1981 Toronto Blue Jays (est. 1977)

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Previous Seasons

1977 63-99 - WS - New York Mets over Minnesota Twins

1978 69-93 - WS - Cincinnati Reds over Detroit Tigers

1979 94-68 - WS - Texas Rangers over Cincinnati Reds

1980 97-66 (Lost a tiebreaker game to Detroit) - WS - Detroit Tigers over Cincinnati Reds

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Major off-season acquisitions

Keith Hernandez (Free Agent, 5-year contract)
John Wockenfuss (Trade with Tigers)
Roger Erickson (Trade with Tigers)
Neil Allen (Trade with Pirates)

Major off-season departures

Michael Hunter (Trade with Tigers)
Bill Madlock (Trade with Tigers)
Roberto Fajardo (Trade with Pirates)
Mark Foster (Trade with Pirates)
Mike Parrott (Trade with Pirates)
Chris Speier (Free Agency - unsigned)
Jim Umbarger (Trade with Mariners)
Rick Baldwin (Trade with Pirates)

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March 9th, 1981

The Blue Jays opened up their Spring Training with an 8-3 win over Oakland.

Vincent O'Duane went 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 RBI.

WP - Dave Stieb (1-0)
LP - Steve Mura (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-0

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March 10th, 1981

The first homer of the spring for Toronto came off the bat of newest star, Keith Hernandez. Also, new draftee Tom Niedenfuer pitched three perfect innings of relief.

It came in a losing effort, however, as the Jays lost 3-2 to the Orioles.

WP - Scott Sanderson (1-0)
Save - Dan Quisenberry (2)
LP - Jim Clancy (0-1)

Spring Record - 1-1

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March 11th, 1981

The Blue Jays beat the Yankees 8-2. Ed Whitson pitched five scoreless innings, only giving up one hit. Adrian Young and John Howell both hit balls out.

WP - Ed Whitson (1-0)
LP - Matt Keough (0-1)

Spring Record - 2-1

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March 12th, 1981

A good day for Toronto bats as they downed the White Sox 10-4. Billy Sample went 3 for 5 with 3 RBI.

WP - Roger Erickson (1-0)
LP - Silvio Martinez (0-1)

Spring Record - 3-1

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March 13th, 1981

Chris Cook had a decent start but some defensive lapses compounded by Rule 5 pick-up Steve Bergeron's struggles and the Jays fell 8-1 to the Mariners.

WP - Chris Welsh (1-0)
LP - Chris Cook (0-1)

Spring Record - 3-2

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March 14th, 1981

It is a small revenge, but better than none at all.

Toronto beat Detroit 10-5.

Skip McBeath went 2 for 3 with a homer and 3 RBI.

Matt Robinson hurt his elbow and is expected to miss a week of Spring Training.

WP - Don Norman (1-0)
LP - Vern Ruhle (0-1)

Spring Record - 4-2

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March 15th, 1981

The Boston pitchers seemed to be a little ahead of the game at this point in the Spring. Red Sox won 3-1.

WP - Bert Blyleven (1-1)
Save - Don Aase (4)
LP - Antonio Garcia (0-1)

Spring Record - 4-3

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March 16th, 1981

The Jays had a good spring day, beating the Royals 6-2. Dave Collins went 3 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. Robin Yount went 3 for 3 with 2 walks.

WP - Jim Slaton (1-0)
LP - Larry Gura (0-1)

Spring Record - 5-3



First round of spring cuts!

Transferred to the minor league camp: Bobby Castillo, Victor Cruz, Gary Gaetti, Jerome Thomson

Returned to the Cardinals: Steven Bergeron

Thomson is the big surprise. Apparently the team is sold on Adrian Young.

Unless they come up with another shortstop, it looks like Raul Ibarra is guaranteed a roster spot to back up Robin Yount.

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March 17th, 1981

The Jays fell 5-3 to the Brewers. Adrian Young and Champ Summers both went deep for Toronto.

WP - Jerry Koosman (1-1)
Save - John Littlefield (2)
LP - Dave Stieb (1-1)

Spring Record - 5-4

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March 18th, 1981

The Blue Jays beat Cleveland 10-3 behind some big power hitting. John Wockenfuss his a grand slam and Robin Yount and Gustavo Pena also went deep.

WP - Mark Clear (1-0)
LP - Guy Hoffman (0-2)

Spring Record - 6-4

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March 19th, 1981

The Angels made a game of it but the Jays held off their comeback bid and won 7-6.

Dave Collins went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI.

WP - Ed Whitson (2-0)
Save - Edward Hall (1)
LP - Jerry Gleaton (0-2)

Spring Record - 7-4

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March 20th, 1981

Another solid outing for the Jays as they stopped the Rangers 4-1.

Skip McBeath went 2 for 3 with his 2nd homer of the spring. Billy Sample go this first.

WP - Roger Erickson (2-0)
Save - Doug Corbett (1)
LP - Andy Replogle (0-2)

Spring Record - 8-4

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March 22nd, 1981

(My 13th birthday)

The Jays are really rolling this spring. This time it was a 4-2 win over the Twins. Chris Cook pitched five scoreless innings and Robin Yount hit his second spring homer.

WP - Chris Cook (1-1)
Save - Neil Allen (1)
LP - Bill Gullickson (1-1)

Spring Record - 9-4

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March 23rd, 1981

What good can come from losing 8-6 to Oakland after Antonio Garcia got shelled for 7 runs in the 1st?

How about 4 perfect innings by reliever Tom Scott?

WP - Mike Norris (1-1)
LP - Antonio Garcia (0-2)

Spring Record - 9-5

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March 24th, 1981

Jim Slaton really struggled, walking 7 in 5 innings. The Jays hitters picked him up, though, as they shelled the Orioles 10-4. Al Carlson had a 3 RBI day and Raul Ibarra got 3 hits!

WP - Don Norman (2-0)
LP - Mike Griffin (0-1)

Spring Record - 10-5

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March 25th, 1981

A very close game was undone by a Rick Cerone error and some ineffectiveness by Edward Hall.

His time in spring camp has likely come to an end.

Yankees won 7-3.

Matt Robinson had a good day going 3 for 4 with a dinger and 3 RBI.

WP - Randy Stein (1-0)
LP - Edward Hall (0-1)

Spring Record - 10-6

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BIG TRADE!!

To ROYALS

Matt Robinson
Rick Cerone
Jim Slaton
Vincent O'Duane
Edward Hall

To BLUE JAYS

UL Washington
Joel Youngblood
Ludovico Borsellino
Fred Britt

Washington and Youngblood are going straight to the major league camp.

Joining Borsellino and Britt in the minor league camp are Ray Jenkins and, in a surprise move, Neil Allen.

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March 26th, 1981

There is starting to be some real concern about Jim Clancy in the Jays front office. He struggled again today as the Jays fell 8-3 to the White Sox.

WP - Allen Ripley (3-0)
LP - Jim Clancy (0-2)

Spring Record - 10-7