1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season

The 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season got off to a strong start when rookie pitcher Fernando Valenzuela pitched a shutout on opening day, starting the craze that came to be known as "Fernandomania." Fernando went on to win both the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Awards.

The season was divided into two halves because of a two-month long mid-season players' strike. The Dodgers won the National League West in the first half and advanced to the playoffs. They beat the Houston Astros in the NLDS and the Montreal Expos in the NLCS before beating the New York Yankees to win the World Series.

Offseason

 * December 4, 1980: Don Sutton signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent.
 * March 30, 1981: Acquired Ken Landreaux from the Minnesota Twins for Mickey Hatcher and Matt Reeves

First half

 * - style="text-align:center;"
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement Bold = Dodgers team member

Second half

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

Postseason Game log

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

Starting pitchers stats
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; ERA = Earned run average; W/L = Wins/Losses; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts; CG = Complete games

Relief pitchers stats
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; ERA = Earned run average; W/L = Wins/Losses; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts; SV = Saves

Batting stats
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; Avg. = Batting average; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases''

1981 National League Division Series
In the divisional series, the Dodgers fell behind the Houston Astros two games to zero but came back to win the next three games to take the series and advance to the LCS.

Game 1
October 6, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 2
October 7, The Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game 3
October 9, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 4
October 10, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 5
October 11, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

1981 National League Championship Series
The Dodgers faced the Montreal Expos in the 1981 NLCS and beat them three games to two, thanks to a ninth-inning home run by Rick Monday in Game 5.

Game 1
October 13, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 2
October 14, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 3
October 16, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Game 4
October 17, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

Game 5
October 19, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec

1981 World Series
The Dodgers met the New York Yankees in the World Series once again, this time beating them in six games to claim their first championship since 1965.

Game 1
October 20, Yankee Stadium, New York

Game 2
October 21, Yankee Stadium, New York

Game 3
October 23, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 4
October 24, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 5
October 25, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles

Game 6
October 28, Yankee Stadium, New York

1981 awards

 * 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
 * Fernando Valenzuela starter
 * Davey Lopes starter
 * Dusty Baker reserve
 * Steve Garvey reserve
 * Pedro Guerrero reserve
 * Burt Hooton reserve
 * National League Rookie of the Year
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * National League Cy Young Award
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * NLCS Most Valuable Player
 * Burt Hooton
 * World Series Most Valuable Player
 * Ron Cey
 * Pedro Guerrero
 * Steve Yeager
 * Gold Glove Award
 * Dusty Baker
 * Roberto Clemente Award
 * Steve Garvey


 * Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star
 * Dave Stewart
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * TSN Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * TSN Pitcher of the Year Award
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * Silver Slugger Award
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * Dusty Baker
 * TSN Major League Player of the Year Award
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * TSN National League All-Star
 * Fernando Valenzuela
 * Pedro Guerrero
 * NL Pitcher of the Month
 * Fernando Valenzuela (April 1981)
 * NL Player of the Week
 * Fernando Valenzuela (Apr. 6–12)
 * Ron Cey (May 11–17)
 * Fernando Valenzuela (Aug. 31 – Sep. 6)

Farm system
Teams in BOLD won League Championships

Major League Baseball Draft
The Dodgers drafted 33 players in the June draft and 18 in the January draft. Of those, eight players would eventually play in the Major Leagues. They received an extra pick in the 2nd round from the Houston Astros as compensation for the loss of free agent pitcher Don Sutton.

The Dodgers first round pick in the June draft was shortstop Dave Anderson from the University of Memphis. He played 10 seasons in the Majors (8 of them with the Dodgers), primarily as a utility infielder. The draft also included pitchers Sid Fernandez (round 3) and John Franco (round 5), both of whom would have lengthy Major League careers primarily with the New York Mets after the Dodgers traded them.

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; background:inherit" ! 1981 Draft Picks

June secondary phase

 * }