The crazy thing about cincinnati was they had the best record in mlb in 1981 and they had the worst record in the nl in 1982 with 101 losses minnesota had the worst record in mlb with 102 losses
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who had the best winning percentage in the NL East in '81, wound up winning the division the following season in '82 before going on to win the World Series over the Brewers. So the Cardinals redeemed themselves in '82, but the Reds plummeted.
Even crazier is the gross uneven number of games between teams. Split season was bad enough, but some teams had a handful of extra games to help their cause
If my math is correct, combining the 2 halves the division winners should have been the Cardinals, Reds, Orioles, and A's based off of winning % and not total wins/losses but this would have been unfair as they didn't play an equal number of games. The NFL strike the following year did total wins/losses but they all played an equal number of games.
if my math is correct, all those teams you mentioned had an average regular season attendance of about 20,000 per game in 1981 were as the eventual WS champion Los Angeles Dodgers absolutely crushed attendance that year, averaging over 40,000 per game.
it wasn't mentioned in this vid, but the Los Angeles Dodgers smashed MLB attendance in 1981, despite the strike shortened season being the only fan base to reach the 2 million mark. with that kind of fan loyalty, it made their WS title that much sweeter.
you should be bitter about your pathetic average attendance at old Busch stadium in 1981. only 19,000 per game in a 60,000 seat stadium. . overrated fan base, always has been
It didn't have to be split. If they wanted an extra round of playoffs all they needed to do was take the top two teams in each division over the course of the entire season.
But even that would have been unfair as there was an unbalanced number of games played. For example, the Phillies played 107 games but the Cardinals played 102.
@@Rockhound6165 I still think it's better than the split season idea. The teams already in had no incentive to play in the second half, and more importantly, the two best teams in the NL were left out. There was a strike at the beginning of the 1972 season where teams had an uneven amount of games played and they still kept the traditional setup. Sucks but that is the risk with strikes.
Since the Bengals came into existence, they've gone to the Super Bowl after each time the Dodgers have won the World Series. 1981...1988... and then 2020, where the Bengals took 1 extra year due to COVID. Go Dodgers!!!
5:39 - "Players also greed to reechacreagiseed to players with at least 6 years of experience." I literally have no idea what in the world you just said here. What does "reechacreagiseed" mean?
despite a " winning season" the Cards had a pathetic average attendance that year of only 19,000 per game in a 60,000 seat stadium. practically no one was there to watch them get hosed. most overrated fan base in baseball.
Sucks for Cincinnati. But it is what it is. Everyone knew the rules going into the second half after the strike was resolved. If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Just like today with 100 win teams like the Braves and Dodgers. Their fan bases got all sore about the playoff setup when the 87 win Phillies in '22 or the 84 win Diamondbacks in '23 beat them. But everyone knows the rules going into it. It's just sour grapes. We can certainly 'objectively' evaluate whether the rules need to be changed after the fact. (I've personally never been in favor of playoff expansion.) But whining about how things shake out under certain rules everyone agreed to when they happen to screw your own team in a given season is just silly and obvious sour grapes.
It's much harder to understand what you're saying when you slur your words. If you're going to go to the trouble of making a video like this, it would be a good idea to be sure you enunciate in your narration.
I rememember the all star game in cleveland and we booed pittsburgh pirate players becuz steelers beat browns on that very field day or two before, and that perfect game by a cle pitcher
I went to 1981 World Series Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. I sat on the Blue Level just about even with first base and about 15 rows back from the railing. I'd be more than happy to sell that seat ticket as a collectible (if I still had it!) Oh well. That's life😂BTW. You can watch that game on YT! It was a great game!
“Blue Monday” was also a very popular hit-single at the time
I was 10 years old in ‘81 and am still a little annoyed at the Reds getting screwed out of the playoffs.
Amen I was the same age growing up in Dayton going to games with my uncle and never missing a broadcast on the radio with my Grandpa
Orioles too, what a vapid format!
The crazy thing about cincinnati was they had the best record in mlb in 1981 and they had the worst record in the nl in 1982 with 101 losses minnesota had the worst record in mlb with 102 losses
Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who had the best winning percentage in the NL East in '81, wound up winning the division the following season in '82 before going on to win the World Series over the Brewers. So the Cardinals redeemed themselves in '82, but the Reds plummeted.
Imagine having the best record in baseball and still miss the playoffs 🤣
At least the cardinals had nothing to complain about after winning it all a year later
and then to add insult to injury, watching your #1 rival win the WS.
The Reds got cheated
Ozzie Smith was not on the Cardinals in 1981
Even crazier is the gross uneven number of games between teams. Split season was bad enough, but some teams had a handful of extra games to help their cause
The Cardinals played 5 less games overall than the Phillies and the Expos played 1 more game than the Cardinals in the 2nd half.
