, just the ninth, 10th, and 11th times of the season for Rose. In the top of the seventh, José Cruz homered off Carlton, while Tony Scott followed with a two-run double. In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter Luis Aguayo singled up the middle off Ryan, after which, the power pitcher departed.^[24] Houston then blew a four-run lead and lost, 5–4, one day prior to the onset of the players' strike. During the strike, Rose remained tied with Musial for fourth-place all-time in hits.^[25]

The Astros commenced the second half of the season on August 10, defeating the San Francisco Giants, 6 to 5.^[2] Denny Walling's pinch-hit, tie-breaking, two-run double in the top of the ninth keyed Houston's last rally.^[26] In the bottom of the ninth with two outs, Joe Pittman bailed out Frank LaCorte when he lunged for, and snared, Larry Herndon's liner with two runners aboard to decide the game.^[10]

During a contest at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium on September 8, César Cedeño leapt into the stands to confront a heckler, grabbing the fan by the shoulders. Cedeño was ejected and fined $5,000. Initially given an indefinite suspension as well by NL president Chub Feeney, the suspension was rescinded after Cedeño called the fan and issued a written apology.^[27]

On September 26, 1981, Ryan no-hit the Dodgers, 5–0, on national television. The 34-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher to throw five career no-hitters, which surpassed former Dodgers great Sandy Koufax, one of the most dominant left-handers in major league history.^[28]

During the seventh frame, Terry Puhl's one-handed, running catch of a Mike Scioscia line drive was a key moment that helped preserve the no-hit effort. Ryan struck out 11, yielded just three bases on balls, raised his record to 10–5 and earned a game score of 95.^[29]

In the bottom of the third inning, catcher Alan Ashby opened the scoring with a two-run single. Later, during the eighth, Craig Reynolds doubled in Denny Walling, Phil Garner singled in Reynolds, and José Cruz singled home Puhl to make the score 5–0.^[29]

When he whiffed Dusty Baker during the sixth inning, it was the tenth hitter Ryan had set down via strikeout, the 135th such game of his career.^[28]

Control issues emerged for Ryan in the second inning when he issued a leadoff walk to Steve Garvey. Garvey stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, he struck out Pedro Guerrero and induced a popup from Ron Roenicke to extinguish the threat. The next inning, Ryan again walked the leadoff hitter, Derrel Thomas, then fanned Ted Power and Davey Lopes. Ken Landreaux also walked, but Ryan retired the side when Baker grounded out to second.^[28]

In the final inning, Ryan fanned pinch hitter Reggie Smith for his 11th of the game. Next, Landreaux battered a ground ball to Walling, the first baseman, whom he retired. Ryan closed out his masterpiece by inducing a ground ball from Baker to third baseman Art Howe.^[28]

Asbhy, Ryan's batterymate, caught his second of three no-hitters for Houston.^[30]

Ryan had been tied with Koufax with four no-hitters since June 1, 1975, as a member of the California Angels, the club with whom he accomplished each of the four. Prior to the contest against the Dodgers, Ryan had pitched seven one-hitters. Ryan's was the first Astros no-hitter since Ken Forsch's on April 7, 1979, and the seventh in club history.^[28] Nearly five years later to the day, on September 25, 1986, Mike Scott tossed Houston's eighth no-hitter.^[31]

The Astros' win kept them 1+1⁄2 games ahead of Cincinnati for the second-half division title.^[28]

While at bat against Jerry Reuss on October 2, Sutton sustained a patella fracture on contact of a hit by pitch, instantly ending his season. Houston would also lose the game to the Dodgers, 6–1. Entering the contest, Sutton's second-half effort had been a leading factor on the pitching staff and Houston's resurgence, having gone 7–1 W–L and 1.86 earned run average (ERA).^[32]

The Astros' pitching staff led the National League in each of earned run average (2.66 ERA), fewest hits (842), fewest home runs (40), most shutouts (19),^[b] and most strikeouts (610).^[33]

Led by Ryan and Knepper, the 1981 Astros pitching staff set an all-time franchise mark in ERA.^[34] The Astros' pitching staff had established the club record just year prior (3.10), which had superseded the prior record of 3.13 set in 1971. Although the 1981 season was abbreviated to 110 contests as a result of the work stoppage, this pitching staff tied their 1979 counterpart for most team shutouts in franchise history (19).^[35]

Ryan, who posted an ERA of 1.69 for the season, led MLB, succeeding as J. R. Richard the second Astros pitcher to lead the NL, who did so in 1979.^[36] Knepper finished as runner-up in the NL in ERA (2.18) to Ryan, while Sutton (2.61) placed ninth.^[37] In his 15th major league season, it was the first time Ryan had led the league.^[38] Both he and Knepper surpassed left-hander Mike Cuellar for the single-season club record, which he set in 1966 with a 2.22 mark,^[39][40] while Knepper established the club record for ERA in a qualified season among left-handers.^[c][41]

Four members of the Astros' starting rotation each placed within the top 10 of the league for individual shutouts. Knepper ranked second (5), while Sutton and Ryan tied for fourth with 3, and Niekro tied for 10th with two.^[37]

Following the season, Ryan was recognized with the Houston Astros' team Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).^[42]

• April 1, 1981: Chris Bourjos was traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Kiko Garcia.^[4]
• April 3, 1981: Gary Rajsich was traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for John Csefalvay (minors).^[43]
• April 17, 1981: David Clyde was signed as a free agent by the Astros.^[44]
• April 20, 1981 - Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard were traded by the Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Ivie.^[45]
• June 7, 1981: Joaquín Andújar was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Scott.^[46]
• June 8, 1981: Eric Bullock was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (secondary phase).^[47]

Houston Astros 1981 MLB draft selections^[49]

• Round 1: ^{[Compensation 1]}
• Round 3 – no. 75: Curtis Burks – OF • Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee • Signed • Career

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

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

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

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

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros

Los Angeles wins series, 3-2.

Awards

• Houston Astros Most Valuable Player Award (MVP):^[42] Nolan Ryan
• MLB All-Star Game:
  • Bob Knepper—Reserve pitcher
  • Nolan Ryan—Reserve pitcher
• NL Player of the Month^[21]—May: Art Howe
• NL Player of the Week^[50]—April 26: Bob Knepper
• The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year:^[51] Bob Knepper

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Daytona Beach

• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
• List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls allowed leaders

• 1981 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference