1981 Houston Astros season

The 1981 Houston Astros season was the 20th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise in Houston, Texas. The season was divided into two halves because of a players' strike in mid-season. The Astros won the National League West in the second half with a loss by the Cincinnati Reds on October 3, the penultimate day of the season. The Astros advanced to the playoffs, which matched the winners of the two halves in a Division Series (the name would be re-introduced fourteen years later). However, they were defeated in five games by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

Offseason

 * December 4, 1980: Don Sutton was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
 * December 8, 1980: Chris Bourjos was traded by the San Francisco Giants with Bob Knepper to the Houston Astros for Enos Cabell.
 * March 27, 1981: Julio González was released by the Astros.

Notable transactions

 * April 1, 1981: Chris Bourjos was traded by the Houston Astros with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for Kiko Garcia.
 * April 3, 1981: Gary Rajsich was traded by the Astros to the New York Mets for John Csefalvay (minors).
 * April 17, 1981: David Clyde was signed as a free agent by the Astros.
 * April 20, 1981 - Dave Bergman and Jeffrey Leonard were traded by the Astros to the San Francisco Giants for Mike Ivie.
 * June 7, 1981: Joaquín Andújar was traded by the Astros to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tony Scott.
 * June 8, 1981: Eric Bullock was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (secondary phase).

Nolan Ryan's 5th No-Hitter
On September 26, 1981, Nolan Ryan no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-0, on national television. The 34-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher to throw five career no-hitters. It had been six years since Ryan's last no-hitter; he pitched for the California Angels for the last of four no-hitters.

Regular season (First half)

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 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

Regular season (games canceled by the 1981 Major League Baseball strike)

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 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

Regular season (Second half)

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 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

Postseason Game log

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 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Astros team member

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

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

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

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

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

1981 National League Division Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros

Los Angeles wins series, 3-2.

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Daytona Beach