More Fun Facts!
On April 9, 1980 George Foster (Reds) Hit the First Home Run of the 80s
* Foster Hit a 1st Inning Home Run off Braves pitcher Phil Niekro on Opening Day at Riverfron Stadium in Cincinnati
On October 28, 1989 Greg Litton (Giants) Hit the Last Home Run of the 80s
* Litton Hit a 2-run Homer Run off A’s pitcher Gene Nelson in the Final Game of the 1989 World Series
The A’s swept the Giants 4 - 0
Fernando Valenzuela
Won the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in 1981
Dwight Gooden
Made His Major League Debut for the New York Mets on April 7, 1984 at the age of 19
* Gooden Recorded the Victory in a 3-2 Win over the Houston Astros
5 IP 1ER 5K
Roger Clemens
Made His Major League Debut for the Boston Red Sox on May 15, 1984 Against the Cleveland Indians
* Clemens Gave up 11 Hits and 4 Earned Runs in 5.2 Innings Pitched
On September 16 1988 Tom Browning (Cincinnati Reds) Pitched a Perfect Game Against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Fun Facts!
Aluminum Bats were first used in a Baseball Game in 1970
* Produced by Worth
The Aluminum Bat was Patent in 1924 by William Shroyer even though they weren’t used in a game until 1970
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Most Valuable Players
AL
1980 - George Brett
Kansas City Royals
1981 - Rollie Fingers
Milwaukee Brewers
* Also Won Cy Young Award
1982 - Robin Yount
Milwaukee Brewers
1983 - Cal Ripken
Baltimore Orioles
1984 - Willie Hernandez
Detroit Tigers
* Also Won Cy Young Award
1985 - Don Mattingly
New York Yankees
1986 - Roger Clemens
Boston Red Sox
* Also Won Cy Young Award
1987 - George Bell
Toronto Blue Jays
1988 - Jose Canseco
Oakland A’s
1989 - Robin Yount
Milwaukee Brewers
NL
1980 - Mike Schmidt
Philadelphia Phillies
1981 - Mike Schmidt
Philadelphia Phillies
1982 - Dale Murphy
Atlanta Braves
1983 - Dale Murphy
Atlanta Braves
1984 - Ryne Sandberg
Chicago Cubs
1985 - Willie McGee
St. Louis Cardinals
1986 - Mike Schmidt
Philadelphia Phillies
1987 - Andre Dawson
Chicago Cubs
1988 - Kirk Gibson
Los Angeles Dodgers
1989 - Kevin Mitchell
San Francisco Giants
Fun Fact!
Barry Bonds Holds the Major League Record With 7 MVP Awards
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Cy Young Award Winners
AL
1980 - Steve Stone
Baltimore Orioles
1981 - Rollie Fingers
Milwaukee Brewers
* Also Won MVP
1982 - Pete Vuckovich
Milwaukee Brewers
1983 - LaMarr Hoyt
Chicago White Sox
1984 - Willie Hernández
Detroit Tigers
* Also Won MVP
1985 - Bret Saberhagen
Kansas City Royals
1986 - Roger Clemens
Boston Red Sox
* Also Won MVP
1987 - Roger Clemens
Boston Red Sox
1988 - Frank Viola
Minnesota Twins
1989 - Bret Saberhagen
Kansas City Royals
NL
1980 - Steve Carlton
Philadelphia Phillies
1981 - Fernando Valenzuela
Los Angeles Dodgers
* Also Won Rookie of the Year
1982 - Steve Carlton
Philadelphia Phillies
1983 - John Denny
Philadelphia Phillies
1984 - Rick Sutcliffe
Chicago Cubs
1985 - Dwight Gooden
New York Mets
1986 - Mike Scott
Houston Astros
1987 - Steve Bedrosian
Philadelphia Phillies
1988 - Orel Hershiser
Los Angeles Dodgers
1989 - Mark Davis
San Diego Padres
Fun Fact!
