1981 Montreal Expos season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Montreal Expos
season = 1981
misc = NL East Champions

current league = National League
y1 = 1969
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Olympic Stadium
y4 = 1977
city = Montreal
y5 = 1969
owners = Charles Bronfman
managers = Dick Williams and Jim Fanning
television = CBC Television
(Dave Van Horne, Duke Snider)
Télévision de Radio-Canada
(Jean-Pierre Roy, Guy Ferron)
radio = CFCF
(Dave Van Horne, Duke Snider)
CKAC (AM)
(Claude Raymond, Jacques Doucet)|

The Montreal Expos made it to the postseason for the first and only time in franchise history. The season was separated into two halves due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike.

Offseason

*December 8, 1980: Jack O'Connor was drafted from the Expos by the Minnesota Twins in the rule 5 draft. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/o'conja02.shtml Jack O'Connor page at Baseball Reference] ]
*December 12, 1980: Tony Bernazard was traded by the Expos to the Chicago White Sox for Rich Wortham. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bernato01.shtml Tony Bernazard page at Baseball Reference] ]
*January 15, 1981: Ken Macha was purchased from the Expos by the Toronto Blue Jays. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/machake01.shtml Ken Macha page at Baseball Reference] ]
*February 18, 1981: Ray Burris was signed as a free agent by the Expos. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/burrira01.shtml Ray Burris page at Baseball Reference] ]

Regular season

*On April 29, 1981, Steve Carlton struck out Tim Wallach for the 3000th strikeout of his career. [ [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/carltst01.php Steve Carlton | The Baseball Page ] ]
*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 Fransico for good measure.

eason standings

Notable Transactions

*April 1, 1981: John Tamargo was released by the Expos. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tamarjo01.shtml John Tamargo page at Baseball Reference] ]
*May 29, 1981: Ellis Valentine was traded by the Expos to the New York Mets for Jeff Reardon and Dan Norman. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/reardje01.shtml Jeff Reardon page at Baseball Reference] ]
*June 8, 1981: 1981 Major League Baseball Draft
**Mark McGwire was drafted by the Expos in the 8th round. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcgwima01.shtml]
**Marvin Freeman was drafted by the Expos in the 9th round, but did not sign. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/freemma02.shtml Marvin Freeman page at Baseball Reference] ]

Opening Day Starters

* Gary Carter
* Warren Cromartie
* Andre Dawson
* Larry Parrish
* Tim Raines
* Steve Rogers
* Rodney Scott
* Chris Speier
* Ellis Valentine

Roster

Pitching

Starting pitchers

National League Division Series

Montreal Expos vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Montreal wins series, 3-2.

Game 3

October 16, Stade Olympique, Montreal, Quebec

*October 19, by|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.

Award Winners

* 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 [ [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/hisb2nl.shtml Stolen Bases Single Season National League Leaders by Baseball Almanac ] ]

1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
* Gary Carter, Catcher, Starter
* Andre Dawson, Outfield, Starter
* Tim Raines, Outfield, Reserve

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MON/1981.shtml 1981 Montreal Expos team page at Baseball Reference]
* [http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1981&t=MON 1981 Montreal Expos team page at www.baseball-almanac.com] succession box
title = NL East Champions
years = 1981
before = Philadelphia Phillies
1980
after = St. Louis Cardinals
1982