If my math is correct, combining the 2 halves the division winners should have been the Cardinals, Reds, Orioles, and A's based off of winning % and not total wins/losses but this would have been unfair as they didn't play an equal number of games. The NFL strike the following year did total wins/losses but they all played an equal number of games.
if my math is correct, all those teams you mentioned had an average regular season attendance of about 20,000 per game in 1981
were as the eventual WS champion Los Angeles Dodgers absolutely crushed attendance that year, averaging over 40,000 per game.
The Brewers being in the AL back then is so cursed
Didn’t they play in the WS the next year?
it wasn't mentioned in this vid, but the Los Angeles Dodgers smashed MLB attendance in 1981, despite the strike shortened season being the only fan base to reach the 2 million mark.
with that kind of fan loyalty, it made their WS title that much sweeter.
87 Brewers won their first 13 games. Not 11.
I never realized how many teams got screwed out of playoff bids because of the split season.
Cardinal fans are still bitter of 1981. I still am.
you should be bitter about your pathetic average attendance at old Busch stadium in 1981. only 19,000 per game in a 60,000 seat stadium. . overrated fan base, always has been
I havent played "Strat o matic" baseball since the 1970s.
It didn't have to be split. If they wanted an extra round of playoffs all they needed to do was take the top two teams in each division over the course of the entire season.
But even that would have been unfair as there was an unbalanced number of games played. For example, the Phillies played 107 games but the Cardinals played 102.
@@Rockhound6165 I still think it's better than the split season idea. The teams already in had no incentive to play in the second half, and more importantly, the two best teams in the NL were left out. There was a strike at the beginning of the 1972 season where teams had an uneven amount of games played and they still kept the traditional setup. Sucks but that is the risk with strikes.
7:52 "Which would've *gave* them..."
Seriously? Good heavens. Would've GIVEN them... I can't take any more. I'm done.
7:08 Who on earth is "Stan Mujal?"
Funny how the Dodgers won both 1981 and 2020, maybe I should be rooting for labor stoppages 😂
In between they won in 1988 they did fine without a strike and even underdogs in the World 🌎 Series
Ucks
Fun fact: both seasons had *s
Since the Bengals came into existence, they've gone to the Super Bowl after each time the Dodgers have won the World Series. 1981...1988... and then 2020, where the Bengals took 1 extra year due to COVID. Go Dodgers!!!
@@dantheman5745 that was debunked after 2020
5:39 - "Players also greed to reechacreagiseed to players with at least 6 years of experience."
I literally have no idea what in the world you just said here. What does "reechacreagiseed" mean?
They shoulda did like nfl did that yr and had a tournament with maybe twelve teams playing off
Cards got hosed, but they'd have their revenge
despite a " winning season" the Cards had a pathetic average attendance that year of only 19,000 per game in a 60,000 seat stadium. practically no one was there to watch them get hosed. most overrated fan base in baseball.
They shoulda had a ten cent beer nite to top it off
Hmmm I missed the point if that last clip, announcer making a statement. Vaguely recall it had something to do with racism.
Sucks for Cincinnati. But it is what it is. Everyone knew the rules going into the second half after the strike was resolved. If 'ifs' and 'buts' were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Just like today with 100 win teams like the Braves and Dodgers. Their fan bases got all sore about the playoff setup when the 87 win Phillies in '22 or the 84 win Diamondbacks in '23 beat them. But everyone knows the rules going into it. It's just sour grapes.
We can certainly 'objectively' evaluate whether the rules need to be changed after the fact. (I've personally never been in favor of playoff expansion.) But whining about how things shake out under certain rules everyone agreed to when they happen to screw your own team in a given season is just silly and obvious sour grapes.
It's much harder to understand what you're saying when you slur your words. If you're going to go to the trouble of making a video like this, it would be a good idea to be sure you enunciate in your narration.
Strike insurance... are you kidding me lol
Of course it was the weirdest season ever, there was a strike
Speaking of yankees you know they aint been in a ws since 2009
Not the 2020 season?
That would be the weirdest 3 months
Not a season
Times have changed. 10 year 23 million. Now players are money hungry.
The Reds and Cardinals missed the playoffs because they were not division winners in the split season
The best part of the 81’ season was that the Yankees lost the World Series
Neither teams deserve to be in the ws
I rememember the all star game in cleveland and we booed pittsburgh pirate players becuz steelers beat browns on that very field day or two before, and that perfect game by a cle pitcher
Jim Konstanty, a relief pitcher, won the MVP in 1950.
At least they were happy back then
Zack Hample ended the strike,
I went to 1981 World Series Game 4 at Dodger Stadium. I sat on the Blue Level just about even with first base and about 15 rows back from the railing. I'd be more than happy to sell that seat ticket as a collectible (if I still had it!) Oh well. That's life😂BTW. You can watch that game on YT! It was a great game!
Fxxxxxx dudgers vs yunkos world series. Hate those 2 teams.