1981 Toronto Blue Jays season

March 2026 November 2013 Toronto Blue Jays 1981 American League East Exhibition Stadium Toronto 1st half: 16–42 (.276) 2nd half: 21–27 (.438) Overall: 37–69 (.349) 1st half: 7th (19 GB) 2nd half: 7th (7 1 2 GB) Labatt Breweries,Imperial Trust,Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Pat Gillick Bobby Mattick CTV Television Network(Don Chevrier, Tony Kubek, Fergie Olver) CKFH(Jerry Howarth, Early Wynn, Tom Cheek) The 1981 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's fifth season competing in Major League Baseball. Games were suspended for 50 days due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, causing a split season. The Blue Jays finished both halves of the season in seventh place in the seven-team American League East. Managed by Bobby Mattick, the Blue Jays played their home games at Exhibition Stadium and had an overall record of 37 wins and 69 losses. Offseason Transactions Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1981 season.1981 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/1981-transactions.shtml baseball-reference.com 15 July 2023 October 1980 October 23 Roy Howell granted free agency. November 1980 November 5 Steve Braun granted free agency. December 1980 December 8 Drafted George Bell from the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 draft. Drafted Dan Whitmer from the California Angels in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 draft.December 12 Acquired Roy Lee Jackson from the New York Mets for Bob Bailor.December 17 Released Bob Davis. January 1981 January 15 Purchased Ken Macha from the Montreal Expos.January 20 Signed free agent Dale Murray from the Montreal Expos to a contract. February 1981 February 3 Signed free agent Bruce Boisclair from the New York Mets to a contract. Signed free agent Leroy Stanton from the Hanshin Tigers (NPB) to a contract. Signed amateur free agent Oswaldo Peraza.February 6 Acquired Gil Kubski from the California Angels for Don Pisker.February 17 Signed free agent Dave Tomlin from the Cincinnati Reds to a contract. March 1981 March 2 Signed free agent John Montague from the California Angels to a contract. April 1981 April 6 Acquired Mark Bomback from the New York Mets for a player to be named later (Charlie Puleo on April 14, 1981). Released John Montague. Released Leroy Stanton. Regular season The Blue Jays were one of the worst teams in the majors in the first half of the split season, as the Blue Jays had a record of 16 wins and 42 losses, a percentage of .276.Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.136, Penguin Books, 0-14-023978-2 Although the Blue Jays had future stars Jesse Barfield, George Bell, and Lloyd Moseby in the lineup, the team continued to struggle. On May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians pitched a perfect game against the Blue Jays. It was the tenth perfect game ever pitched, is one of only seventeen in the history of the major leagues, and remains the last no-hitter thrown by an Indian.Sports American League (Baseball) Baseball AL West Division Major League Baseball – SI Vault The result of the season was one of the more controversial times in franchise history. The President of the Blue Jays, Peter Bavasi, went to see the team in Anaheim against the California Angels. Bavasi's father, Buzzie Bavasi was the president of the Angels, and his team had gotten off to a lackluster start. Buzzie wanted to fire Angels manager Jim Fregosi, and Peter Bavasi had the idea to fire his manager, Bobby Mattick. Both thought it would be big news if father and son fired their manager on the same night.Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.137, Penguin Books, 0-14-023978-2 One of the Blue Jays executives advised the Jays Vice-Chairman of the Board, Peter Hardy. After a brief conversation, Hardy made it clear to Peter Bavasi that Mattick would not be fired in this way. After the strike was resolved, the Blue Jays started the second half of the season with a close to .500 winning percentage. Peter Bavasi was heard to muse aloud the requirement to print World Series tickets.Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.138, Penguin Books, 0-14-023978-2 The Jays would finish the second half with 21 wins and 27 losses, seven and a half games out of first place. Despite the attempted Bavasi firing, Mattick would resign as manager at the end of the season. On November 22, 1981, Hardy forced Bavasi to resign from the Blue Jays.Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.157, Penguin Books, 0-14-023978-2 Season standings Record vs. opponents TOR Opening Day starters Danny Ainge Barry Bonnell Jim Clancy Dámaso García Alfredo Griffin John Mayberry Lloyd Moseby Otto Vélez Ernie Whitt Al Woods Transactions Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1981 regular season.1981 Toronto Blue Jays Trades and Transactions https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/1981-transactions.shtml baseball-reference.com 15 July 2023 May 1981 May 10 Acquired Buck Martinez from the Milwaukee Brewers for Gil Kubski. June 1981 June 10 Player rights of Rick Bosetti sold to the Oakland Athletics.June 15 Signed amateur free agent Luis Aquino. August 1981 August 8 Purchased Juan Berenguer from the Kansas City Royals. September 1981 September 3 Signed free agent Ted Cox from the Seattle Mariners to a contract.September 10 Signed free agent Nino Espinosa from the Philadelphia Phillies to a contract. Roster 1981 Toronto Blue Jays roster Roster Pitchers 46 Mike Barlow 30 Juan Berenguer 45 Mark Bomback 18 Jim Clancy 38 Nino Espinosa 36 Jerry Garvin 25 Roy Lee Jackson 48 Luis Leal 50 Joey McLaughlin 42 Paul Mirabella 33 Dale Murray 37 Dave Stieb 40 Jackson Todd 23 Mike Willis Catchers 13 Buck Martinez  6 Dan Whitmer 12 Ernie Whitt Infielders  2 Danny Ainge 34 Ted Cox  7 Dámaso García  4 Alfredo Griffin 16 Garth Iorg  8 Ken Macha  2 Fred Manrique 10 John Mayberry 43 Greg Wells Outfielders 29 Jesse Barfield 11 George Bell  9 Barry Bonnell 22 Rick Bosetti 20 Al Woods Other batters 32 Charlie Beamon 26 Willie Upshaw 19 Otto Vélez Manager  3 Bobby Mattick Coaches 31 Bobby Doerr (Hitting) 28 John Felske (Bullpen) 14 Denis Menke (First Base) 41 Al Widmar (Pitching) 24 Jimy Williams (Third Base) Game log background:#6E8B3D 1981 Game Log 37–69 (Home 17–36, Away 20–33) y background:#9EBD69; April: 7–12 (Home 2–7, Away 5–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 1 || April 9 || @ Tigers || 2–6 || Morris (1–0) || McLaughlin (0–1) || || 51,452 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 11 || @ Tigers || 2–6 || Wilcox (1–0) || Stieb (0–1) || || 13,617 || 0–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 12 || @ Tigers || 6–2 || Leal (1–0) || Bailey (0–1) || || 9,950 || 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 13 || Yankees || 5–1 || Clancy (1–0) || John (1–1) || Jackson (1) || 25,112 || 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 15 || Yankees || 3–6 || May (2–0) || Todd (0–1) || Gossage (1) || 16,280 || 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 16 || Tigers || 0–2 || Wilcox (2–0) || Stieb (0–2) || López (1) || 11,058 || 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 17 || Tigers || 5–8 || Bailey (1–1) || Leal (1–1) || Saucier (1) || 15,196 || 2–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 18 || Tigers || 3–4 || Schatzeder (1–0) || Clancy (1–1) || López (2) || 16,294 || 2–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 19 || Tigers || 9–1 || Bomback (1–0) || Morris (1–1) || || 12,274 || 3–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 20 || Brewers || 4–5 (12) || Lerch (1–0) || Willis (0–1) || || 12,298 || 3–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 11 || April 21 || Brewers || 2–6 || Haas (1–0) || Stieb (0–3) || || 11,083 || 3–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 22 || Brewers || 1–8 || Caldwell (2–1) || Leal (1–2) || || 11,792 || 3–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 23 || @ Yankees || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Not rescheduled |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 24 || @ Yankees || 2–4 || John (2–1) || Bomback (1–1) || Gossage (4) || 20,863 || 3–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 14 || April 25 || @ Yankees || 7–2 || Todd (1–1) || May (3–1) || || 17,319 || 4–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 15 || April 26 || @ Yankees || 2–1 || Stieb (1–3) || Underwood (0–2) || || 37,306 || 