1981 Detroit Tigers season

{{Infobox baseball team season

| name = Detroit Tigers

| season = 1981

| misc =

| league = American League

| division = East

| ballpark = Tiger Stadium

| city = Detroit, Michigan

| record = {{ubl

|1st half: 31–26 (.544)

|2nd half: 29–23 (.558)

|Overall: 60–49 (.550)

}}

| divisional_place = {{ubl

|1st half: 4th ({{frac|3|1|2}} GB)

|2nd half: 2nd (tied; {{frac|1|1|2}} GB)

}}

| owners = John Fetzer

| general_managers = Jim Campbell

| managers = Sparky Anderson

| television = WDIV-TV
(George Kell, Al Kaline)
ONTV
(Larry Adderley, Hank Aguirre, Norm Cash)

| radio = WJR
(Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey)

|}}

The 1981 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 81st season as a member of the American League. Games were suspended for 50 days due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, causing a split season. The Tigers finished the first half of the season in fourth place in the American League East, and the second half of the season tied for second place. Their overall record was 60 wins and 49 losses, and they outscored their opponents 427 to 404. The Tigers drew 1,149,144 fans to their home games at Tiger Stadium, ranking fifth of the 14 teams in the American League.

Offseason

December 12, 1980: Dave Stegman was traded by the Tigers to the San Diego Padres for Dennis Kinney.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kinnede01.shtml Dennis Kinney] at Baseball Reference
January 13, 1981: Mike Sharperson was drafted by the Tigers in the 4th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sharpmi01.shtml Mike Sharperson] at Baseball Reference
March 29, 1981: Jim Lentine was released by the Tigers.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lentiji01.shtml Jim Lentine] at Baseball Reference

Regular season

= Season standings =

= Record vs. opponents =

= Notable transactions =

April 3, 1981: Chris Codiroli was released by the Tigers.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/codirch01.shtml Chris Codiroli] at Baseball Reference
April 3, 1981: Chuck Hensley was released by the Tigers.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/henslch01.shtml Chuck Hensley] at Baseball Reference
August 23, 1981: The Tigers traded a player to be named later to the Minnesota Twins for Ron Jackson. The Tigers completed the deal by sending Tim Corcoran to the Twins on September 4.[https://www.baseball-reference.com/j/jacksro02.shtml Ron Jackson] at Baseball Reference

= Roster =

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="10" style="background-color: #003366; color: white; text-align: center;" \| 1981 Detroit Tigers roster
colspan="10" style="background-color: #bd5d29; color: white; text-align: center;" \| Roster
valign="top" \| Pitchers {{MLBplayer\|60\|Howard Bailey}} {{MLBplayer\|41\|George Cappuzzello}} {{MLBplayer\|29\|Aurelio López}} {{MLBplayer\|47\|Jack Morris}} {{MLBplayer\|46\|Dan Petry}} {{MLBplayer\|42\|Larry Rothschild}} {{MLBplayer\|19\|Dave Rozema}} {{MLBplayer\|49\|Dave Rucker}} {{MLBplayer\|31\|Kevin Saucier}} {{MLBplayer\|36\|Dan Schatzeder}} {{MLBplayer\|45\|Dave Tobik}} {{MLBplayer\|28\|Jerry Ujdur}} {{MLBplayer\|39\|Milt Wilcox}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Catchers {{MLBplayer\|15\|Duffy Dyer}} {{MLBplayer\|17\|Bill Fahey}} {{MLBplayer\|13\|Lance Parrish}} Infielders {{MLBplayer\|16\|Tom Brookens}} {{MLBplayer\|12\|Marty Castillo}} {{MLBplayer\| 2\|Richie Hebner}} {{MLBplayer\|15\|Ron Jackson}} {{MLBplayer\|18\|Mick Kelleher}} {{MLBplayer\| 7\|Rick Leach}} {{MLBplayer\| 9\|Stan Papi}} {{MLBplayer\| 3\|Alan Trammell}} {{MLBplayer\| 1\|Lou Whitaker}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Outfielders {{MLBplayer\|34\|Darrell Brown}} {{MLBplayer\|10\|Al Cowens}} {{MLBplayer\|23\|Kirk Gibson}} {{MLBplayer\|35\|Lynn Jones}} {{MLBplayer\|33\|Steve Kemp}} {{MLBplayer\|32\|Rick Peters}} Other batters {{MLBplayer\|24\|Champ Summers}} {{MLBplayer\|14\|John Wockenfuss}} \| width="25px" \| \| valign="top" \| Manager {{MLBplayer\|11\|Sparky Anderson}} Coaches {{MLBplayer\|26\|Gates Brown}} {{MLBplayer\|50\|Billy Consolo}} {{MLBplayer\|38\|Roger Craig}} {{MLBplayer\|51\|Alex Grammas}} {{MLBplayer\|53\|Dick Tracewski}}

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"

colspan="10" style="background-color: #003366; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1981 Detroit Tigers roster

colspan="10" style="background-color: #bd5d29; color: white; text-align: center;" | Roster

valign="top" | Pitchers

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Catchers

Infielders

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Outfielders

Other batters

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Manager

Coaches

Player stats

= Batting =

== Starters by position ==

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="5%" \| Pos ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| AB ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| H ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| Avg. ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| HR ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| RBI
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| C	{{sortname\|Lance\|Parrish}}	96	348	85	.244	10	46
align="center" \| 1B	{{sortname\|Richie\|Hebner}}	78	226	51	.226	5	28
align="center" \| 2B	{{sortname\|Lou\|Whitaker}}	109	335	88	.263	5	36
align="center" \| 3B	{{sortname\|Tom\|Brookens}}	71	239	58	.243	4	25
align="center" \| SS	{{sortname\|Alan\|Trammell}}	105	392	101	.258	2	31
align="center" \| LF	{{sortname\|Steve\|Kemp}}	105	372	103	.277	9	49
align="center" \| CF	{{sortname\|Al\|Cowens}}	85	253	66	.261	1	18
align="center" \| RF	{{sortname\|Kirk\|Gibson}}	83	290	95	.328	9	40
align="center" \| DH	{{sortname\|John\|Wockenfuss}}	70	172	37	.215	9	25

