1981 Montreal Expos season
Major League Baseball team season
The 1981 Montreal Expos season was the 13th season in franchise history. They made it to the postseason for the first time in franchise history (the franchise's next appearance in the playoffs was in 2012 , as the Washington Nationals ). Their playoff run ended in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers , with Rick Monday hitting a ninth-inning solo home run in game 5, subsequently referred to as "Blue Monday" by Expos fans. This was the closest the Expos ever got to a World Series appearance while in Montreal. This was also their last time winning a playoff series until 2019 , which they won the Wild Card game. In addition, their 31-year playoff drought after this season is currently the longest in the Divisional era.
The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike .
Offseason
Spring training
After holding spring training at City Island Ball Park in Daytona Beach , Florida , from 1973 to 1980 , the Expos returned to West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach , Florida – a facility they shared with the Atlanta Braves – for spring training in 1981. It was their fifth season at the stadium; they also had conducted spring training there from 1969 to 1972 . The Expos would train at Municipal Stadium through 1997 .
Regular season
April 29, 1981: Steve Carlton struck out Tim Wallach for the 3000th strikeout of his career.[ 6]
May 10, 1981: Charlie Lea pitched a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants , defeating them 4–0 at Olympic Stadium. The last out was recorded by Andre Dawson in center field. Lea would go on to shut out the Giants again a week later on four hits in San Francisco for good measure.
Game log
First half
1981 Regular Season Game Log First Half (30–25) (Home: 21–7; Road: 9–18)
April (12–4) (Home: 8–0; Road: 4–4)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
1
April 9
@ Pirates
6–5
Fryman (1–0)
Tekulve (0–1)
40,332
1–0
Boxscore
2
April 12
@ Pirates
2–3
Rhoden (1–0)
Burris (0–1)
Romo (1)
8,430
1–1
Boxscore
3
April 15
Cubs
5–4
Bahnsen (1–0)
Tidrow (1–1)
30,003
2–1
Boxscore
4
April 16
Cubs
7–0
Sanderson (1–0)
McGlothen (0–1)
11,602
3–1
Boxscore
5
April 18
@ Mets
5–3
Gullickson (1–0)
Jones (0–1)
Bahnsen (1)
23,710
4–1
Boxscore
6
April 19
@ Mets
4–3
Burris (1–1)
Swan (0–1)
Fryman (1)
N/A
5–1
Boxscore
7
April 19
@ Mets
2–7
Zachry (3–0)
Lea (0–1)
21,464
5–2
Boxscore
8
April 20
Phillies
9–8
Rogers (1–0)
McGraw (1–1)
Fryman (2)
24,817
6–2
Boxscore
9
April 21
Phillies
10–3
Sanderson (2–0)
Ruthven (2–1)
10,887
7–2
Boxscore
10
April 22
Phillies
4–3 (11 inn.)
Sosa (1–0)
McGraw (1–2)
14,176
8–2
Boxscore
April 24
Mets
Postponed (rain); rescheduled for April 26
11
April 25
Mets
4–2
Rogers (2–0)
Jones (0–2)
Lee (1)
18,150
9–2
Boxscore
12
April 26
Mets
8–4
Burris (2–1)
Zachry (3–1)
N/A
10–2
Boxscore
13
April 26
Mets
7–6
Sanderson (3–0)
Swan (0–2)
Fryman (3)
41,697
11–2
Boxscore
14
April 27
@ Phillies
1–3
Ruthven (3–1)
Gullickson (1–1)
27,347
11–3
Boxscore
15
April 28
@ Phillies
6–3
Ratzer (1–0)
Christenson (1–2)
Sosa (1)
26,192
12–3
Boxscore
16
April 29
@ Phillies
2–6
Carlton (4–0)
Rogers (2–1)
30,142
12–4
Boxscore
May (14–15) (Home: 10–7; Road: 4–8)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
17
May 1
Dodgers
9–8 (13 inn.)
Lee (1–0)
Castillo (0–2)
28,179
13–4
Boxscore
18
May 2
Dodgers
0–4
Reuss (2–1)
Sanderson (3–1)
22,820
13–5
Boxscore
19
May 3
Dodgers
1–6 (10 inn.)