Roger Clemens Holds the Major League Record With 7 Cy Young Awards
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Rookie of the Year
AL
1980 - Joe Charboneau
Cleveland Indians
1981 - Dave Righetti
New York Yankees
1982 - Cal Ripken, Jr.
Baltimore Orioles
1983 - Ron Kittle
Chicago White Sox
1984 - Alvin Davis
Seattle Mariners
1985 - Ozzie Guillen
Chicago White Sox
1986 - Jose Canseco
Oakland A’s
1987 - Mark McGwire
Oakland A’s
1988 - Walt Weiss
Oakland A’s
1989 - Gregg Olson
Baltimore Orioles
NL
1980 - Steve Howe
Los Angeles Dodgers
1981 - Fernando Valenzuela
Los Angeles Dodgers
1982 - NL: Steve Sax
Los Angeles Dodgers
1983 - Darryl Strawberry
New York Mets
1984 - Dwight Gooden
New York Mets
1985 - Vince Coleman
St. Louis Cardinals
1986 - Todd Worrell
St. Louis Cardinals
1987 - Benito Santiago
San Diego Padres
1988 - Chris Sabo
Cincinnati Reds
1989 - Jerome Walton
Chicago Cubs
Fun Fact!
The Los Angeles/Brooklyn Dodgers Hold the Major League Record With 18 Rookie of the Year Awards
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Manager of the Year
(First Awarded in 1983)
1983
AL: Tony La Russa (White Sox)
NL: Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers)
1984
AL: Sparky Anderson (Tigers)
NL: Jim Frey (Cubs)
1985
AL: Bobby Cox (Blue Jays)
NL: Whitey Herzog (Cardinals)
1986
AL: John McNamara (Red Sox)
NL: Hal Lanier (Astros)
1987
AL: Sparky Anderson (Tigers)
NL: Buck Rogers (Expos)
1988
AL: Tony La Russa (A's)
NL: Tommy Lasorda (Dodgers)
1989
AL: Frank Robinson (Orioles)
NL: Don Zimmer (Cubs)
Fun Fact!
Bobby Cox Became the First Manager to Win Manager of the Year in Both Leagues (Blue Jays 1985, Braves 1991)
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Attendance Leaders
1980 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,249,287
Average: 39,625
1981 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 2,381,292
Average: 42,523
1982 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,608,881
Average: 44,554
1983 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,510,313
Average: 43,879
1984 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,134,824
Average:38,702
1985 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,264,593
Average:40,304
1986 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Attendance: 3,023,208
Average: 37,324
1987 St. Louis Cardinals
Attendance: 3,072,122
Average 37,927
1988 New York Mets
Attendance: 3,055,445
Average 38,193
1989 Toronto Blue Jays
Attendance: 3,375,883
Average 41,678
Fun Facts!
MLB Players from Toronto
Barry Cort
First Game: April 22, 1977 (Brewers)
Last Game: June 14, 1977 (Brewers)
* Only Pitched in 7 Games
Rob Ducey (1987 - 2001)
First Game: May 1, 1987 (Blue Jays)
Last Game: July 22, 2001 (Expos)
* Played with Blue Jays, Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Phillies (Twice) and Expos
George Kottaras
First Game: September 13, 2008 (Red Sox)
Last Game: September 28, 2014 (Blue Jays)
* Played with the Red Sox, Brewers, A's, Royals , Indians and Cardinals
Russell Martin
First Game: May 5, 2006 (Dodgers)
Last Game: September 18, 2019 (Dodgers)
* Played with the Dodgers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays
Joey Votto
First Game: September 4, 2007 (Reds)
Still Playing with the Cincinnati Reds
On July 6 1986 Bob Horner Hit 4 Home Runs Against the Montreal Expos
Fun Fact!
