October 12, 1980: Phillies rally to clinch NL pennant in 10 innings at Astrodome

In spite of the previous night’s 5-3 loss in 10 innings, the…
Tug McGraw (Trading Card DB)

October 21, 1980: Phillies win their first World Series championship

The Philadelphia Phillies joined the National League in 1883,…
Fernando Valenzuela (LOS ANGELES DODGERS)

April 9, 1981: The birth of Fernandomania on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium

On Opening Day in 1981, the Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves…

April 10, 1981: Carlton Fisk homers in return to Fenway Park

Beginning on March 18, 1981, Comiskey Park was the new ballpark…

April 12, 1981: Bruce Sutter earns first save for Cardinals

It didn’t take long for St. Louis Cardinals fans to appreciate…

April 17, 1981: A’s dominate Mariners in home opener for ninth straight win

The Oakland Athletics started the 1981 season with an 11-game…

April 18, 1981: A first pitch for writer Eugenia Price

When inspirational writer Eugenia Price discovered St. Simons…

April 19, 1981: Walk-off homer spares PawSox, Rochester another extra-inning battle

On Easter Sunday afternoon, April 19, 1981, an otherwise uncelebrated…
Lary Sorensen (TRADING CARD DB)

April 22, 1981: Cardinals’ Lary Sorensen shuts out Cubs

The revamped St. Louis Cardinals were off to a rousing start…

May 10, 1981: Expos’ Charlie Lea pitches a ‘Giant’ no-hitter

Montreal’s 24-year-old right-hander Charlie Lea was an unlikely…

May 12, 1981: Clutch homers by Hatcher and Smalley lead Twins to win over Red Sox

Roy Smalley was off to a solid start to the 1981 season for the…

May 15, 1981: Cleveland’s Len Barker makes history with perfect game against Blue Jays

Who could have foreseen that the Friday evening matchup between…

May 19, 1981: Jim Bibby’s near no-hitter

On the evening of Tuesday, May 19, 1981, a scant crowd of 5,514…

June 3, 1981: Jerry Grote’s grand slam and 7 RBIs lead Royals to victory

Jerry Grote had been out of baseball for two years when a former…

August 9, 1981: Gary Carter’s two homers power NL to All-Star victory

For nearly two months in the summer of 1981, major-league stadiums…

August 10, 1981: Cal Ripken Jr. makes his major-league debut

Monday, August 10, may well have been the most important day…
Roger Erickson (THE TOPPS COMPANY)

August 10, 1981: Twins down A’s to take second-half ‘reopener’

“If you think what goes on between the white lines has anything…

August 15, 1981: Twins overshadowed by the past

A forgettable year for the Minnesota Twins, 1981, stands out…