World Series Champion
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers defeat the Yankees (4-2)
World Series MVP: Cey, Guerrero, Yeager (LAD)
Playoffs
NLCS: Dodgers defeat the Expos 3-2
NLDS: Expos defeat the Phillies 3-2
NLDS: Dodgers defeat the Astros 3-2
ALCS: Yankees defeat the Athletics 3-0
ALDS: Yankees defeat the Brewers 3-2
ALDS: Athletics defeat the Royals 3-0
Overview
This my friends was a weird season. Thanks to a mid-season players strike, most teams played somewhere around 110 games, knocking off around 1/3 of the whole campaign. Rather than just lop 50 games off the season and call it a day, the owners decided to get creative. In a bid to make up lost revenue and test an expanded playoff model, the season was split in two and the winner of the first half in each league would play the winner of the second half. The fallout? Both of the overall best teams in the National League, the Cardinals and Reds, didn’t make the playoffs as they finished second in each half of the season. If I lived in Cincinnati or St. Louis, I would have been pissed.
Highlights
1. January 15th: Bob Gibson is elected to the Hall of Fame.
2. February 12th: Oh no! The Red Sox mailed out Carlton Fisk’s contract late, letting him become a free agent.
3. April 18th: Tom Seaver tosses his 3,000th strikeout.
4. April 29th: Steve Carlton throws his 3,000th strikeout.
5. May 25th: Carl Yastrzemski plays in his 3,000th game, only the fourth player to do so.
6. June 10th: Pete Rose hits safely for the 3,630th time, tying Stan Musial for the National League record.
7. June 12th: The player union declares a strike which will last until August 10th, cancelling over 35% of the season.
8. August 9th: The National League wins the All-Star Game 5–4. Gary Carter is selected the MVP.
9. October 19th: Blue Monday is declared in Montreal as Rick Monday hits a home run in the 9th inning to lead the Dodgers to victory.
No-Hitters
May 10th: Charlie Lea, Expos 4 – Giants 0
May 15th: Len Barker (Perfect Game), Indians 3 – Blue Jays 0
September 26th, Nolan Ryan, Astros 5 – Dodgers 0
National League: First Half
| EAST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
34 |
21 |
.618 |
— |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
30 |
20 |
.600 |
2.5 |
| Montreal Expos |
30 |
25 |
.545 |
4.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
25 |
23 |
.521 |
5.5 |
| New York Mets |
17 |
34 |
.333 |
15.0 |
| Chicago Cubs |
15 |
37 |
.288 |
17.5 |
| WEST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
36 |
21 |
.632 |
— |
| Cincinnati Reds |
35 |
21 |
.625 |
0.5 |
| Houston Astros |
28 |
29 |
.491 |
8.0 |
| Atlanta Braves |
25 |
29 |
.463 |
9.5 |
| San Francisco Giants |
27 |
32 |
.458 |
10.0 |
| San Diego Padres |
23 |
33 |
.411 |
12.5 |
National League: Second Half
| EAST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Montreal Expos |
30 |
23 |
.566 |
— |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
29 |
23 |
.558 |
0.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
25 |
27 |
.481 |
4.5 |
| New York Mets |
24 |
28 |
.462 |
5.5 |
| Chicago Cubs |
23 |
28 |
.451 |
6.0 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
21 |
33 |
.389 |
9.5 |
| WEST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Houston Astros |
33 |
20 |
.623 |
— |
| Cincinnati Reds |
31 |
21 |
.596 |
1.5 |
| San Francisco Giants |
29 |
23 |
.558 |
3.5 |
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
27 |
26 |
.509 |
6.0 |
| Atlanta Braves |
25 |
27 |
.481 |
7.5 |
| San Diego Padres |
18 |
36 |
.333 |
15.5 |
NL Leaders
WAR: Mike Schmidt (PHI), 7.7
Most Valuable Player: Mike Schmidt (PHI)
Cy Young Award: Fernando Valenzuela (LAD)
Rookie of the Year: Fernando Valenzuela (LAD)
Batting Title: Bill Madlock (PIT), .341
Home Runs: Mike Schmidt (PHI), 31
RBIs: Mike Schmidt (PHI), 91
Wins: Tom Seaver (CIN), 14
ERA: Nolan Ryan (HOU), 1.69
Strikeouts: Fernando Valenzuela (LAD), 180
American League: First Half
| EAST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| New York Yankees |
34 |
22 |
.607 |
— |
| Baltimore Orioles |
31 |
23 |
.574 |
2.0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers |
31 |
25 |
.568 |
3.0 |
| Detroit Tigers |
31 |
26 |
.544 |
3.5 |
| Boston Red Sox |
30 |
26 |
.536 |
4.0 |
| Cleveland Indians |
26 |
24 |
.520 |
5.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
16 |
42 |
.276 |
19.0 |
| WEST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Oakland Athletics |
37 |
23 |
.617 |
— |
| Texas Rangers |
33 |
22 |
.600 |
1.5 |
| Chicago White Sox |
31 |
22 |
.585 |
2.5 |
| California Angels |
31 |
29 |
.517 |
6.0 |
| Kansas City Royals |
20 |
30 |
.400 |
12.0 |
| Seattle Mariners |
21 |
36 |
.368 |
14.5 |
| Minnesota Twins |
17 |
39 |
.304 |
18.0 |
American League: Second Half
| EAST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Milwaukee Brewers |
31 |
22 |
.585 |
— |
| Boston Red Sox |
29 |
23 |
.558 |
1.5 |
| Detroit Tigers |
29 |
23 |
.558 |
1.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
28 |
23 |
.549 |
2.0 |
| Cleveland Indians |
26 |
27 |
.491 |
5.0 |
| New York Yankees |
25 |
26 |
.490 |
5.0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
21 |
27 |
.438 |
7.5 |
| WEST |
W |
L |
W-L% |
GB |
| Kansas City Royals |
30 |
23 |
.566 |
— |
| Oakland Athletics |
27 |
22 |
.551 |
2.0 |
| Texas Rangers |
24 |
26 |
.480 |
5.5 |
| Minnesota Twins |
24 |
29 |
.453 |
6.0 |
| Seattle Mariners |
23 |
29 |
.442 |
6.5 |
| Chicago White Sox |
23 |
30 |
.434 |
7.0 |
| California Angels |
20 |
30 |
.400 |
8.5 |
AL Leaders
WAR: Dwight Evans (BOS), 6.7
Most Valuable Player: Rollie Fingers (MIL)
Cy Young Award: Rollie Fingers (MIL)
Rookie of the Year: Dave Righetti (NYY)
Batting Title: Carney Lansford (BOS), .336
Home Runs: Four tied, 22
RBIs: Eddie Murray (BAL), 78
Wins: Four tied, 14
ERA: Sammy Stewart (BAL), 2.32
Strikeouts: Len Barker (CLE), 127
