1981 HOUSTON ASTROS

| Level: MLB

Location: Houston,TX
Team Record: 61-49 .555
Result: th in National League - West Division
Manager(s): Bill Virdon
General Manager: Al Rosen
Stadium: Astrodome
Attendance: 1,321,282
Playoffs: Lost in 1st Round (Dodgers)

Houston Astros affiliate history

Oldest Player: Joe Niekro (36)
Youngest Player: Bert Pena (21)
Longest Tenure: Cesar Cedeno (12)
Top Hitter: Jose Cruz (15)
Top Pitcher: Don Sutton (4)
Top Draft Pick: Curtis Burke (#75)

Roster Continuity: 77.87%

National League Standings

West	W	L	Pct	GB
Cincinnati	66	42	.611	--
LA Dodgers	63	47	.573	4.0
Houston	61	49	.555	6.0
SF Giants	56	55	.505	11.5
Atlanta	50	56	.472	15.0
San Diego	41	69	.373	26.0

TEAM INFORMATION

Roster

Game Log

Draft Picks

Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-04-09	@ LAN	1	L 0-2	-		50,511	Joe Niekro	Fernando Valenzuela	Fernando Valenzuela	Joe Niekro		0	2	-2
1981-04-11	@ LAN	2	L 4-7	-		51,691	Don Sutton	Burt Hooton	Burt Hooton	Don Sutton		4	9	-5
1981-04-12	@ LAN	3	L 2-3	-		50,734	Vern Ruhle	Rick Sutcliffe	Rick Sutcliffe	Vern Ruhle	Steve Howe	6	12	-6
1981-04-13	vs ATL	4	L 1-2	-		34,961	Bob Knepper	Phil Niekro	Rick Camp	Joe Sambito	Larry Bradford	7	14	-7
1981-04-14	vs ATL	5	W 8-2	-		21,440	Joe Niekro	Bob Walk	Joe Niekro	Bob Walk		15	16	-1
1981-04-15	vs ATL	6	W 2-0	-		22,365	Nolan Ryan	Tommy Boggs	Nolan Ryan	Tommy Boggs	Frank LaCorte	17	16	1
1981-04-17	vs PIT	7	L 3-4	-		39,119	Don Sutton	Rick Rhoden	Rick Rhoden	Don Sutton	Enrique Romo	20	20	0
1981-04-18	vs PIT	8	L 3-6	-		29,790	Vern Ruhle	John Candelaria	Grant Jackson	Dave Smith		23	26	-3
1981-04-19	vs PIT	9	L 0-2	-		30,394	Joe Niekro	Rod Scurry	Rod Scurry	Joe Niekro	Eddie Solomon	23	28	-5
1981-04-20	vs LAN	10	L 2-5	-		21,730	Joaquin Andujar	Burt Hooton	Burt Hooton	Joaquin Andujar	Dave Goltz	25	33	-8
1981-04-21	vs LAN	11	W 1-0	-		21,904	Bob Knepper	Jerry Reuss	Bob Knepper	Jerry Reuss		26	33	-7
1981-04-22	vs LAN	12	L 0-1	-		22,830	Don Sutton	Fernando Valenzuela	Fernando Valenzuela	Don Sutton		26	34	-8
1981-04-23	vs CIN	13	L 4-5	-		23,173	Vern Ruhle	Tom Seaver	Joe Price	Dave Smith	Paul Moskau	30	39	-9
1981-04-24	vs CIN	14	L 0-3	-		27,087	Joe Niekro	Frank Pastore	Frank Pastore	Joe Niekro		30	42	-12
1981-04-25	vs CIN	15	L 1-2	-		19,957	Nolan Ryan	Bruce Berenyi	Bruce Berenyi	Nolan Ryan	Tom Hume	31	44	-13
1981-04-26	vs CIN	16	W 1-0	-		23,428	Bob Knepper	Mario Soto	Bob Knepper	Mario Soto		32	44	-12
