Michael John Sweeney is an American former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals,first as a catcher,then at first base and designated hitter. Sweeney also played for the Oakland Athletics,Seattle Mariners,and Philadelphia Phillies. On March 25,2011,Sweeney retired from baseball. He now works as a special assistant for the Kansas City Royals. Sweeney was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame on August 15,2015.
Leo Ernest Whitt is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),including twelve for the Toronto Blue Jays,and was the last player from the franchise's inaugural season of 1977 to remain through 1989. Whitt was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.
Louis Victor Piniella is a former professional baseball player and manager. An outfielder,he played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles,Cleveland Indians,Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees. During his playing career,he was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1969 and captured two World Series championships with the Yankees.
Víctor Jesús Martínez,also known by his nickname "V-Mart",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball designated hitter and catcher. Martínez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Boston Red Sox,and Detroit Tigers. After joining the Tigers,he played mostly as a designated hitter.
Raúl Javier Ibañez is an American former professional baseball left fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) now serving as vice president of baseball development and special projects for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played 11 of his 19 big league seasons for the Seattle Mariners,while also playing for the Kansas City Royals,Philadelphia Phillies,New York Yankees,and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. While primarily a left fielder,Ibañez often saw considerable time as a designated hitter (DH),throughout his career.
The following are the baseball events of the year 1981 throughout the world.
Jeffrey Lynn Newman is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. Newman was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut in 1976. He was an All Star in 1979. He served as the interim manager of the Oakland Athletics in 1986.
Daniel Allen Wilson is an American former professional baseball player and current manager of the Seattle Mariners. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1992 through 2005,most notably as a member of the Seattle Mariners where he played 12 of his 14 seasons. The 1996 All-Star selection began his career with the Cincinnati Reds before being traded to the Mariners,where he was regarded as one of the game's best defensive catchers. At the time of his retirement in 2005,Wilson held the American League record for career fielding percentage by a catcher. In 2012,Wilson was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame alongside his battery-mate,Randy Johnson. Wilson was promoted from special assignment coordinator to manager of the Seattle Mariners after the team fired Scott Servais on August 22,2024.
Nelson Gil Santovenia Mayol is a Cuban former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a catcher from 1987 to 1993. He played college baseball at the University of Miami. He is currently the hitting coach for the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Wilbur Donald Wakamatsu is an American former professional baseball player,scout,coach,and manager. Wakamatsu was drafted in the 11th round of the 1985 Major League Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox. He served as the bench coach of the Texas Rangers from 2018 through 2021. He was hired as bench coach of the Kansas City Royals for the 2014 season. He was the manager of the Seattle Mariners for the 2009 season,as well as the majority of the 2010 season. He was the Toronto Blue Jays' bench coach for 2011 and 2012,after which he was replaced by DeMarlo Hale. During the 2013 season he worked as a scout for the New York Yankees in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is currently the first-ever executive vice president of baseball operations with the Oakland Ballers.
The 1995 Major League Baseball season was the first season to be played under the expanded postseason format,as the League Division Series (LDS) was played in both the American and National leagues for the first time,since the 1981 strike-split season. However,due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike which carried into the 1995 season,a shortened 144-game schedule commenced on April 25,when the Florida Marlins played host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Gorrell Robert Stinson III is a former switch-hitting catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969-1980. Stinson played for six major league franchises,most notably the Seattle Mariners.
Carlos Santana is a Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman and catcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians,Philadelphia Phillies,Kansas City Royals,Seattle Mariners,Pittsburgh Pirates,Milwaukee Brewers,and Minnesota Twins. He plays with the Dominican Republic national team internationally,winning the gold medal in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Santana was both an All-Star selection and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2019 with Cleveland. In 2024,he won a Gold Glove with Minnesota.
The 1987 Major League Baseball season ended with the American League Champion Minnesota Twins winning the World Series over the National League Champion St. Louis Cardinals,four games to three,as all seven games were won by the home team.
The 1981 Major League Baseball season culminated with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series,capturing the franchise's fifth World Series title. The season had a players' strike,which lasted from June 12 to July 31,and split the season into two halves. Teams that won their division in each half of the season advanced to the playoffs. This was the first split season in American League history,and second for the National League,which had played a split season in 1892.
Andrew Edward Butera is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently on the coaching staff of the Chicago White Sox. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Los Angeles Dodgers,Los Angeles Angels,Kansas City Royals,and Colorado Rockies.
Salvador Johan Pérez Díaz,nicknamed "El Niño" and "Salvy",is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a nine-time MLB All-Star,five-time Gold Glove Award winner,five-time Silver Slugger Award winner,three-time All-MLB selection,Roberto Clemente Award winner,and received the World Series Most Valuable Player Award when the Royals won the 2015 World Series. He represents the Venezuelan national team on the international level.
Martín Benjamín Maldonado is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher in the San Diego Padres organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Los Angeles Angels,Houston Astros,Kansas City Royals,Chicago Cubs,and Chicago White Sox.
Brian Christopher Goodwin is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals,Kansas City Royals,Los Angeles Angels,Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox. Before his professional career,Goodwin played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Jackson Alexander Kowar is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
