From BR Bullpen
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The 1981 International League season was the 96th in the league's history, and ended with the Columbus Clippers becoming the first team in league history to win three straight Governors' Cups.
The Clippers were the first IL team to win three consecutive titles since the Rochester Red Wings won four in a row from 1928 to 1931.
Columbus won a rain-shortened final series over the Richmond Braves. After Game Three on September 16, two more days of rain prompted the farm directors of the Braves and Yankees to contact IL president Harold Cooper and suggest the rest of the series be canceled. Cooper declared the Clippers champions. There were 10 rainouts in total during the playoffs.
[edit] Final standings
Playoff teams in bold.
[edit] Playoffs
[edit] First Round
| Columbus vs. Rochester
|
| Date | Away | Home
|
| September 7 | Columbus 2 | Rochester 3
|
| September 9 | Columbus 6 | Rochester 9
|
| September 10 | Rochester 2 | Columbus 10
|
| September 11 | Rochester 0 | Columbus 7
|
| September 12 | Rochester 1 | Columbus 2
|
| | 10 innings
|
| Columbus wins series 3-2
|
|
| Richmond vs. Tidewater
|
| Date | Away | Home
|
| September 4 | Tidewater 5 | Richmond 4
|
| September 5 | Tidewater 1 | Richmond 2
|
| September 6 | Richmond 1 | Tidewater 2
|
| | 11 innings
|
| September 9 | Richmond 7 | Tidewater 2
|
| September 10 | Richmond 5 | Tidewater 2
|
| Richmond wins series 3-2
|
|
[edit] Governor's Cup Finals
| Columbus vs. Richmond
|
| Date | Away | Home
|
| September 13 | Richmond 5 | Columbus 6
|
| | 12 innings
|
| September 15 | Richmond 12 | Columbus 3
|
| September 16 | Columbus 5 | Richmond 1
|
| Columbus wins series 2-1
|
|
[edit] League Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average Wade Boggs, Pawtucket, .335
- Runs Scored Brett Butler, Richmond, 93
- Hits Boggs, 167
- Doubles Boggs, 41
- Triples J.J. Cannon, Syracuse, 11
- Home Runs Steve Balboni, Columbus, 33
- Runs Batted In Balboni, 98
- Stolen Bases Dallas Williams, Rochester, 51
[edit] Pitching
- Wins Ken Dayley, Richmond; Larry McWilliams, Richmond, 13
- Earned Run Average Bob Ojeda, Pawtucket, 2.13
- Complete Games Tom Brennan, Charleston; Tom Dixon, Tidewater, 11
- Shutouts Brennan, 6
- Strikeouts Dayley, 162
- Saves Dale Murray, Syracuse, 16
[edit] All-Star Team
- First Base Greg Wells, Syracuse
- Second Base Brian Giles, Tidewater
- Shortstop Andre Robertson, Columbus
- Third Base Cal Ripken Jr., Rochester
- Outfield Sam Bowen, Pawtucket; Brett Butler, Richmond; Gary Rajsich, Tidewater
- Catcher Chris Bando, Charleston
- Designated Hitter Steve Balboni, Columbus
- Pitcher Dale Murray, Syracuse; Bob Ojeda, Pawtucket
- Manager Eddie Haas, Richmond
[edit] References
Brian Bennett, On A Silver Diamond: The Story Of Rochester Community Baseball from 1956-1996. Triphammer Publishing, 1997.
The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. W. Lloyd Johnson and Miles Wolff, editors. Baseball America, 1993.
1982 Baseball Guide
[edit] External Links
1981 Rochester Red Wings review – On A Silver Diamond
1981 IL - The Baseball Cube