Valenzuela (6–0)
Gullickson (1–2)
46,405
13–6
Boxscore
20
May 4
Dodgers
4–3
Rogers (3–1)
Sutcliffe (2–2)
Sosa (2)
21,527
14–6
Boxscore
21
May 5
Padres
4–3
Fryman (2–0)
15,909
15–6
Boxscore
22
May 6
Padres
5–13
Burris (2–2)
13,066
15–7
Boxscore
23
May 7
Padres
2–1
Sanderson (4–1)
12,248
16–7
Boxscore
24
May 8
Giants
3–4
Gullickson (1–3)
21,850
16–8
Boxscore
25
May 9
Giants
2–8
Rogers (3–2)
48,149
16–9
Boxscore
26
May 10
Giants
1–5
Lee (1–1)
N/A
16–10
Boxscore
27
May 10
Giants
4–0
Lea (1–1)
25,343
17–10
Boxscore
28
May 12
@ Dodgers
0–5
Hooton (5–0)
Burris (2–3)
Howe (4)
34,367
17–11
Boxscore
29
May 13
@ Dodgers
6–8
Howe (2–1)
Fryman (2–1)
42,712
17–12
Boxscore
30
May 14
@ Dodgers
2–3
Valenzuela (8–0)
Ratzer (1–1)
53,906
17–13
Boxscore
31
May 15
@ Giants
2–4
Rogers (3–3)
19,763
17–14
Boxscore
32
May 16
@ Giants
5–0
Lea (2–1)
11,133
18–14
Boxscore
33
May 17
@ Giants
4–5 (12 inn.)
Lee (1–2)
27,975
18–15
Boxscore
34
May 18
@ Padres
3–2 (10 inn.)
Fryman (3–1)
Lee (2)
13,283
19–15
Boxscore
35
May 19
@ Padres
1–3
Gullickson (1–4)
6,871
19–16
Boxscore
36
May 20
@ Padres
6–2
Rogers (4–3)
9,336
20–16
Boxscore
37
May 22
@ Cubs
6–3
Lea (3–1)
Krukow (1–5)
6,071
21–16
Boxscore
38
May 23
@ Cubs
4–6
Reuschel (2–5)
Burris (2–4)
Tidrow (2)
15,981
21–17
Boxscore
39
May 24
@ Cubs
2–6
Caudill (1–3)
Sanderson (4–2)
Tidrow (3)
10,821
21–18
Boxscore
40
May 25
Cardinals
5–3
Gullickson (2–4)
Lee (3)
24,490
22–18
Boxscore
41
May 26
Cardinals
4–3
Rogers (5–3)
Sosa (3)
27,775
23–18
Boxscore
42
May 27
Cardinals
4–1
Lea (4–1)
Lee (4)
24,709
24–18
Boxscore
43
May 29
Pirates
3–2
Sanderson (5–2)
Bibby (3–3)
Lee (5)
36,662
25–18
Boxscore
44
May 30
Pirates
2–3
Rhoden (6–0)
Gullickson (2–5)
31,649
25–19
Boxscore
45
May 31
Pirates
5–1
Rogers (6–3)
Pérez (2–1)
45,783
26–19
Boxscore
June (4–6) (Home: 3–0; Road: 1–6)
Games cancelled
1981 Games cancelled
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
April 11
@ Pirates
Cancelled (strike)
April 14
Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
June 12
Reds
Cancelled (strike)
June 13
Reds
Cancelled (strike)
June 14
Reds
Cancelled (strike)
June 15
Astros
Cancelled (strike)
June 16
Astros
Cancelled (strike)
June 17
@ Braves
Cancelled (strike)
June 18
@ Braves
Cancelled (strike)
June 19
@ Astros
Cancelled (strike)
June 20
@ Astros
Cancelled (strike)
June 21
@ Astros
Cancelled (strike)
June 23
Mets
Cancelled (strike)
June 24
Mets
Cancelled (strike)
June 25
Mets
Cancelled (strike)
June 26
Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
June 27
Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
June 28
Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
June 29
@ Pirates
Cancelled (strike)
June 30
@ Pirates
Cancelled (strike)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
July 1
Pirates
Cancelled (strike)
July 2
Pirates
Cancelled (strike)
July 3
@ Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
July 4
@ Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
July 5
@ Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
July 7
@ Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
July 8
@ Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
July 9
@ Cubs
Cancelled (strike)
July 10
@ Cardinals
Cancelled (strike)
July 11
@ Cardinals
Cancelled (strike)
July 12
@ Cardinals
Cancelled (strike)
July 16
Dodgers
Cancelled (strike)
July 17
Dodgers
Cancelled (strike)
July 18
Padres
Cancelled (strike)
July 19
Padres
Cancelled (strike)
July 20
Padres
Cancelled (strike)
July 21
Giants
Cancelled (strike)
July 22
Giants
Cancelled (strike)
July 24
@ Dodgers
Cancelled (strike)
July 25
@ Dodgers
Cancelled (strike)
July 26
@ Dodgers
Cancelled (strike)
July 28
@ Giants
Cancelled (strike)
July 29
@ Giants
Cancelled (strike)
July 30
@ Giants
Cancelled (strike)
July 31
@ Padres
Cancelled (strike)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
August 1
@ Padres
Cancelled (strike)
August 2
@ Padres
Cancelled (strike)
August 4
@ Mets
Cancelled (strike)
August 5
@ Mets
Cancelled (strike)
August 6
@ Mets
Cancelled (strike)
August 7
Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
August 8
Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
August 9
Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
August 9
Phillies
Cancelled (strike)
Second half
1981 Regular Season Game Log Second Half (30–23) (Home: 17–11; Road: 13–12)
August (11–8) (Home: 6–3; Road: 5–5)
September (16–14) (Home: 11–8; Road: 5–6)
#
Date
Opponent
Score
Win
Loss
Save
Attendance
Record
Report
75
September 1
@ Reds
4–3
Lea (5–4)
Reardon (2)
42–33
Boxscore
76
September 2
@ Reds
0–7
Bahnsen (2–1)
42–34
Boxscore
77
September 3
Astros
1–2
Sanderson (7–5)
42–35
Boxscore
78
September 4
Astros
0–5
Gullickson (4–7)
42–36
Boxscore
79
September 5
Astros
5–2
Burris (7–5)
43–36
Boxscore
80
September 6
Astros
3–4 (12 inn.)
Sosa (1–2)
43–37
Boxscore
81
September 7
@ Phillies
5–4
Fryman (5–2)
Proly (2–1)
Reardon (3)
31,401
45–36
Boxscore
82
September 8
@ Phillies
5–10
Larson (1–0)
Sanderson (7–6)
11,812
45–37
Boxscore
83
September 9
@ Phillies
8–11
Reed (4–1)
Fryman (5–3)
Lyle (1)
25,468
45–38
Boxscore
84
September 11
@ Cubs
5–6
Griffin (2–2)
Burris (7–6)
Hernández (2)
7,204
45–39
Boxscore
85
September 12
@ Cubs
2–0
Rogers (10–6)
Bird (4–3)
Reardon (4)
18,124
45–40
Boxscore
86
September 13
@ Cubs
10–6
Sanderson (8–6)
Krukow (6–9)
14,589
46–40
Boxscore
87
September 15
Cardinals
2–3
Gullickson (3–8)
N/A
46–41
Boxscore
88
September 15
Cardinals
4–3
Lee (3–4)
Fryman (5)
41,671
47–41
Boxscore
89
September 16
Cardinals
1–7
Burris (7–7)
N/A
47–42
Boxscore
90
September 16
Cardinals
4–3 (11 inn.)
Reardon (2–0)
30,222
48–42
Boxscore
91
September 17
Cardinals
4–7
Rogers (10–7)
26,390
48–43
Boxscore
92
September 18
Cubs
11–0
Sanderson (9–6)
Bird (4–4)
23,606
49–43
Boxscore
93
September 19
Cubs
1–2
Krukow (7–9)
Lee (3–5)
Martz (4)
30,099
49–44
Boxscore
94
September 20
Cubs
4–0
Gullickson (4–8)
Griffin (2–4)
40,851
50–44
Boxscore
95
September 21
Phillies
1–0 (17 inn.)