5–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 27 || @ Brewers || 3–4 (12) || Cleveland (1–0) || Garvin (0–1) || || 6,692 || 5–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 28 || @ Brewers || 6–2 || Bomback (2–1) || Caldwell (2–2) || || 6,433 || 6–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 29 || @ Brewers || 5–0 (14) || Leal (2–2) || Easterly (0–1) || || 7,320 || 7–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 30 || @ Orioles || 0–4 || Flanagan (2–2) || Todd (1–2) || || 7,726 || 7–12 |- y background:#9EBD69; May: 9–20 (Home 5–10, Away 4–10) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 1 || @ Orioles || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for May 2 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || May 2 || @ Orioles || 3–4 || Palmer (1–0) || Willis (0–2) || || || 7–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || May 2 || @ Orioles || 3–8 || McGregor (2–1) || Leal (2–3) || || 16,402 || 7–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || May 3 || @ Orioles || 4–2 || Bomback (3–1) || Stone (1–3) || McLaughlin (1) || 23,898 || 8–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || May 5 || Indians || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || May 6 || Indians || 1–4 || Blyleven (3–1) || Todd (1–3) || || 11,469 || 8–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || May 7 || Indians || 6–2 || Stieb (2–3) || Waits (3–1) || || 11,328 || 9–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || May 8 || Red Sox || 2–4 || Torrez (2–2) || Bomback (3–2) || Burgmeier (3) || 15,106 || 9–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 9 || Red Sox || 3–10 || Stanley (3–1) || Clancy (1–2) || || 16,040 || 9–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 10 || Red Sox || 5–9 (10) || Burgmeier (2–0) || Jackson (0–1) || || 17,411 || 9–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 11 || Red Sox || 6–7 || Clear (2–0) || Willis (0–3) || || 11,315 || 9–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 29 || May 12 || Orioles || 5–2 || Stieb (3–3) || Palmer (1–1) || || 11,354 || 10–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 13 || Orioles || 0–4 || McGregor (3–1) || Bomback (3–3) || || 12,568 || 10–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 14 || Orioles || 0–10 || Flanagan (4–3) || Clancy (1–3) || || 11,509 || 10–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 32 || May 15 || @ Indians || 0–3 || Barker (3–1) || Leal (2–4) || || 7,290 || 10–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 16 || @ Indians || 4–1 || Todd (2–3) || Garland (2–3) || || 24,964 || 11–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 17 || @ Indians || 0–1 || Waits (4–2) || Stieb (3–4) || Monge (1) || || 11–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 17 || @ Indians || 1–2 (10)|| Blyleven (5–1) || Jackson (0–2) || || 46,168 || 11–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 18 || White Sox || 2–7 || Trout (3–1) || Bomback (3–4) || || 18,652 || 11–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 37 || May 19 || White Sox || 9–5 || Clancy (2–3) || Hoyt (3–1) || Leal (1) || 11,604 || 12–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 20 || White Sox || 5–6 || Farmer (1–2) || McLaughlin (0–2) || Hoyt (5) || 12,536 || 12–26 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 22 || @ Athletics || 2–6 || Langford (5–4) || Stieb (3–5) || || 13,426 || 12–27 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 23 || @ Athletics || 2–3 (15)|| Jones (3–1) || Leal (2–5) || || 27,147 || 12–28 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 24 || @ Athletics || 5–6 (12)|| Owchinko (2–1) || McLaughlin (0–3) || || || 12–29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 24 || @ Athletics || 0–5 || Norris (7–2) || Garvin (0–2) || || 32,985 || 12–30 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 43 || May 25 || @ Angels || 1–2 || Witt (3–4) || Todd (2–4) || Hassler (3) || 22,171 || 12–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 44 || May 26 || @ Angels || 8–4 || Jackson (1–2) || Rau (1–2) || McLaughlin (2) || 21,222 || 13–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 27 || @ Angels || 3–1 || Stieb (4–5) || Forsch (6–3) || || 21,167 || 