1981-04-28	@ ATL	17	W 2-1	-		8,669	Don Sutton	John Montefusco	Don Sutton	John Montefusco	Dave Smith	34	45	-11
1981-04-29	@ ATL	18	W 5-4	-		8,334	Vern Ruhle	Bob Walk	Frank LaCorte	Rick Camp		39	49	-10
1981-04-30	@ ATL	19	W 5-1	-		10,006	Joe Niekro	Tommy Boggs	Joe Niekro	Tommy Boggs		44	50	-6
Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-05-01	@ PIT	20	W 5-3	-		7,012	Nolan Ryan	Rod Scurry	Joe Sambito	Eddie Solomon		49	53	-4
1981-05-02	@ PIT	21	L 4-5	-		21,993	Bob Knepper	Rick Rhoden	Eddie Solomon	Dave Smith		53	58	-5
1981-05-03	@ PIT	22	W 3-1	-		10,438	Don Sutton	Jim Bibby	Don Sutton	Jim Bibby	Dave Smith	56	59	-3
1981-05-04	@ CHN	23	W 5-4	-		2,941	Joaquin Andujar	Mike Krukow	Joaquin Andujar	Mike Krukow	Joe Sambito	61	63	-2
1981-05-05	@ CHN	24	W 4-3	-		2,092	Joe Niekro	Rick Reuschel	Dave Smith	Lee Smith		65	66	-1
1981-05-06	@ CHN	25	L 1-2	-		2,572	Nolan Ryan	Bill Caudill	Lee Smith	Frank LaCorte		66	68	-2
1981-05-07	@ CHN	26	W 6-0	-		3,112	Bob Knepper	Randy Martz	Bob Knepper	Randy Martz		72	68	4
1981-05-08	@ CIN	27	L 0-4	-		31,961	Don Sutton	Tom Seaver	Tom Seaver	Don Sutton		72	72	0
1981-05-09	@ CIN	28	L 5-9	-		30,860	Joaquin Andujar	Bruce Berenyi	Bruce Berenyi	Joaquin Andujar		77	81	-4
1981-05-10	@ CIN	29	W 7-5	-		31,903	Joe Niekro	Frank Pastore	Joe Niekro	Frank Pastore	Frank LaCorte	84	86	-2
1981-05-11	@ CIN	30	W 5-0	-		11,795	Nolan Ryan	Mike LaCoss	Nolan Ryan	Mike LaCoss		89	86	3
1981-05-12	vs SLN	31	L 2-3	-		20,020	Bob Knepper	Bob Forsch	Bruce Sutter	Joe Sambito	Jim Kaat	91	89	2
1981-05-13	vs SLN	32	W 3-0	-		21,705	Don Sutton	Bob Shirley	Don Sutton	Bob Shirley		94	89	5
1981-05-14	vs SLN	33	L 6-7	-		20,042	Bobby Sprowl	Bob Sykes	Jim Otten	Joe Sambito	Bruce Sutter	100	96	4
1981-05-15	vs CHN	34	W 5-0	-		23,718	Joe Niekro	Bill Caudill	Joe Niekro	Bill Caudill		105	96	9
1981-05-16	vs CHN	35	W 6-1	-		43,726	Nolan Ryan	Randy Martz	Nolan Ryan	Randy Martz	Joe Sambito	111	97	14
1981-05-17	vs CHN	36	W 6-1	-		34,068	Bob Knepper	Mike Krukow	Bob Knepper	Mike Krukow		117	98	19
1981-05-19	@ SLN	37	L 12-15	-		14,585	Don Sutton	Bob Shirley	Jim Kaat	Bobby Sprowl		129	113	16
1981-05-20	@ SLN	38	W 4-3	-		19,175	Joe Niekro	Lary Sorensen	Joe Niekro	Bruce Sutter	Joe Sambito	133	116	17
1981-05-21	@ SLN	39	L 1-3	-		19,823	Nolan Ryan	John Martin	John Martin	Nolan Ryan		134	119	15
1981-05-22	vs SFN	40	L 3-6	-		30,377	Bob Knepper	Doyle Alexander	Greg Minton	Joaquin Andujar		137	125	12
1981-05-23	vs SFN	41	W 5-3	-		38,586	Vern Ruhle	Ed Whitson	Frank LaCorte	Ed Whitson		142	128	14
