Special Sub-Topic: World Series of the 1980s Click Here To Play: World Series of the 1980s

The 1980s were a decade of balance and only one team won more than one World Series during the decade 1980 to 1989. Which team?

Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers won it in 1981 over the Yankees in 6 games, and again in 1988 over the Athletics in 5 games.

What team appeared in the most World Series in the 1980s?

St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals appeared in 3 (they won it in 1982, and lost in 1985 and 1987). The Athletics, Dodgers, and Royals, as well as the Philadelphia Phillies, appeared in 2.

The 1987 World Series was the first ever in which _______ ?

the home team won every game.. The Twins defeated the Cardinals in seven games, and the home team won every game. Only the games in Minnesota were played indoors. The winning team has come back from a 3-1 series deficit in 1925, 1958, 1968, 1979, and 1985. The 1992 World Series (Blue Jays vs. Braves) was the first played outside the U.S. Ironically, the 1991 World Series also saw the home team win every game, and again it was the Twins who won a seven game series that year.

Which of the following four teams did NOT play in their very first World Series in the 1980s?

Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies WON their first World Series ever in 1980, but they appeared in the 1915 and 1950 World Series. The Royals first appearance was in 1980, the Brewers in 1982, and the Padres in 1984.

The 1981 World Series was the first in which the Series MVP award was shared, as 3 Dodgers were named co-MVPs. Who was NOT one of the co-MVPs of the 1981 World Series?

Dusty Baker. Baker struggled in the Series, batting .167 with no homers. Guerrero batted .333 with 2 homers and 7 RBI, Cey batted .350 with 1 homer and 6 RBI, and Yeager batted .286 with 2 homers (including the game winner in game 5) and 4 RBI.

Who was the only player in the 1980s to win the league MVP and World Series MVP in the same season?

Mike Schmidt. Schmidt was N.L. MVP and World Series MVP for the Phillies in 1980. Gibson was N.L. MVP for the Dodgers in 1988, but Orel Hershiser was World Series MVP. Saberhagen was World Series MVP for the Royals in 1985, but Don Mattingly of the Yankees was A.L. MVP. Alan Trammell was World Series MVP for the Tigers in 1984, but teammate Willie Hernandez was A.L. MVP.

Who, in 1980, became the first player ever to have multiple home run games in a World Series, twice?

Willie Aikens. That's right; Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and Duke Snider never did it, but Willie Aikens did as he homered twice in games 1 and 4.

Which Yankee set a dubious record in 1981 when he became the first pitcher ever to lose 3 games in a best of 7 World Series?

George Frazier. Frazier, a middle reliever, was charged with the loss in games 3, 4 and 6 as the Dodgers beat the Yankees 4 games to 2. Ron Guidry was charged with the other loss despite pitching well in a 2-1 Yankee defeat in game 5. Lefty Williams lost 3 games in 1919 for the White Sox, but that was in a best of 9 series. Williams became one of the eight men banned from baseball for life due to his part in the "Black Sox" scandal in which the White Sox allegedly threw the series in exchange for gambling payoffs.

Which player, in 1982, became the first ever to get 5 hits in a World Series game?

Paul Molitor. Milwaukee's Paul Molitor did it in game 1 as the Brewers beat the Cardinals, 10-0. However, St. Louis came back and won the series in 7 games.

Which player appeared in 3 consecutive World Series for 3 different teams in the 1980s?

Don Baylor. Baylor was on the 1986 Red Sox, the 1987 Twins, and the 1988 Athletics. Hernandez appeared for the 1982 Cardinals and 1986 Mets, Henderson appeared for the 1986 Red Sox and 1988 & '89 Athletics, and Lonnie Smith appeared for the 1980 Phillies, the 1982 Cardinals, and the 1985 Royals (as well as the 1991 Braves).