No matter how one slices it, forty-three years is a long time ago. I’ve already noted a half dozen stories written about the last time the Dodgers and Yankees faced off in a World Series. Anyone has the right to write about history, but some of the folks writing about the 1981 World Series lack the proper perspective and not just because they weren’t alive in 1981.
As was the case back in 1981, not everyone living outside of Los Angeles and New York was terribly interested in the Series. However, one figure captured the hearts and media back in 1981, Fernando Valenzuela. Unfortunately, Fernando passed away yesterday at the age of 63. He and Fernando Mania saved the season, that was torn asunder by a players’ strike.
As a sixteen-year-old Cubs fan, I was all things baseball. The previous season, Dad and I had partial season tickets, and I consumed the game 24/7. The Cubs were lousy-bad, but I attended enough games before the strike to whet my appetite. I was lucky enough to see Fernando pitch at Wrigley. I got to see a lot of great players come through Chicago that season.
Due to the strike and the postponement of the All-Star game, the powers that be decided on a split season to determine postseason participation. Back in the 80’s each league only had two divisions, the East and West and the teams that finished first in each half would face off in the first LDS before facing the other division’s winner in the LCS.
Neither the Dodgers nor the Yankees were the best nor most exciting team in their league that season. From a younger fan’s perspective, the Oakland A’s were far more entertaining and former Yankee manager and scourge, Billy Martin was the impetus. “Billy Ball” and his handling of his starting pitchers dominated the national news. While he hadn’t achieved superstardom yet, Rickey Henderson was far more exciting than any position player either WS team. The A’s 64 wins were better than the Yankees’ 59. Heck, the AL East’s Milwaukee Brewers had a better overall record (62-47).
In case you’ve missed it, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are bigger than Travis and Taylor right now. Poor Giancarlo Stanton may be the most famous third wheel since Yogi played third fiddle to Mantle and Maris.
Back in 1981, Steinbrenner Sr. signed Dave Winfield to support Reggie Jackson. I phrased it that way just in case Reggie is reading this. Winfield’s addition was as important as Soto’s this season although his physique is more Stantonesque.
Fans in smaller markets aren’t necessarily rooting for this band to win it all-no matter how heavily the media is pushing this narrative. Talk to real fans outside LA and NY, and you might be surprised by the lack of excitement over the match, some of us Midwesterners would only be more disappointed if the Mets faced the Yankees. Friends have noted the 2000 Subway Series to be the most uninteresting in decades.
At the time, none of my friends or relatives were dying to see the Dodgers make a third attempt at beating the Yankees. They lost to the Yankees in 77/78, and for younger fans a return to those days and Reggie hype wasn’t for everyone. The over-hyped infield of Cey-Russell-Lopes and Garvey didn’t exactly resonate with fans outside of Los Angeles for various reasons. A young Pedro Guererro did add a little offensive spark and would earn co-co WS MVP honors.
However, due to his tremendous regular season success, and his national exposure fans wanted to see Fernando. As is the case today with Ohtani-Judge, fans want to see the biggest name(s) in the game. Fernando v. Reggie and Winfield.
In any other year, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton’s numbers would have been good enough for the NL CY. But in 1981 Fernando dominated posting a 2.48 ERA in 192.1 innings with 11 complete games and 8 shutouts. Incidentally, the A’spitching staff recorded 60 complete games after 98 in 1980.
Speaking as an older guy in 2024 when the merits of the game and what would appeal to younger audiences, the non-Dodgers and non-Yankees of 1981 were and are more appealing than those two teams. The Astros and Expos played a more exciting brand of ball, but because they lacked the history and cache of NY and LA they were less popular with the general media. The better sportswriters of the day were covering and highlighting these teams and h players.
As a sixteen-year-old, I didn’t have access to the players and coaches that I sort of did a few years ago as a freelance writer. As such, it was with a historical perspective that I’ve discussed that season with players from that era. Due to the playoff solution, the team with the best overall record 66-42, missed the playoffs because they finished second in both halves in the NL West. And unlike the Dodgers, they had some exciting players and pitchers that weren’t a part of the Big Red Machine (75/76) and some guy named Seaver. Reds fans and players feel cheated more than the division leaders from the 1994 work stoppage.
The makeshift playoffs in 1981 were new and the extra round seemed a little cumbersome. Of course, I’m jaded because the teams I was rooting for, the Astors, Brewers and Expos lost and after a lackluster 1980 Series between the Phillies and Royals, I think we were looking for something a little different.
At the time it seemed fitting that future mediocre Cubs reliever, George Frazier lost three games for the Yankees. Seeing Valenzuela pitch on the biggest stage was fun and that he had some success justified our investment. Personally, I was happy that former Cubs Burt Hooton and Rick Monday were a part of the success was nice, but I know others that weren’t as excited about the entire series.
The World Series was more popular back in 1981 and didn’t require a complicit PR effort to sell the specific players and teams. We had fewer entertainment options and there was something special about seeing players from both leagues. It’s almost hard to imagine a time without interleague play.
I don’t see any real connections between the two teams from these different eras, but I’m sure MLB and their PR department will do their best to sell that narrative.
R.I.P Fernando!