1981-05-24	vs SFN	42	L 1-2	-		34,922	Don Sutton	Vida Blue	Vida Blue	Don Sutton	Greg Minton	143	130	13
1981-05-25	vs SDN	43	W 6-3	-		19,025	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Joe Sambito	149	133	16
1981-05-26	vs SDN	44	W 1-0	-		17,709	Nolan Ryan	Juan Eichelberger	Nolan Ryan	Juan Eichelberger	Joe Sambito	150	133	17
1981-05-27	vs SDN	45	W 1-0	-		21,256	Bob Knepper	Chris Welsh	Bob Knepper	Chris Welsh		151	133	18
1981-05-29	@ SFN	46	L 1-3	-		8,397	Don Sutton	Vida Blue	Vida Blue	Don Sutton	Al Holland	152	136	16
1981-05-30	@ SFN	47	W 9-8	-		8,869	Joe Niekro	Allen Ripley	Joaquin Andujar	Fred Breining	Vern Ruhle	161	144	17
1981-05-31	@ SFN	48	L 1-6	-		20,626	Nolan Ryan	Tom Griffin	Tom Griffin	Nolan Ryan	Al Holland	162	150	12
Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-06-02	@ SDN	49	W 2-1	-		9,671	Bob Knepper	Chris Welsh	Frank LaCorte	Chris Welsh	Joe Sambito	164	151	13
1981-06-03	@ SDN	50	W 6-1	-		10,023	Don Sutton	Rick Wise	Don Sutton	Rick Wise		170	152	18
1981-06-04	@ SDN	51	L 5-7	-		12,403	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Steve Mura	Joe Niekro	Gary Lucas	175	159	16
1981-06-05	vs NYN	52	W 3-0	-		28,085	Nolan Ryan	Randy Jones	Nolan Ryan	Randy Jones		178	159	19
1981-06-06	vs NYN	53	W 6-2	-		42,478	Vern Ruhle	Pat Zachry	Vern Ruhle	Pat Zachry	Dave Smith	184	161	23
1981-06-07	vs NYN	54	L 1-3	-		29,873	Bob Knepper	Mike Scott	Mike Scott	Bob Knepper	Neil Allen	185	164	21
1981-06-08	@ PHI	55	L 3-4	-		31,664	Don Sutton	Dick Ruthven	Dick Ruthven	Don Sutton	Tug McGraw	188	168	20
1981-06-09	@ PHI	56	L 3-10	-		33,978	Joe Niekro	Marty Bystrom	Marty Bystrom	Joe Niekro	Ron Reed	191	178	13
1981-06-10	@ PHI	57	L 4-5	-		57,386	Nolan Ryan	Steve Carlton	Steve Carlton	Frank LaCorte	Tug McGraw	195	183	12
Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-08-10	@ SFN	58	W 6-5	-		11,115	Don Sutton	Doyle Alexander	Joe Sambito	Fred Breining	Frank LaCorte	201	188	13
1981-08-11	@ SFN	59	L 2-3	-		12,354	Joe Niekro	Tom Griffin	Tom Griffin	Joe Niekro	Greg Minton	203	191	12
1981-08-12	@ SFN	60	W 5-4	-		8,707	Vern Ruhle	Vida Blue	Joe Sambito	Al Holland	Billy Smith	208	195	13
1981-08-13	@ SDN	61	L 1-9	-		4,899	Bob Knepper	Chris Welsh	Chris Welsh	Bob Knepper		209	204	5
1981-08-14	@ SDN	62	W 5-1	-		8,414	Nolan Ryan	Tim Lollar	Nolan Ryan	Tim Lollar		214	205	9
1981-08-15	@ SDN	63	W 5-0	-		5,852	Don Sutton	Juan Eichelberger	Don Sutton	Juan Eichelberger		219	205	14
1981-08-16	@ SDN	64	W 3-0	-		5,880	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Dave Smith	222	205	17