Bob Horner was the Only Player to Hit 4 Home Runs in a Game During the 80s
Brawls
World Series Winners
1980 - Philadelphia Phillies
Games: 4-2
Losing Team: Kansas City Royals
Series MVP: Mike Schmidt
Winning Coach: Dallas Green
1981 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Games: 4-2
Losing Team: New York Yankees
Series MVP: Pedro Guerrero, Ron Cey and Steve Yeager
Winning Manager: Tommy Lasorda
1982 - St. Louis Cardinals
Games: 4-3
Losing Team: Milwaukee Brewers
Series MVP: Darrell Porter
Winning Manager: Whitey Herzog
1983 - Baltimore Orioles
Games: 4-1
Losing Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Series MVP: Rick Dempsey
Winning Manager: Joe Altobelli
1984 - Detroit Tigers
Games: 4-1
Losing Team: San Diego Padres
Series MVP: Alan Trammell
Winning Manager: Sparky Anderson
1985 - Kansas City Royals
Games: 4-3
Losing Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Series MVP: Bret Saberhagen
Winning Manager: Dick Howser
1986 - New York Mets
Games: 4-3
Losing Team: Boston Red Sox
Series MVP: Ray Knight
Winning Manager: Davey Johnson
1987 - Minnesota Twins
Games: 4-3
Losing Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Series MVP: Frank Viola
Winning Manager: Tom Kelly
1988 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Games: 4-1
Losing Team: Oakland Athletics
Series MVP: Orel Hershiser
Winning Manager: Tommy Lasorda
1989 - Oakland Athletics
Games: 4-0
Losing Team: San Francisco Giants
Series MVP: Dave Stewart
Winning Manager: Tony La Russa
First World Series
1903 - The Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (8 Games)
Series: 5 - 3
Manager: Jimmy Collins
Cy Young (Americans) and Honus Wagner (Pirates) Played in the Series
* Wagner (SS) Made 6 Errors in the Series
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Reggie Jackson
Batting Titles
AL
1980 - George Brett .390
Kansas City Royals
1981 - Carney Lansford .336
Boston Red Sox
1982 - Willie Wilson .332
Kansas City Royals
1983 - Wade Boggs .361
Boston Red Sox
1984 - Don Mattingly .343
New York Yankees
1985 - Wade Boggs .368
Boston Red Sox
1986 - Wade Boggs .357
Boston Red Sox
1987 - Wade Boggs .363
Boston Red Sox
1988 - Wade Boggs .366
Boston Red Sox
1989 - Kirby Puckett .339
Minnesota Twins
NL
1980 - Bill Buckner .324
Chicago Cubs
1981 - Bill Madlock .341
Pittsburgh Pirates
1982 - Al Oliver .331
Montreal Expos
1983 - Bill Madlock .323
Pittsburgh Pirates
1984 - Tony Gwynn .351
San Diego Padres
1985 - Willie McGee .353
St. Louis Cardinals
1986 - Tim Raines .334
Montreal Expos
1987 - Tony Gwynn .370
San Diego Padres
1988 - Tony Gwynn .313
San Diego Padres
1989 - Tony Gwynn .336
San Diego Padres
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Home Run Leaders
AL
1980 - Reggie Jackson 41
New York Yankees
Ben Oglivie 41
Milwaukee Brewers
1981 - Bobby Grich 22
California Angels
Eddie Murray 22
Baltimore Orioles
Dwight Evans 22
Boston Red Sox
Tony Armas 22
Oakland A’s (Strike Season)
1982 - Reggie Jackson 39
California Angels
Gorman Thomas 39
Milwaukee Brewers
1983 - Jim Rice 39
Boston Red Sox
1984 - Tony Armas 43
Boston Red Sox
1985 - Darrell Evans 40
Detroit Tigers
1986 - Jesse Barfield 40
Toronto Blue Jays
1987 - Mark McGwire 49
Oakland A’s
1988 - Jose Canseco 42
Oakland A’s
1989 - Fred McGriff 36
Toronto Blue Jays
NL
1980 - Mike Schmidt 48
Philadelphia Phillies
1981 - Mike Schmidt 31
Philadelphia Phillies (Strike Season)
1982 - Dave Kingman 37
New York Mets
1983 - Mike Schmidt 40
Philadelphia Phillies
1984 - Mike Schmidt 36
Philadelphia Phillies
Dale Murphy 36
Atlanta Braves
1985 - Dale Murphy 37
Atlanta Braves
1986 - Mike Schmidt 37
Philadelphia Phillies
1987 - Andre Dawson 49
Chicago Cubs
1988 - Darryl Strawberry 39
New York Mets
1989 - Kevin Mitchell 47
San Francisco Giants
Fun Fact!