Smith (1–0)
Reed (0–1)
24,161
51–44
Boxscore
96
September 22
Phillies
6–2
Rogers (11–7)
Ruthven (11–6)
21,797
52–44
Boxscore
97
September 23
Pirates
3–2
Jackson (2–2)
Rhoden (8–4)
10,081
53–44
Boxscore
98
September 24
Pirates
7–1
Lee (4–5)
Jones (4–4)
23,459
54–44
Boxscore
99
September 25
Mets
6–3
Gullickson (5–8)
Zachry (7–13)
41,354
55–44
Boxscore
100
September 26
Mets
4–2
Burris (8–7)
Harris (3–5)
Fryman (6)
38,821
56–44
Boxscore
101
September 27
Mets
1–2
Scott (5–10)
Rogers (11–8)
Allen (18)
52,089
56–45
Boxscore
102
September 28
@ Cardinals
2–6
Sanderson (9–7)
21,216
56–46
Boxscore
103
September 29
@ Cardinals
4–8
Lee (4–6)
40,488
56–47
Boxscore
104
September 30
@ Pirates
3–2
Gullickson (6–8)
Solomon (8–6)
Fryman (7)
5,826
57–47
Boxscore
October (3–1) (Road: 3–1)
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team
ATL
CHC
CIN
HOU
LAD
MON
NYM
PHI
PIT
SD
SF
STL
Atlanta
—
3–2–1
6–5
4–8
7–7
3–7
3–3
4–5
2–3
9–6
5–7
4–3
Chicago
2–3–1
—
1–5
1–6
6–4
4–7
5–8–1
2–10
4–10
3–3
5–5
5–4–1
Cincinnati
5–6
5–1
—
8–4
8–8
5–4
7–3
5–2
4–2
10–2
9–5
0–5
Houston
8–4
6–1
4–8
—
4–8
5–2
6–3
4–6
2–4
11–3
9–6
2–4
Los Angeles
7–7
4–6
8–8
8–4
—
5–2
5–1
3–3
5–1
6–5
7–5
5–5
Montreal
7–3
7–4
4–5
2–5
2–5
—
9–3
7–4
10–3
4–2
2–5
6–9
New York
3–3
8–5–1
3–7
3–6
1–5
3–9
—
7–7
3–6–1
2–5
2–4
6–5
Philadelphia
5-4
10–2
2–5
6–4
3–3
4–7
7–7
—
7–5
4–2
4–3
7–6
Pittsburgh
3–2
10–4
2–4
4–2
1–5
3–10
6–3–1
5–7
—
6–4
3–7
3–8
San Diego
6–9
3–3
2–10
3–11
5–6
2–4
5–2
2–4
4–6
—
6–7
3–7
San Francisco
7–5
5–5
5–9
6–9
5–7
5–2
4–2
3–4
7–3
7–6
—
2–3
St. Louis
3–4
4–5–1
5–0
4–2
5–5
9–6
5–6
6–7
8–3
7–3
3–2
—
Notable transactions
Major League debuts
Batters:
Terry Francona (Aug 19)
Mike Gates (May 6)
Dave Hostetler (Sep 15)
Tony Johnson (Sep 27)
Wallace Johnson (Sep 8)
Pat Rooney (Sep 9)
Chris Smith (May 14)
Tom Wieghaus (Oct 4)
Pitchers:
Rick Engle (Sep 2)
Tom Gorman (Sep 2)
Bryn Smith (Sep 8)[ 13]
Opening Day starters
Roster
1981 Montreal Expos
Roster
Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Manager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched, IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Postseason
Game log
1981 Playoff Game Log
1981 National League Eastern Division Series vs. Philadelphia Phillies – Montreal wins series 3–2
1981 National League Championship Series vs. Los Angeles Dodgers – Los Angeles wins series 3–2
Legend
Expos win
Expos loss
Game postponed
National League Division Series
Montreal Expos vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Montreal wins series, 3–2.
