The 1981 World Series Was An MLBbro Showcase For The Ages
For a record 12th time in World Series history, the Dodgers and Yankees will battle it out for MLB supremacy. From Jackie Robinson’s daring steal of home in 1955 to Reggie Jackson’s 3-homer game in 1977, these matchups have given the sport a lifetime of October memories.
With superstars Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts, Giancarlo and Jazz Chisholm preparing to add their resumes to this legacy, we take a look back at the last time these teams met in the Fall Classic. To say the circumstances were different back in 1981 would be a huge understatement.
Player’s Strike Affected 1981 MLB Season
The players’ strike, which ran from June 12 to August 8, caused the season to be split into two halves. The first-place teams from each half in each division (or a wild card team if the same club won both halves, although this did not occur in any division), met in the best-of-five Division Series.
This division series was a one-time occasion. They did not implement the Division Series permanently until 1994. The four survivors would then move on to the two best-of-five League Championship Series.
The expanded playoffs led to Game 1 of the World Series being pushed back to October 20, the latest starting date for a Fall Classic up to that time. In the National League, the Dodgers led the NL West prior to the strike.
The Houston Astros, however, won the second-half division title. The Dodgers then defeated the Astros, three games to two, in the NLDS before beating the Montreal Expos, three games to two, in the NLCS.
In the AL, the Yankees, who led the East in the season’s first half, took on the Milwaukee Brewers, winners of the second half division title, in the ALDS. New York was victorious three games to two, then swept the Oakland A’s (with ex-New York skipper Billy Martin) in the ALCS.
Yankees vs. Dodgers Was A Regular Thing In 70s and Early 80s
When New York and Los Angeles got ready to battle, it was the third time in five seasons that the blue blood franchise were meeting in the Fall Classic. The Bronx Bombers had prevailed in the previous two meetings (1977 and 1978), both in six games.
The 1978 clash was the capper to one of New York’s most tumultuous seasons in Yankee history. The team overcame a 14-game deficit to their rivals in Boston and forced a one-game playoff for the division crown.
Behind homers by Reggie Jackson and Bucky “Bleeping” Dent, New York won 5-4 to advance to their third straight ALCS with the Kansas City Royals. The Yankees prevailed in four games setting up the rematch with the Dodgers.
Keeping with the comeback theme, New York would lose Games 1 and 2 in L.A. However, the Yankees would win four straight to take the series and win their 22nd World Series Championship completing “the greatest comeback ever” so said owner George Steinbrenner.
Blackest Yankees Team Ever?
By the time these two teams got together again in 1981, there were still a few players left over from the previous matchup. However, the makeup of each roster had gone through some tweaking. Especially the Yankees.
Dave Winfield holds jersey during press conference with Willie Randolph (L) and Reggie Jackson (R) when he joined the Yankees in 1981. (Photo by Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
While Jackson and All-Star second baseman Willie Randolph were still major contributors, several other MLBbros helped lead the Bronx Bombers to another playoff run. Veterans like 1B/DH Bob Watson, infielder Larry Milbourne, and outfielder Jerry Mumphrey were stalwarts during the regular season and postseason.
Two other contributors – pitcher Rudy May and outfielder Oscar Gamble – were back in pinstripes for the second time as well. However, the biggest change had come during the off-season when they signed former Padres All-Star outfielder Dave Winfield.
The team added Winfield’s huge contract ($21 million over 10 years) to an already strong lineup. The future Hall of Famer led the team with 68 RBIs during the strike-shortened season, but he would have his struggles in the Fall Classic.
Despite having Jackson out of the lineup (hamstring), New York would win Games 1 and 2 in the Bronx. After the Dodgers took Game 3 behind Fernando Valenzuela (RIP), Jackson returned in Game 4.
He went 3-for-3 including his 10th and final homer in World Series play, but it wasn’t enough as L.A. tied the series at 2-2 with an 8-7 win. The Dodgers also prevailed in Game 5 (2-1) to send the series back to New York up 3-2.
Randolph opened the scoring in Game 6 with a solo homer in the third inning. However, after the Dodgers tied it an inning later, they added three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
A throwing error by Winfield in the sixth led to the L.A. uprising. His throw typified his struggles in this, his first World Series. At the plate, he went 1-for-22 with one RBI. The Dodgers exacted revenge from 1978 by winning their first crown since 1965 and their first against New York since 1963.
LA Dodgers’ MLBbros On 1981 World Series Team
L.A. had their share of MLBbros on the 1981 roster as well. Longtime stalwarts like second baseman Davey Lopes as well as outfielders Dusty Baker and Reggie Smith. The roster also included utility players Ken Landreaux and Derrel Thomas as well as a young fireballer in the bullpen by the name of Dave Stewart.
After combining for ten division titles and eight World Series appearances between 1974 and 1981, the 1981 World Series marked the end of an era for both teams as they soon were without key contributors.
Reggie Jackson would leave the Bronx and sign with the then California Angels and help lead them to a Western Division crown. Smith and Lopes left L.A. through trades and free agency as well.
It’s been 44 long years since these two flagship MLB franchises met for all the marbles. They’ll meet again in the Fall Classic starting Friday night in Los Angeles.
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