== Other batters ==

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| AB ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| H ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| Avg. ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| HR ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| RBI
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| Kirk Gibson	83	290	95	.328	9	40
align=center \| {{sortname\|Rick\|Peters\|Rick Peters (baseball)}}	63	207	53	.256	0	15
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Lynn\|Jones}}	71	174	45	.259	2	19
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Champ\|Summers}}	64	165	42	.255	3	21
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Jackson\|dab=baseball, born 1953}}	31	95	27	.284	1	12
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Stan\|Papi}}	40	93	19	.204	3	12
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Rick\|Leach\|Rick Leach (baseball)}}	54	83	16	.193	1	11
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Mick\|Kelleher}}	61	77	17	.221	0	6
align="center" \| Bill Fahey	27	67	17	.254	1	9
align=center \| {{sortname\|Darrell\|Brown\|Darrell Brown (baseball)}}	16	4	1	.250	0	0
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Duffy\|Dyer}}	2	0	0	----	0	0

Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included

= Pitching =

== Starting pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| IP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Jack\|Morris}}	25	198.0	14	7	3.05	97
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Milt\|Wilcox}}	24	166.1	12	9	3.03	79
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dan\|Petry}}	23	141.0	10	9	3.00	79
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dan\|Schatzeder}}	17	71.1	6	8	6.06	20
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Jerry\|Ujdur}}	4	14.0	0	0	6.43	5

== Other pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| IP ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Dave\|Rozema}}	28	104.0	5	5	3.63	46
align="center" \| {{sortname\|Howard\|Bailey\|Howard Bailey (baseball)}}	9	36.2	1	4	7.36	17
align="center" \| {{sortname\|George\|Cappuzzello}}	18	33.2	1	1	3.48	19

== Relief pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="16%" \| Player ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| G ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| W ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| L ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SV ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| GF ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| ERA ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9%" \| SO
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" \|{{sortname\|Kevin\|Saucier}}	38	4	2	13	23	1.65	23
align="center" \|{{sortname\|Aurelio\|López}}	29	5	2	3	19	3.64	53
align=center \|{{sortname\|Dave\|Tobik}}	27	2	2	1	9	2.69	32
align="center" \|{{sortname\|Dennis\|Kinney}}	6	0	0	0	0	9.82	3
align=center \| Larry Rothschild	5	0	0	1	2	1.59	1
align=center \| Dave Rucker	2	0	0	0	2	6.75	2

Awards and honors

Kirk Gibson, Tiger of the Year Award, from Detroit baseball writers
Alan Trammell, AL Gold Glove Award, shortstop

1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Jack Morris, starter, pitcher

= League top ten finishers =

Kirk Gibson

#3 in AL in batting average (.328)
#4 in AL in Power/Speed Number (11.8)

Steve Kemp

#4 in AL in on-base percentage (.389)
#3 in AL in bases on balls (70)
#3 in AL in times on base (174)

Jack Morris

MLB leader in wins (14) (tied with four others)
MLB leader in bases on balls allowed (78)
#2 in MLB in innings pitched (198)
#2 in MLB in games started (25)
#3 in AL in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (6.95)
#3 in MLB in complete games (15)
#3 in MLB in batters faced (798)
#6 in AL in home runs allowed (14)
#9 in AL in earned runs allowed (67)

Lance Parrish

#3 in AL in times grounded into double plays (16)

Kevin Saucier

#5 in AL in saves (13)

Alan Trammell

AL leader in sacrifice hits (16)

Lou Whitaker

AL leader in games played (109)
AL leader in games at second base (108)
AL leader in innings at second base (918-1/3)
AL leader in assists by a second baseman (354)

Milt Wilcox

#5 in AL in games started (24)
#5 in AL in hit batsmen (6)

= Players ranking among top 100 all time at position =

The following members of the 1981 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract:

Lance Parrish: 19th best catcher of all time
Lou Whitaker: 13th best second baseman of all time
Alan Trammell: 9th best shortstop of all time
Kirk Gibson: 36th best left fielder of all time

Farm system

{{MLB Farm System|level16=AAA|team16=Evansville Triplets|league16=American Association|manager16=Jim Leyland

|level17=AA |team17=Birmingham Barons|league17=Southern League|manager17=Roy Majtyka

|level18=A|team18=Lakeland Tigers|league18=Florida State League|manager18=Ted Brazell

|level19=A |team19=Macon Peaches|league19=South Atlantic League|manager19=Tom Kotchman

|level20=Rookie|team20=Bristol Tigers|league20=Appalachian League|manager20=[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=lewis-004jos Joe Lewis]

}}

Notes

References

{{Cite book| editor1-last=Johnson| editor1-first=Lloyd| editor2-last=Wolff| editor2-first=Miles| title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball| edition=2nd| location=Durham, North Carolina| publisher=Baseball America| year=1997| isbn=978-0-9637189-8-3}}
[https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/1981.shtml 1981 Detroit Tigers Regular Season Statistics at Baseball Reference]

Category:Detroit Tigers seasons

Detroit Tigers season

Detroit Tiger

Category:1981 in Detroit