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. October 1980 Roy Howell granted free agency.
November 1980 Steve Braun granted free agency.
December 1980 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. Acquired Roy Lee Jackson from the New York Mets for Bob Bailor. Released Bob Davis.
January 1981 Purchased Ken Macha from the Montreal Expos. Signed free agent Dale Murray from the Montreal Expos to a contract.
February 1981 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. Acquired Gil Kubski from the California Angels for Don Pisker. Signed free agent Dave Tomlin from the Cincinnati Reds to a contract.
March 1981 Signed free agent John Montague from the California Angels to a contract.
April 1981 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, 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, 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, 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,
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
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. May 1981 Acquired Buck Martinez from the Milwaukee Brewers for Gil Kubski.
June 1981 Player rights of Rick Bosetti sold to the Oakland Athletics. Signed amateur free agent Luis Aquino.
August 1981 Purchased Juan Berenguer from the Kansas City Royals.
September 1981 Signed free agent Ted Cox from the Seattle Mariners to a contract. Signed free agent Nino Espinosa from the Philadelphia Phillies to a contract.
Roster 1981 Toronto Blue Jays roster Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (Hitting) (Bullpen) (First Base) (Pitching) (Third Base)
Game log
|- 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
|- 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
|- 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"