The 1981 Chicago Cubs season was the 110th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 106th in the National League, and the 61st at Wrigley Field. The team competed in the National League (NL) East division during a year that was disrupted by a mid‑season players’ strike, resulting in a split‑season format.
Season overview
- Record: 61 wins, 49 losses (.554) in 110 games played.
- Division standing: 2nd place in the NL East. The division’s first‑half winner (Philadelphia Phillies) and second‑half winner (St. Louis Cardinals) advanced to the postseason; the Cubs did not qualify.
- Management:
- Owner: Tribune Company (Chicago Tribune).
- General manager: Dallas Green.
- Field manager: Jim Frey (his third season managing the Cubs).
Key events
- The MLB players’ strike (June 12 – August 9, 1981) halted play for 50 days, leading to the season being divided into two halves. The Cubs posted a 36‑26 record in the first half and a 25‑23 record in the second half.
- Rookie second baseman Ryne Sandberg made his major‑league debut on May 22, 1981, becoming the first player in Cubs history to hit a home run in his first major‑league at‑bat.
Notable players
- Ron Cey – third baseman, appeared in 132 games, hit .278 with 11 home runs.
- Bill Buckner – first baseman, played 147 games, posted a .274 batting average with 14 home runs.
- Mike Krukow – right‑handed pitcher, led the staff with 13 wins and a 3.07 ERA.
- Jody Davis – catcher, caught 115 games, contributed a .256 average and 9 home runs.
Statistical leaders (team totals)
- Home runs: Ron Cey (11) and Bill Buckner (14).
- Runs batted in: Bill Buckner (67).
- Stolen bases: Ron Cey (15).
- Wins (pitching): Mike Krukow (13).
- Earned run average (pitching): Steve Trout (3.34).
Post‑season awards
- No Cubs players received major league awards (MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year) in 1981.
Transactions and draft
- In the June 1981 amateur draft, the Cubs selected outfielder Mark Grace in the 20th round, who later became a long‑term regular for the team.
- The club made several mid‑season trades, including acquiring outfielder Tommy Hutton from the New York Yankees in exchange for cash considerations.
Historical context
The 1981 season marked the Cubs’ first winning record since 1974 and the first time the franchise posted a winning percentage above .500 in a full season (excluding the 1906 and 1908 seasons in the early 20th century). However, the strike‑induced split format prevented the Cubs from contending for the NL East title despite their overall strong performance.
References
- Baseball‑Reference.com, “1981 Chicago Cubs Statistics.”
- MLB.com, “1981 Major League Baseball Season Summary.”
- Chicago Tribune archives, June 1981.