14–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || May 29 || Athletics || 6–3 || Clancy (3–3) || Keough (6–2) || Jackson (2) || 16,509 || 15–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 30 || Athletics || 6–5 || Leal (3–5) || Norris (7–3) || McLaughlin (3) || 21,046 || 16–31 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 48 || May 31 || Athletics || 5–6 || Owchinko (3–1) || McLaughlin (0–4) || || 24,079 || 16–32 |- y background:#9EBD69; June: 0–10 (Home 0–5, Away 0–5) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 1 || Angels || 0–3 || Forsch (7–3) || Stieb (4–6) || || 12,268 || 16–33 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 2 || Angels || 0–3 || Frost (1–0) || Leal (3–6) || Hassler (4) || 12,617 || 16–34 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || June 3 || Angels || 6–17 || Zahn (6–6) || Clancy (3–4) || || 12,401 || 16–35 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 5 || @ Rangers || 4–5 (12)|| Comer (4–1) || Leal (3–7) || || 11,495 || 16–36 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 53 || June 6 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Jenkins (4–4) || Stieb (4–7) || || 24,312 || 16–37 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 7 || @ Rangers || 0–9 || Darwin (7–4) || Todd (2–5) || || 14,857 || 16–38 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 8 || @ White Sox || 2–6 || Lamp (2–1) || Clancy (3–5) || Hickey (1) || 8,301 || 16–39 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 56 || June 9 || @ White Sox || 0–3 || Dotson (7–3) || Leal (3–8) || || 8,534 || 16–40 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 10 || Royals || 4–7 || Leonard (6–7) || Bomback (3–5) || || 19,098 || 16–41 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 58 || June 11 || Royals || 5–10 || Martin (2–3) || Willis (0–4) || Quisenberry (9) || 16,498 || 16–42 |- y background:#9EBD69; August: 9–10 (Home 4–8, Away 5–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || August 10 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Saucier (1–0) || McLaughlin (0–5) || || 15,187 || 16–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 60 || August 11 || @ Tigers || 6–4 || Berenguer (1–4) || Schatzeder (3–5) || Jackson (3) || 10,526 || 17–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 61 || August 12 || @ Tigers || 4–3 || Stieb (5–7) || Morris (9–4) || Jackson (4) || 8,775 || 18–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 62 || August 14 || Brewers || 5–4 || Garvin (1–2) || Easterly (2–2) || Jackson (5) || 15,114 || 19–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 63 || August 15 || Brewers || 4–3 || Bomback (4–5) || Cleveland (2–2) || McLaughlin (4) || 12,467 || 20–43 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || August 16 || Brewers || 2–6 || Caldwell (8–5) || Stieb (5–8) || Fingers (14) || || 20–44 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || August 16 || Brewers || 0–2 || Lerch (4–6) || Todd (2–6) || Fingers (15) || 24,472 || 20–45 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || August 17 || @ Royals || 3–5 || Gale (5–5) || Clancy (3–6) || Quisenberry (11) || 31,958 || 20–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 67 || August 18 || @ Royals || 5–3 || Leal (4–8) || Jones (1–1) || Jackson (6) || 26,952 || 21–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 68 || August 19 || @ Royals || 9–4 || Berenguer (2–4) || Leonard (7–8) || || 28,174 || 22–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 69 || August 21 || White Sox || 5–4 || Stieb (6–8) || Farmer (2–3) || || 14,161 || 23–46 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 70 || August 22 || White Sox || 0–8 || Burns (8–2) || Clancy (3–7) || || 19,080 || 23–47 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 71 || August 23 || White Sox || 2–13 || Trout (7–4) || Leal (4–9) || || 16,486 || 23–48 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 72 || August 24 || Rangers || 0–3 || Medich (7–3) || Berenguer (2–5) || || 12,735 || 23–49 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 73 || August 25 || Rangers || 1–6 || Jenkins (5–6) || Stieb (6–9) || || 13,729 || 23–50 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 74 || August 27 || Royals || 5–11 || Martin (3–5) || Clancy (3–8) || || 14,704 || 23–51 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 75 || August 28 || Royals || 4–3 || McLaughlin (1–5) || Brett (1–1) || || 13,230 || 24–51 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 76 || August 29 || Royals || 0–2 || Jones (2–1) || Berenguer (2–6) || Quisenberry (13) || 19,055 || 24–52 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || August 30 || Royals || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Not rescheduled |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 77 || August 31 || @ Rangers || 3–0 || Stieb (7–9) || Jenkins (5–7) || || 8,034 || 25–52 |- y background:#9EBD69; September: 11–15 (Home 6–6, Away 5–9) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 78 || September 1 || @ Rangers || 9–3 || Clancy (4–8) || Darwin (8–7) || || 8,358 || 26–52 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 79 || September 2 || @ Rangers || 1–4 || Honeycutt (9–3) || Leal (4–10) || || 6,851 || 26–53 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 80 || September 3 || @ White Sox || 3–4 || Hoyt (6–3) || Berenguer (2–7) || || 6,669 || 26–54 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 81 || September 4 || @ White Sox || 6–2 || Stieb (8–9) || Lamp (5–3) || || 18,317 || 27–54 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 82 || September 5 || @ White Sox || 3–1 || Clancy (5–8) || Baumgarten (5–8) || McLaughlin (5) || 14,628 || 28–54 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 83 || September 6 || @ White Sox || 3–2 || Leal (5–10) || Burns (8–3) || Jackson (7) || 11,250 || 29–54 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 84 || September 7 || @ Twins || 0–4 || Jackson (3–2) || Berenguer (2–8) || Corbett (9) || 5,024 || 29–55 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 85 || September 8 || @ Twins || 0–1 || Havens (2–4) || Stieb (8–10) || || 2,839 || 29–56 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 86 || September 9 || @ Twins || 1–3 || Arroyo (6–7) || Clancy (5–9) || Corbett (10) || 3,381 || 29–57 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 87 || September 10 || Mariners || 2–0 || Leal (6–10) || Clay (0–6) || McLaughlin (6) || 11,685 || 30–57 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 88 || September 11 || Mariners || 1–8 || Abbott (3–6) || Berenguer (2–9) || || 12,023 || 30–58 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 89 || September 12 || Mariners || 3–0 || Stieb (9–10) || Beattie (2–2) || || 14,048 || 31–58 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 90 || September 14 || Twins || 3–6 || Havens (3–4) || Clancy (5–10) || Corbett (13) || 11,402 || 31–59 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 91 || September 15 || Twins || 4–2 || Leal (7–10) || Arroyo (6–8) || McLaughlin (7) || 12,037 || 32–59 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 92 || September 16 || Twins || 2–5 || Williams (5–8) || Berenguer (2–10) || || 11,733 || 32–60 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 93 || September 18 || Angels || 5–1 || Murray (1–0) || Witt (5–9) || || 13,478 || 33–60 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 94 || September 19 || Angels || 6–4 || Clancy (6–10) || Frost (1–7) || || 16,418 || 34–60 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 95 || September 20 || Angels || 6–3 || Bomback (5–5) || Zahn (9–11) || McLaughlin (8) || 20,575 || 35–60 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || September 21 || Athletics || colspan=6|Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 22 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 96 || September 22 || Athletics || 2–3 (13)|| Beard (1–1) || Leal (7–11) || || || 35–61 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 97 || September 22 || Athletics || 2–4 || McCatty (13–6) || Berenguer (2–11) || || 15,542 || 35–62 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 98 || September 23 || Athletics || 0–6 || Langford (11–9) || Clancy (6–11) || || 14,114 || 35–63 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 99 || September 25 || @ Angels || 5–11 || Zahn (10–11) || Leal (7–12) || || 19,890 || 35–64 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 100 || September 26 || @ Angels || 3–6 || Renko (8–4) || Berenguer (2–12) || Hassler (5) || 18,886 || 35–65 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 101 || September 27 || @ Angels || 4–3 || Stieb (10–10) || Moreno (1–2) || McLaughlin (9) || 24,903 || 36–65 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 102 || September 29 || @ Athletics || 1–5 || Underwood (4–6) || Clancy (6–12) || || 10,998 || 36–66 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 103 || September 30 || @ Athletics || 0–3 || Norris (12–9) || Leal (7–13) || || 11,144 || 36–67 |- y background:#9EBD69; October: 1–2 (Home 0–0, Away 1–2) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 104 || October 2 || @ Mariners || 3–8 || Clay (2–7) || Berenguer (2–13) || || 5,148 || 36–68 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 105 || October 3 || @ Mariners || 4–3 || Stieb (11–10) || Abbott (4–9) || McLaughlin (10) || 8,653 || 37–68 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 106 || October 4 || @ Mariners || 0–2 || Bannister (9–9) || Todd (2–7) || Rawley (8) || 4,885 || 37–69 |- | *An MLB Players strike forced the cancellation of all regular season games between June 12 and August 9. A split-season format was adopted. Player stats = Indicates team leader Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Pos Player G AB R H 2B 3B Avg. HR RBI SB C Ernie Whitt 74 195 16 46 9 0 .236 1 16 5 1B John Mayberry 94 290 34 72 6 1 .248 17 43 1 2B Dámaso García 64 250 24 63 8 1 .252 1 13 13 3B Danny Ainge 86 246 20 46 6 2 .187 0 14 8 SS Alfredo Griffin 101 388 30 81 19 6 .209 0 21 8 LF Alvis Woods Alvis Woods 85 288 20 71 15 0 .247 1 21 3 CF Lloyd Moseby 100 378 36 88 16 2 .233 9 43 11 RF Barry Bonnell 66 227 21 50 7 4 .220 4 28 4 DH Otto Vélez 80 240 32 51 9 2 .213 11 28 0 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Player G AB R H 2B 3B Avg. HR RBI SB Garth Iorg 70 215 17 52 11 0 .242 0 10 2 George Bell George Bell (outfielder) 60 163 19 38 2 1 .233 5 12 3 Buck Martinez 45 128 13 29 8 1 .227 4 21 1 Willie Upshaw 61 111 15 19 3 1 .171 4 10 2 Jesse Barfield 25 95 7 22 3 2 .232 2 9 4 Ken Macha 37 85 4 17 2 0 .200 0 6 1 Greg Wells Greg Wells (baseball) 32 73 7 18 5 0 .247 0 5 0 Ted Cox Ted Cox (baseball) 16 50 6 15 4 0 .300 0 1 0 Rick Bosetti 25 47 5 11 2 0 .234 0 4 0 Fred Manrique 14 28 1 4 0 0 .143 0 1 0 Charlie Beamon Charlie Beamon, Jr. 8 15 1 3 1 0 .200 0 0 0 Dan Whitmer 7 9 0 1 1 0 .111 0 0 0 Pitching = Indicates league leader Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts Player G GS IP W L ERA R ER BB K Dave Stieb 25 25 183.2 11 10 3.19 70 65 61 89 Jim Clancy Jim Clancy (baseball) 22 22 125.0 6 12 4.90 77 68 64 56 Juan Berenguer 12 11 71.0 2 9 4.31 41 34 35 29 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts Player G GS IP W L SV ERA R ER BB K Luis Leal Luis Leal (baseball) 29 19 129.2 7 13 1 3.68 63 53 44 71 Jackson Todd 21 13 97.2 2 7 0 3.96 51 43 31 41 Mark Bomback Mark Bomback (baseball) 20 11 90.1 5 5 0 3.89 42 39 35 33 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts Player G IP W L SV ERA R ER BB K Joey McLaughlin 40 60.0 1 5 10 2.85 24 19 21 38 Roy Lee Jackson 39 62.0 1 2 7 2.61 23 18 25 27 Jerry Garvin 35 53.0 1 2 0 3.40 20 20 23 25 Mike Willis baseball 20 35.0 0 4 0 5.91 25 23 20 16 Mike Barlow 12 15.0 0 0 0 4.20 11 7 6 5 Dale Murray 11 15.1 1 0 0 1.17 2 2 5 12 Paul Mirabella 8 14.2 0 0 0 7.36 16 12 7 9 Nino Espinosa 1 1.0 0 0 0 9.00 1 1 0 0 Award winners All-Star Game Dave Stieb, PitcherBlue Jays All-Stars | bluejays.com: History Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Syracuse Chiefs International League Bob Humphreys AA Knoxville Blue Jays Southern League Duane Larson and Larry Hardy A Kinston Eagles Carolina League John McLaren A Florence Blue Jays South Atlantic League Dennis Holmberg Rookie GCL Blue Jays Gulf Coast League Rich Hacker Rookie Medicine Hat Blue Jays Pioneer League Wayne GrahamJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 2nd and 3rd editions. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997 and 2007 Notes External links 1981 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Reference 1981 Toronto Blue Jays at Baseball Almanac Category:Toronto Blue Jays seasons Toronto Blue Jays season Toronto Blue Jays Category:1981 in sports in Ontario