- Source: 1981 Houston Astros season
The 1981 Houston Astros season was the 20th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. The season was divided into two halves because of a players' strike in mid-season. The Astros won the National League West in the second half with a loss by the Cincinnati Reds on October 3, the penultimate day of the season. The Astros advanced to the playoffs, which matched the winners of the two halves in a Division Series (the name would be re-introduced fourteen years later). However, they were defeated in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
Offseason
December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
December 8, 1980: Chris Bourjos was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Bob Knepper to the Houston Astros for Enos Cabell.
March 27, 1981: Julio González was released by the Astros.
Regular season
= Season standings
== Record vs. opponents
== Notable transactions
=April 1, 1981: Chris Bourjos was traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Kiko Garcia.
April 3, 1981: Gary Rajsich was traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for John Csefalvay (minors).
April 17, 1981: David Clyde was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
April 20, 1981 - Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard were traded by the Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Ivie.
June 7, 1981: Joaquín Andújar was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Scott.
June 8, 1981: Eric Bullock was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (secondary phase).
= Nolan Ryan's 5th No-Hitter
=On September 26, 1981, Nolan Ryan no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, on national television. The 34-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher to throw five career no-hitters. It had been six years since Ryan's last no-hitter; he pitched for the California Angels for the last of four no-hitters.
= Roster
=Game log
= Regular season (First half)
== Regular season (games canceled by the 1981 Major League Baseball strike)
== Regular season (Second half)
== Postseason Game log
=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
1981 National League Division Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros
Los Angeles wins series, 3-2.
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Daytona Beach
References
External links
1981 Houston Astros season at Baseball Reference