1981 St. Louis Cardinals season

MLB yearly infobox
name = St. Louis Cardinals
season = 1981
misc =

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current league = National League
y1 = 1892
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Busch Memorial Stadium
y4 = 1966
city = St. Louis, Missouri
y5 = 1882
owners = August "Gussie" Busch
managers = Whitey Herzog
television = KSDK
(Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Jay Randolph, Dan Kelly)
radio = KMOX
(Jack Buck, Mike Shannon, Dan Kelly)
espntn = stl
brtn = stlThe St. Louis Cardinals 1981 season was the team's 100th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 90th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 59-43 during the season and finished second in the National League East in the first and second halves of the season. They missed the playoffs due to the 1981 player's strike resulting in the season being split in halves, where the first half and second half leaders met up in a "Divisional Playoff". The Cards finished second in both halves of the season, a game and-a-half behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the first half, and one-half game behind the Montreal Expos in the second half.

First baseman Keith Hernandez won a Gold Glove this year.

Offseason

* December 8, 1980: Terry Kennedy, Steve Swisher, Mike Phillips, John Littlefield, John Urrea, Kim Seaman, and Al Olmsted were traded by the Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for Rollie Fingers, Bob Shirley, Gene Tenace and a player to be named later. The Padres completed the deal by sending Bob Geren to the Cardinals on December 10. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gerenbo01.shtml Bob Geren page at Baseball Reference] ]
* December 9, 1980: Leon Durham, Ken Reitz and a player to be named later were traded by the Cardinals to the Chicago Cubs for Bruce Sutter. The Cardinals completed the trade by sending Tye Waller to the Cubs on December 22. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/suttebr01.shtml Bruce Sutter page at Baseball Reference] ]
* December 12, 1980: Ted Simmons, Rollie Fingers and Pete Vuckovich were traded by the Cardinals to the Milwaukee Brewers for Sixto Lezcano, David Green, Lary Sorensen and Dave LaPoint. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/simmote01.shtml Ted Simmons page at Baseball Reference] ]
* February 16, 1981: The Cardinals traded a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Rafael Santana. The Cardinals completed the deal by sending George Frazier to the Yankees on June 7. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/santara01.shtml Rafael Santana page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular Season

Opening Day Roster

* Bob Forsch
* George Hendrick
* Keith Hernandez
* Tom Herr
* Sixto Lezcano
* Ken Oberkfell
* Darrell Porter
* Tony Scott
* Garry Templeton

Transactions

*April 3, 1981: Julio González was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gonzaju02.shtml Julio González page at Baseball Reference] ]
*June 7, 1981: Tony Scott was traded by the Cardinals to the Houston Astros for Joaquín Andújar. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/andujjo01.shtml Joaquín Andújar page at Baseball Reference] ]
*June 8, 1981: Danny Cox was drafted by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1981 amateur draft. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/coxda01.shtml Danny Cox page at Baseball Reference] ]

eason standings

Roster

Pitching

Starting pitchers

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1981.shtml 1981 St. Louis Cardinals]
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1981&t=SLN 1981 St. Louis Cardinals team page at www.baseball-almanac.com]