1981 MLB Season
Due to the strike, MLB declared that there would be a "split season" The division leaders at the end of the first half would play the division leaders of the second half, in effect creating the first "League Division Series." The winners would then play for the LCS as usual with the winners playing in the World Series. Not very pleased with this arrangement would be the Cardinals and the Reds of the National League, who had a better overall season record than the split division "champions." Especially the Reds, who had the best record overall in baseball in 1981.
The crews:
APRIL
Saturday 4/11:
Rangers-Yankees, 2:30, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Phillies-Cardinals, 2:30, NBC. Dick Enberg, Ron Luciano
Thursday 4/16:
Pirates-Phillies, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Athletics-Angels, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 4/18:
Pirates-Astros, 1:45, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Yankees-Rangers, 1:45, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Saturday 4/25:
Royals-Brewers, 1:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Red Sox-Orioles, 1:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Reds-Astros, 1:15, NBC. Jay Randolph, Tim McCarver
Thursday 4/30:
Twins-Red Sox, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
MAY
Saturday 5/2:
Reds-Cardinals, 1:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Twins-Red Sox, 1:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Thursday 5/7:
Dodgers-Phillies, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Saturday 5/9:
Astros-Reds, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Giants-Expos, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Thursday 5/14:
Expos-Dodgers, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 5/16:
Reds-Pirates, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Royals-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Thursday 5/21:
Angels-Orioles, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Saturday 5/23:
Dodgers-Reds, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Red Sox-Brewers, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Thursday 5/28:
Twins-Rangers, 8:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 5/30:
Athletics-Blue Jays, 1:15, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tim McCarver
Pirates-Expos, 1:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Reds-Dodgers, 4:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Astros-Giants, 4:00, NBC. Bob Costas, Willie McCovey
JUNE
Monday 6/1:
Yankees-Indians, 8:30, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Expos-Cardinals, 8:30, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 6/4:
Cubs-Pirates, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Saturday 6/6:
Dodgers-Cubs, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Phillies-Braves, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Monday 6/8:
Yankees-Royals, 8:30, ABC. Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosel
Astros-Phillies, 8:30, ABC. Keith Jackson, Bob Uecker
Thursday 6/11:
Royals-Blue Jays, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Red Sox-Angels, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
AUGUST
Sunday 8/9:
Baseball All-Star Game from Cleveland:
National-American, 8:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek, Bryant Gumbel
Monday 8/10:
Reds-Dodgers, 8:30, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Cardinals-Phillies, 8:30, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 8/13:
Brewers-Indians, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Braves-Dodgers, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 8/15:
Cardinals-Expos, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek (rained out)
Royals-Indians, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 8/16:
White Sox-Orioles, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale
Cardinals-Expos, 2:00, ABC. Steve Zabriskie, Bob Uecker (rained out)
Thursday 8/20:
Mets-Braves, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Orioles-Angels, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 8/22:
Astros-Phillies, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Royals-Yankees, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 8/23:
Royals-Yankees, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale
Dodgers-Cardinals, 2:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 8/27:
Athletics-Red Sox, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Cubs-Dodgers, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 8/29:
Athletics-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Rangers-Brewers, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
SEPTEMBER
Thursday 9/3:
Reds-Phillies, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Cardinals-Dodgers, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 9/5:
Yankees-Royals, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Astros-Expos, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 9/6:
Reds-Phillies, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Athletics-Orioles, 2:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 9/10:
Indians-Orioles, 7:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 9/12:
Expos-Cubs, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Red Sox-Yankees, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 9/13:
Red Sox-Yankees, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Dodgers-Reds, 2:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 9/17:
Tigers-Red Sox, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Reds-Giants, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 9/19:
Yankees-Red Sox, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Pirates-Phillies, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 9/20:
Athletics-White Sox, 3:15, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Reds-Dodgers, 3:15, ABC. Al Michaels, Bob Uecker
Thursday 9/24:
Orioles-Yankees, 8:00, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Dodgers-Giants, 10:30, USA. Monte Moore, Wes Parker
Saturday 9/26:
Dodgers-Astros, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Brewers-Tigers, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 9/27:
Brewers-Tigers, 3:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Pirates-Cardinals, 3:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Bob Uecker
OCTOBER
Thursday 10/1:
Cardinals-Phillies, 7:30, USA. Jim Woods, Nellie Briles
Saturday 10/3:
Tigers-Brewers, 2:15, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Braves-Reds, 2:15, NBC. Merle Harmon, Ron Luciano
Sunday 10/4:
Tigers-Brewers, 2:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
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LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES
Tuesday 10/6:
Game 1, Athletics-Royals, 3:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer
Game 1, Dodgers-Astros, 8:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Wednesday 10/7:
Game 2, Dodgers-Astros, 1:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Game 1, Phillies-Expos, 1:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Game 2, Athletics-Royals, 4:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer
Game 1, Yankees-Brewers, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Thursday 10/8:
Game 2, Yankees-Brewers, 3:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Game 2, Phillies-Expos, 8:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Friday 10/9:
Game 3, Astros-Dodgers, 4:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Game 3, Expos-Phillies, 4:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Game 3, Brewers-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Game 3, Royals-Athletics, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer
Saturday 10/10:
Game 4, Expos-Phillies, 1:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Game 4, Brewers-Yankees, 4:00, ABC. Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
Game 4, Astros-Dodgers, 8:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Sunday 10/11:
Game 5, Expos-Phillies, 4:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Game 5, Astros-Dodgers, 4:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Game 5, Brewers-Yankees, 7:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Don Drysdale, Howard Cosell
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Tuesday 10/13:
Game 1, Expos-Dodgers, 4:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Game 1, Athletics-Yankees, 8:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Wednesday 10/14:
Game 2, Athletics-Yankees, 2:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Game 2, Expos-Dodgers, 8:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Thursday 10/15:
Game 3, Yankees-Athletics, 8:00, NBC. Joe Garagiola, Tony Kubek
Friday 10/16:
Game 3, Dodgers-Expos, 8:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Saturday 10/17:
Game 4, Dodgers-Expos, 1:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver
Sunday 10/18:
Game 5, Dodgers-Expos, 4:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver, Byron Day (snowed out)
Monday 10/19:
Game 5, Dodgers-Expos, 1:00, NBC. Dick Enberg, Tom Seaver, Byron Day
WORLD SERIES
Tuesday 10/20:
Game 1, Dodgers-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell
Wednesday 10/21:
Game 2, Dodgers-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell
Friday 10/23:
Game 3, Yankees-Dodgers, 8:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell
Saturday 10/24:
Game 4, Yankees-Dodgers, 4:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell
Sunday 10/25:
Game 5, Yankees-Dodgers, 4:00, ABC. Al Michaels, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell
Tuesday 10/27:
Game 6, Dodgers-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell, Bob Uecker, Jim Lampley (rained out)
Wednesday 10/28:
Game 6, Dodgers-Yankees, 8:00, ABC. Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer, Howard Cosell, Bob Uecker, Jim Lampley