1981-08-17	vs MON	65	L 2-6	-		24,203	Vern Ruhle	Ray Burris	Ray Burris	Vern Ruhle	Woodie Fryman	224	211	13
1981-08-18	vs MON	66	W 4-2	-		23,306	Bob Knepper	Steve Rogers	Bob Knepper	Steve Rogers	Joe Sambito	228	213	15
1981-08-19	vs MON	67	W 9-1	-		27,169	Nolan Ryan	Scott Sanderson	Nolan Ryan	Scott Sanderson	Dave Smith	237	214	23
1981-08-21	@ PHI	68	L 4-5	-		31,693	Don Sutton	Nino Espinosa	Sparky Lyle	Vern Ruhle	Tug McGraw	241	219	22
1981-08-22	@ PHI	69	L 4-8	-		35,199	Joe Niekro	Dick Ruthven	Dick Ruthven	Joe Niekro		245	227	18
1981-08-23	@ PHI	70	L 0-6	-		30,630	Bob Knepper	Steve Carlton	Steve Carlton	Bob Knepper		245	233	12
1981-08-25	@ NYN	71	L 1-2	-		15,622	Nolan Ryan	Greg Harris	Mike Marshall	Joe Sambito		246	235	11
1981-08-26	@ NYN	72	W 9-3	-		16,731	Don Sutton	Pat Zachry	Don Sutton	Pat Zachry		255	238	17
1981-08-27	@ NYN	73	L 2-3	-		17,488	Joe Niekro	Pete Falcone	Mike Marshall	Joe Sambito	Neil Allen	257	241	16
1981-08-28	vs PHI	74	W 3-2	-		29,482	Bob Knepper	Steve Carlton	Dave Smith	Sparky Lyle		260	243	17
1981-08-29	vs PHI	75	W 6-1	-		0	Vern Ruhle	Mark Davis	Vern Ruhle	Mark Davis		266	244	22
1981-08-29	vs PHI	76	W 2-1	-		33,327	Billy Smith	Dickie Noles	Billy Smith	Dickie Noles	Frank LaCorte	268	245	23
1981-08-30	vs PHI	77	W 5-4	-		23,102	Nolan Ryan	Nino Espinosa	Dave Smith	Sparky Lyle		273	249	24
1981-08-31	vs NYN	78	W 6-1	-		10,669	Don Sutton	Pat Zachry	Don Sutton	Pat Zachry		279	250	29
Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-09-01	vs NYN	79	W 3-2	-		16,339	Joe Niekro	Pete Falcone	Joe Sambito	Mike Marshall		282	252	30
1981-09-02	vs NYN	80	W 8-0	-		18,938	Bob Knepper	Mike Scott	Bob Knepper	Mike Scott		290	252	38
1981-09-03	@ MON	81	W 2-1	-		24,833	Vern Ruhle	Scott Sanderson	Vern Ruhle	Scott Sanderson	Dave Smith	292	253	39
1981-09-04	@ MON	82	W 5-0	-		32,580	Nolan Ryan	Bill Gullickson	Nolan Ryan	Bill Gullickson	Joe Sambito	297	253	44
1981-09-05	@ MON	83	L 2-5	-		30,471	Don Sutton	Ray Burris	Ray Burris	Don Sutton		299	258	41
1981-09-06	@ MON	84	W 4-3	-		47,193	Joe Niekro	Bill Lee	Frank LaCorte	Elias Sosa		303	261	42
1981-09-07	@ ATL	85	W 3-2	-		7,358	Bob Knepper	Tommy Boggs	Dave Smith	Rick Camp	Joe Sambito	306	263	43
1981-09-08	@ ATL	86	L 2-3	-		2,800	Vern Ruhle	Larry McWilliams	Rick Camp	Billy Smith		308	266	42
1981-09-09	@ ATL	87	L 0-9	-		4,482	Nolan Ryan	Phil Niekro	Phil Niekro	Nolan Ryan		308	275	33
1981-09-11	vs SFN	88	W 6-0	-		23,677	Don Sutton	Vida Blue	Don Sutton	Vida Blue		314	275	39