Game
Score
Date
1
Montreal 3 , Philadelphia 1
October 7
2
Montreal 3 , Philadelphia 1
October 8
3
Philadelphia 6 , Montreal 2
October 9
4
Philadelphia 6 , Montreal 5 (10 innings)
October 10
5
Montreal 3 , Philadelphia 0
October 11
October 11, 1981 – Steve Rogers defeats Steve Carlton of the Phillies 3–0 in a pitchers' duel to win the National League Division Series. Rogers drove in two of the three Expos runs to boot singling home Larry Parrish and Chris Speier in the fifth inning. The Expos advance to play the Dodgers who defeated the Astros. Rogers previously defeated Carlton in game one of the series as well.
National League Championship Series
Game 1
October 13, Dodger Stadium , Los Angeles
Game 2
October 14, Dodger Stadium , Los Angeles
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Montreal
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
10
1
Los Angeles
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
1
WP : Ray Burris (1-0) LP : Fernando Valenzuela (0-1)Home runs : MON: None LAD: NoneAttendance: 53,463Notes: Pitchers : MON – Burris LAD – Valenzuela, Niedenfuer (7), Forster (7), Pena (7), Castillo (9)
Game 3
October 16, Olympic Stadium , Montreal , Quebec
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Los Angeles
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
0
Montreal
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
X
4
7
1
WP : Steve Rogers (1-0) LP : Jerry Reuss (0-1)Home runs : LAD: None MON: Jerry White (1)Attendance: 54,372Notes: Pitchers : LAD – Reuss, Pena (8) MON – Rogers
Game 4
October 17, Olympic Stadium , Montreal , Quebec
Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Los Angeles
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
4
7
12
1
Montreal
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
5
1
WP : Burt Hooton (2-0) LP : Bill Gullickson (0-2)Home runs : LAD: Steve Garvey (1) MON: NoneAttendance: Attendance : 54,499Notes: Pitchers : LAD – Hooton, Welch (8), Howe (9) MON – Gullickson, Fryman (8), Sosa (9), Lee (9)
Game 5
October 19, Olympic Stadium , Montreal , Quebec
October 19, 1981: Blue Monday. In the decisive Game 5 of their only National League Championship Series, the Expos were defeated at home, 2–1, by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tim Raines opened the bottom of the first with a double against Cy Young Award -winning rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela and scored on an Andre Dawson double play ball. Valenzuela held the Expos scoreless the rest of the way, however, and the Dodgers tied the game at 1 in the top of the fifth with two hits, a wild pitch and an RBI ground out off Expo starter Ray Burris . The teams remained tied until the top of the ninth, when Expo manager Jim Fanning made a risky decision to relieve Burris with Game 3 winner Steve Rogers . Struggling closer Jeff Reardon was throwing alongside Rogers in the bullpen at the time, but Fanning elected to summon his ace. Rogers retired Steve Garvey and Ron Cey in order, but outfielder Rick Monday homered to put Los Angeles ahead, 2–1, and crush the Expos' hopes of advancing to the World Series . Two-out walks from Gary Carter and Larry Parrish were all that the Expos could muster in the 9th, as Bob Welch preserved the one-run Dodger victory. The Expos lost the NLCS, 3–2, and never returned to the postseason again until 2012 as the Washington Nationals.
Awards and honors
Gary Carter , All-Star Game MVP
Gary Carter , Gold Glove Award, Catcher
Andre Dawson , Gold Glove Award, Outfield
Charlie Lea , Pitcher of the Month Award, May
Tim Raines, OF, The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
Tim Raines , National League Leader, 71 Stolen Bases[ 14]
52nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game
All-Star Game
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Denver
References
^ "Jack O'Connor Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Tony Bernazard Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ a b "Willie Montañez Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Ken Macha Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Ray Burris Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Steve Carlton Stats & Facts" . This Day in Baseball . December 29, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "John Tamargo Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Jeff Reardon Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Mike Fuentes Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Mark McGwire Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Marvin Freeman Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Al Newman Stats" . Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "1981 Montreal Expos" . The Baseball Cube . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
^ "Stolen Bases Single Season National League Leaders" . Baseball Almanac . Retrieved October 19, 2024 .
Further reading
Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3 .
External links
1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
Franchise Ballparks
Culture Lore Rivalries Retired numbers Division Championships
National League East: 1981 (second half)
Seasons (36)
1960s · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 1969 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s