The 1981

California Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ...

season involved the Angels finishing with the 5th best overall record in the

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league b ...

West with 51 wins and 59 losses. The season was suspended for 50 days due to the infamous 1981 players' strike and the league chose as its playoff teams the division winners from the first and second halves of the season.

Offseason

* December 2, 1980: Geoff Zahn was signed as a free agent by the Angels. * December 8, 1980:

Dan Whitmer Daniel Charles Whitmer (born November 23, 1955) is a baseball coach and former professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, 1980 for the California Angels and 1981 for the Toronto Blue Jays, primarily as a ...

was drafted from the Angels by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

in the 1980 rule 5 draft. * January 13, 1981: Ron Romanick was drafted by the California Angels in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1981 amateur draft (secondary phase). * January 23, 1981:

Joe Rudi Joseph Oden Rudi (born September 7, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left fielder between and , most prominently as an integral member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won thr ...

, Frank Tanana and Jim Dorsey were traded by the Angels to the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

for

Fred Lynn Fredric Michael Lynn (born February 3, 1952) is an American former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1974 through 1990 as a center fielder with the Boston Red Sox, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Det ...

and

Steve Renko Steve Renko, Jr. (born December 10, 1944) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Montreal Expos (1969–1976), Chicago Cubs (1976–1977), Chicago White Sox (1977), Oakland Athletics (1978), Boston Red S ...

. * February 2, 1981: Dave Rader was signed as a free agent by the Angels.Dave Rader
at ''Baseball Reference'' * February 2, 1981:

Dave Skaggs David Lindsey Skaggs (born June 12, 1951) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of four seasons, from until , for the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels. As a member of the Orioles, he was the last Ori ...

was released by the Angels.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

* April 20, 1981: Dave Rader was released by the Angels. * June 8, 1981:

1981 Major League Baseball draft First round selections The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft. Compensation Picks Other notable players * Darrin Jackson, 2nd round, 28th overall by the Chicago Cubs *Mike Gallego, 2nd round, 33 ...

Dick Schofield Richard Craig Schofield (born November 21, 1962) is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 1996 for the California Angels, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los A ...

was drafted by the Angels in the 1st round (3rd pick). ** Devon White was drafted by the Angels in the 6th round. Player signed June 13, 1981.Devon White
at ''Baseball Reference''

Roster

Player stats

Batting

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''

Pitching

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; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Farm system

Notes

References

External links

1981 California Angels
at ''Baseball Reference''
1981 California Angels
at ''Baseball Almanac'' {{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Los Angeles Angels seasons California Angels season Los