1981-09-12	vs SFN	89	W 5-2	-		35,867	Joe Niekro	Ed Whitson	Joe Niekro	Ed Whitson	Dave Smith	319	277	42
1981-09-13	vs SFN	90	W 3-0	-		19,642	Bob Knepper	Doyle Alexander	Bob Knepper	Doyle Alexander	Frank LaCorte	322	277	45
1981-09-14	vs CIN	91	L 2-4	-		19,742	Vern Ruhle	Bruce Berenyi	Bruce Berenyi	Vern Ruhle		324	281	43
1981-09-15	vs CIN	92	L 0-4	-		16,354	Nolan Ryan	Charlie Leibrandt	Charlie Leibrandt	Nolan Ryan		324	285	39
1981-09-16	@ SDN	93	W 5-2	-		4,241	Don Sutton	Tim Lollar	Don Sutton	Tim Lollar	Joe Sambito	329	287	42
1981-09-17	@ SDN	94	W 9-0	-		2,428	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura	Joe Niekro	Steve Mura		338	287	51
1981-09-18	@ SFN	95	L 2-5	-		8,183	Bob Knepper	Doyle Alexander	Doyle Alexander	Bob Knepper	Al Holland	340	292	48
1981-09-19	@ SFN	96	W 8-1	-		11,522	Vern Ruhle	Tom Griffin	Vern Ruhle	Tom Griffin		348	293	55
1981-09-20	@ SFN	97	W 7-3	-		16,824	Nolan Ryan	Gary Lavelle	Nolan Ryan	Gary Lavelle		355	296	59
1981-09-22	vs ATL	98	W 3-0	-		22,564	Don Sutton	Gaylord Perry	Don Sutton	Gaylord Perry		358	296	62
1981-09-23	vs ATL	99	L 1-3	-		24,142	Joe Niekro	Rick Mahler	Rick Mahler	Joe Niekro		359	299	60
1981-09-24	vs ATL	100	W 5-3	-		23,341	Bob Knepper	Larry McWilliams	Bob Knepper	Larry McWilliams	Dave Smith	364	302	62
1981-09-25	vs LAN	101	L 0-3	-		35,481	Vern Ruhle	Burt Hooton	Burt Hooton	Vern Ruhle		364	305	59
1981-09-26	vs LAN	102	W 5-0	-		32,115	Nolan Ryan	Ted Power	Nolan Ryan	Ted Power		369	305	64
1981-09-27	vs LAN	103	W 4-1	-		41,686	Don Sutton	Fernando Valenzuela	Don Sutton	Fernando Valenzuela		373	306	67
1981-09-28	vs SDN	104	W 2-1	-		21,576	Joe Niekro	Juan Eichelberger	Joe Sambito	Juan Eichelberger		375	307	68
1981-09-29	vs SDN	105	L 1-2	-		34,732	Bob Knepper	Rick Wise	Rick Wise	Bob Knepper	Gary Lucas	376	309	67
1981-09-30	@ CIN	106	L 2-5	-		24,394	Vern Ruhle	Mario Soto	Mario Soto	Vern Ruhle	Tom Hume	378	314	64
Date	Opponent	Game#	Result	Record	Rank	Att	HOU Pitcher	Opp Pitcher	Win Pitcher	Lose Pitcher	Sv Pitcher	RF	RA	Diff
1981-10-01	@ CIN	107	W 8-1	-		26,484	Nolan Ryan	Bruce Berenyi	Nolan Ryan	Bruce Berenyi		386	315	71
1981-10-02	@ LAN	108	L 1-6	-		46,108	Don Sutton	Jerry Reuss	Jerry Reuss	Don Sutton		387	321	66
1981-10-03	@ LAN	109	L 2-7	-		42,272	Joe Niekro	Bob Welch	Bob Welch	Joe Niekro		389	328	61
1981-10-04	@ LAN	110	W 5-3	-		47,072	Bob Knepper	Burt Hooton	Dave Smith	Dave Goltz		394	331	63

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