Special Sub-Topic: The 1981 World Series Click Here To Play: The 1981 World Series

Who managed the Yankees in the '81 World Series?

Bob Lemon. All of them managed the Bronx Bombers at least once. Actually, Gene Michael started the '81 season, but was replaced by Bob Lemon. Bob Lemon was then replaced in '82 by Gene Michael. Then Michael was replaced later that year by Clyde King. In '83, Billy Martin was at the helm but was replaced by Yogi Berra in '84. Then 16 games into the '85 season, Berra was replaced by Billy Martin. By '86, Martin was gone and Lou Piniella was the skipper. Talk about your comebacks.

Who managed the Los Angeles Dodgers in the '81 World Series?

Tommy Lasorda. All managed the Dodgers at one time or another, but Tommy was in charge in '81. In contrast to the Yankees, the Dodgers had just two managers between '54 and '95, Alston and Lasorda.

Who did the Yankees face in the ALCS?

Oakland. The Yankees swept the A's in three straight, but when Reggie Jackson and Graig Nettles came back to the locker room to celebrate the win, they got into a fight.

Who did the Dodgers face in the NLCS?

Montreal. The Dodgers won this series three games to two when Rick Monday hit a ninth inning home run off Steve Rogers in Game 5. LA had to come back from a two games to one deficit in that series.

Who did the Yankees face in the first round of the '81 playoffs?

Milwaukee. They beat out the Brewers three games to two. This season had been interrupted by a strike, and the teams in first place when the strike began were their division winners for the first half. When the season resumed, the team winning the second half would be the second half winners. If the same team clinched the second half, then they would have to face the team that finished second in the second half. Then those teams would meet in a first round playoff with the winner facing the winner of the other division's playoffs. And finally, the survivors would advance to the World Series.

Who did the Dodgers face in the first round of the National League Playoffs?

Houston. They had to go the full five games against the Astros, which included beating Nolan Ryan in Game 5. Just two weeks earlier, Ryan had tossed his fifth career no-hitter against the Dodgers. But LA came back from that stunning defeat to prevail, 4-0.

The World Series opened at Yankee Stadium with NY sweeping the first two games?

true. The Bronx Bombers looked unbeatable with Guidry and Gossage combining for a five hitter in Game 1, winning 5-3. Then Tommy John and Gossage combined for a four hitter in Game 2, winning 3-0. When they came back to LA, the Dodgers had their work cut out for them.

Game 3 was at Chavez Ravine and two rookies started the game. Who were they?

Righetti / Valenzuela. Righetti was gone in the third inning but Fernando battled through to complete the game. He gave up 9 hits, walked 7, and surrendered 4 runs, but won 5-4.

The Dodgers got a three run home run off of the Yankee starter in the first inning of Game 3. Who hit it?

Ron Cey. The Penguin got another Dodger comeback started with his blast. Keeping with their postseason theme, LA soon fell behind 4-3, but eventually pulled out the win, 5-4.

Rick Reuschel and Bob Welch started for the Yankees and Dodgers respectively in Game 4. Before it was over, the two teams used ten pitchers. What was the final score of this slugfest?

8-7. The Dodgers came back from 4-0 and 6-3 deficits to finally win 8-7. The two teams combined for 27 hits and three errors.

The Dodgers had to substitute for Ron Cey in the 8th inning of Game 5. What happened to him that forced him to sit down?

hit in the head by a pitch. Goose Gossage beaned him in the temple with a fastball, and Cey was down for a few anxious minutes. He did walk off the field on his own power and came back to play again in Game 6.

What injury did Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner suffer in Los Angeles?

a broken hand. Riding in the elevator at their hotel in LA, Steinbrenner got into a beef with a fan, and got his hand broken. New York sportswriters always had plenty of copy when the Boss was around.

Game 6 was back in NY and it was "do or die" for the Yankees. NY took a 1-0 lead but the Dodgers came back to win 9-2 and take the Series. Who was the losing pitcher?

George Frazier. George Frazier collected his third Series loss that night as well as posting a series ERA of 17.18.

Who led all World Series hitters with ten base hits?

Steve Garvey. Garvey hit .417 but had no RBI's. He did score three runs.

Who was the MVP of the '81 World Series?

all listed. Cey hit .350 with a HR and six RBI, Guerrero hit .333 with two HR and seven RBI's, and Yeager hit .286 with two HR and 4 RBI. Yeager hit the game winning home run in Game 5. Overall, a great comeback for the Dodgers after two straight World Series losses to the Yankees in '77 and '78.