1981 Houston Astros season
| 1981 Houston Astros | |
|---|---|
| National League West co-champions | |
| League | National League |
| Division | West |
| Ballpark | Astrodome |
| City | Houston, Texas |
| Record |
|
| Divisional place |
|
| Owners | John McMullen |
| General managers | Al Rosen |
| Managers | Bill Virdon |
| Television | KRIV–TV 26 (Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker) |
| Radio | KENR–AM 1070 (Gene Elston, Dewayne Staats, Larry Dierker) |
The 1981 Houston Astros season was the 20th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 17th as the Astros, 20th in the National League (NL), 13th in the NL West division, and 17th at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season as defending NL West division-champions with a 93–70 record for their first-ever division title and playoff appearance, ultimately losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1980 National League Championship Series (NLCS).
On April 9 at Dodger Stadium, Joe Niekro made his first Opening Day start on the road for Houston, who were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2–0. The Astros attained a record of 28–29, in third place and 8 games behind behind Los Angeles in the NL West until a players' strike interrupted the season, later classified as the season's first half. In the amateur draft, Houston's top selection was outfielder Curtis Burke in the third round.
With nearly one-third of the season eventually lost (52 games for Houston), a one-time modified format with a split regular season and a new opening round to the playoffs, the Division Series (DS), was introduced. Pitchers Bob Knepper (first career selection) and Nolan Ryan (sixth) represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game. The Astros acquired second baseman Phil Garner, another All-Star that year, after the event.
On September 26, Ryan pitched the seventh no-hitter in franchise history, a 5–0 victory over the Dodgers. The fifth no-hitter of Ryan's career, this surpassed Sandy Koufax for most in major league history.
Houston won the NL West in the second half with a loss by the Cincinnati Reds on October 3, the penultimate day of the season. With a 33–20 record, the Astros claimed an NL West division title and advanced to the playoffs for the second consecutive season, to the first-ever National League Division Series (NLDS). Here, they faced the Dodgers, the NL West-division winners of the first half of the season. However, the Astros were defeated in five games, ending their season, and the Dodgers became World Series champions.
Following the season, Knepper was named The Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year, the first Houston Astros to win this award. Ryan led the major leagues in earned run average (1.69 ERA), the first time in his career winning the title.