Babe Ruth Led the League in Home Runs 12 Times in His Career (Major League Record)
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RBI Leaders
AL
1980 - Cecil Cooper 122
Milwaukee Brewers
1981 - Eddie Murray 78
Baltimore Orioles (Strike Season)
1982 - Hal McRae 133
Kansas City Royals
1983 - Jim Rice 126
Boston Red Sox
Cecil Cooper 126
Milwaukee Brewers
1984 - Tony Armas 123
Boston Red Sox
1985 - Don Mattingly 145
New York Yankees
1986 - Joe Carter 121
Cleveland Indians
1987 - George Bell
Toronto Blue Jays
1988 - Jose Canseco 124
Oakland A’s
1989 - Ruben Sierra 119
Texas Rangers
NL
1980 - Mike Schmidt 121
Philadelphia Phillies
1981 - Mike Schmidt 91
Philadelphia Phillies (Strike Season)
1982 - Dale Murphy 104
Atlanta Braves
Al Oliver 104
Montreal Expos
1983 - Dale Murphy 121
Atlanta Braves
1984 - Mike Schmidt 106
Philadelphia Phillies
Gary Carter 106
Montreal Expos
1985 - Dave Parker 125
Cincinnati Reds
1986 - Mike Schmidt 119
Philadelphia Phillies
1987 - Andre Dawson 137
Chicago Cubs
1988 - Will Clark 109
San Francisco Giants
1989 - Kevin Mitchell 125
San Francisco Giants
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Pitching Wins
AL
1980 - Steve Stone 25
Baltimore Orioles
1981 - Dennis Martínez 14
Baltimore Orioles
Steve McCatty 14
Oaklands A’s
Jack Morris 14
Detroit Tigers
Pete Vuckovich 14
Brewers (Strike Season)
1982 - LaMarr Hoyt 19
Chicago White Sox
1983 - LaMarr Hoyt 24
Chicago White Sox
1984 - Mike Boddicker 20
Baltimore Orioles
1985 - Ron Guidry 22
New York Yankees
1986 - Roger Clemens 24
Boston Red Sox
1987 - Roger Clemens 20
Boston Red Sox
Dave Stewart 20
Oakland A’s
1988 - Frank Viola 24
Minnesota Twins
1989 - Bret Saberhagen 23
Kansas City Royals
NL
1980 - Steve Carlton 24
Philadelphia Phillies
1981 - Tom Seaver 14
Cincinnati Reds (Strike Season)
1982 - Steve Carlton 23
Philadelphia Phillies
1983 - John Denny 19
Philadelphia Phillies
1984 - Joaquin Andujar 20
St. Louis Cardinals
1985 - Dwight Gooden 24
New York Mets
1986 - Fernando Valenzuela 21
Los Angeles Dodgers
1987 - Rick Sutcliffe 18
Chicago Cubs
1988 - Orel Hershiser 23
Los Angeles Dodgers
Danny Jackson 23
Cincinnati Reds
1989 - Mike Scott 20
Houston Astros
Fun Fact!
1968 - Detroit Tigers Pitcher Denny McClain Became the First Pitcher to Win 30 Games in a Season
* Still the Only Player
Bob Horner
Perfect Game
On September 17 1984 Reggie Jackson Hit His 500th Career Home Run
80s Baseball
On July 27 1988 the Giants and Cardinals got into Brawl after Will Clark took out Jose Oquendo's knees sliding into 2nd Base
On April 8 1986 Will Clark Hit a Home Run off Nolan Ryan in his First Major League At-Bat
Will Clark
The Dodgers Were the Only Team to Win 2 World Series in the 80s