1981 in baseball

NOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half. The division winner of the first half (denoted East 1, West 1) played the division winner of the second half (denoted East 2, West 2).

American League Championship Series MVP: Graig Nettles
National League Championship Series MVP: Burt Hooton
All-Star Game, August 9 at Cleveland Stadium: National League, 5-4; Gary Carter, MVP

Other champions

Minor League Baseball
- AAA
  - American Association: Denver Bears (Montreal Expos)
  - International League: Columbus Clippers (New York Yankees)
  - Pacific Coast League: Albuquerque Dukes (Los Angeles Dodgers)
  - Mexican League: Diablos Rojos del México
- AA
  - Eastern League: Bristol Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)
  - Southern League: Orlando Twins (Minnesota Twins)
  - Texas League: Jackson Mets (New York Mets)
- A
  - California League: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Dodgers)
  - Carolina League: Hagerstown Suns (Baltimore Orioles)
  - Florida State League: Daytona Beach Astros (Houston Astros)
  - Midwest League: Wausau Timbers (Seattle Mariners)
  - South Atlantic League: Greensboro Hornets (New York Yankees)
  - New York–Penn League: Oneonta Yankees (New York Yankees)
  - Northwest League: Medford Athletics (Oakland Athletics)
- Rookie
  - Appalachian League: Paintsville Yankees (New York Yankees)
  - Gulf Coast League: Royals Gold (Kansas City Royals)
  - Pioneer League: Butte Copper Kings (Milwaukee Brewers)

International

Cuban National Series: Vegueros de Pinar del Río
Japan Series: Yomiuri Giants over Nippon-Ham Fighters (4-2)

Winter Leagues

College

College World Series: Arizona State

Youth

Little League World Series: Tai-Ping, Taichung, Taiwan

Awards and honors

Most Valuable Player
- Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers, P (AL)
- Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies, 3B (NL)
Cy Young Award
- Rollie Fingers, Milwaukee Brewers (AL)
- Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers (NL)
Rookie of the Year
- Dave Righetti, New York Yankees, P (AL)
- Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers, P (NL)

MLB statistical leaders

Type	Name	Stat	Name	Stat
	American League		National League
AVG	Carney Lansford BOS	.336	Bill Madlock PIT	.341
HR	Tony Armas OAK Dwight Evans BOS Bobby Grich CAL Eddie Murray BAL	22	Mike Schmidt PHI	31
RBI	Eddie Murray BAL	78	Mike Schmidt PHI	91
Wins	Dennis Martínez BAL Steve McCatty OAK Jack Morris DET Pete Vuckovich MIL	14	Tom Seaver CIN	14
ERA	Sammy Stewart BAL	2.32	Nolan Ryan HOU	1.69

Major league baseball final standings

First half of season

American League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	New York Yankees	34	22	.607	--
2nd	Baltimore Orioles	31	23	.574	2.0
3rd	Milwaukee Brewers	31	25	.568	3.0
4th	Detroit Tigers	31	26	.544	3.5
5th	Boston Red Sox	30	26	.536	4.0
6th	Cleveland Indians	26	24	.520	5.0
7th	Toronto Blue Jays	16	42	.276	19.0
West Division
1st	Oakland Athletics	37	23	.617	--
2nd	Texas Rangers	33	22	.600	1.5
3rd	Chicago White Sox	31	22	.585	2.5
4th	California Angels	31	29	.517	6.0
5th	Kansas City Royals	20	30	.400	12.0
6th	Seattle Mariners	21	36	.368	14.5
7th	Minnesota Twins	17	39	.304	18.0

National League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Philadelphia Phillies	34	21	.618	--
2nd	St. Louis Cardinals	30	20	.600	2.5
3rd	Montreal Expos	30	25	.545	4.0
4th	Pittsburgh Pirates	25	23	.521	5.5
5th	New York Mets	17	34	.333	15.0
6th	Chicago Cubs	15	37	.288	17.5
West Division
1st	Los Angeles Dodgers	36	21	.632	--
2nd	Cincinnati Reds	35	21	.625	0.5
3rd	Houston Astros	28	29	.491	8.0
4th	Atlanta Braves	25	29	.463	9.5
5th	San Francisco Giants	27	32	.458	10.0
6th	San Diego Padres	23	33	.411	12.5

Second half of season

American League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Milwaukee Brewers	31	22	.585	--
2nd	Boston Red Sox	29	23	.558	1.5
2nd	Detroit Tigers	29	23	.558	1.5
4th	Baltimore Orioles	28	23	.549	2.0
5th	Cleveland Indians	26	27	.491	5.0
6th	New York Yankees	25	26	.490	5.0
7th	Toronto Blue Jays	21	27	.438	7.5
West Division
1st	Kansas City Royals	30	23	.566	--
2nd	Oakland Athletics	27	22	.551	2.0
3rd	Texas Rangers	24	26	.480	5.5
4th	Minnesota Twins	24	29	.453	6.0
5th	Seattle Mariners	23	29	.442	6.5
6th	Chicago White Sox	23	30	.434	7.0
7th	California Angels	20	30	.400	8.5

National League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Montreal Expos	30	23	.566	--
2nd	St. Louis Cardinals	29	23	.558	0.5
3rd	Philadelphia Phillies	25	27	.481	4.5
4th	New York Mets	24	28	.462	5.5
5th	Chicago Cubs	23	28	.451	6.0
6th	Pittsburgh Pirates	21	33	.389	9.5
West Division
1st	Houston Astros	33	20	.623	--
2nd	Cincinnati Reds	31	21	.596	1.5
3rd	San Francisco Giants	29	23	.558	3.5
4th	Los Angeles Dodgers	27	26	.509	6.0
5th	Atlanta Braves	25	27	.481	7.5
6th	San Diego Padres	18	36	.333	15.5

Overall record

American League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	Milwaukee Brewers	62	47	.569	--
2nd	Baltimore Orioles	59	46	.562	1.0
3rd	New York Yankees	59	48	.551	2.0
4th	Detroit Tigers	60	49	.550	2.0
5th	Boston Red Sox	59	49	.546	2.5
6th	Cleveland Indians	52	51	.505	7.0
7th	Toronto Blue Jays	37	69	.349	23.5
West Division
1st	Oakland Athletics	64	45	.587	--
2nd	Texas Rangers	57	48	.543	5.0
3rd	Chicago White Sox	54	52	.509	8.5
4th	Kansas City Royals	50	53	.485	11.0
5th	California Angels	51	59	.464	13.5
6th	Seattle Mariners	44	65	.404	20.0
7th	Minnesota Twins	41	68	.376	23.0

National League
Rank	Club	Wins	Losses	Win %	GB
East Division
1st	St. Louis Cardinals	59	43	.578	--
2nd	Montreal Expos	60	48	.556	2.0
3rd	Philadelphia Phillies	59	48	.551	2.5
4th	Pittsburgh Pirates	46	56	.451	13.0
5th	New York Mets	41	62	.398	18.5
6th	Chicago Cubs	38	65	.369	21.5
West Division
1st	Cincinnati Reds	66	42	.611	--
2nd	Los Angeles Dodgers	63	47	.573	4.0
3rd	Houston Astros	61	49	.555	6.0
4th	San Francisco Giants	56	55	.505	11.5
5th	Atlanta Braves	50	56	.472	15.0
6th	San Diego Padres	41	69	.373	26.0

Events

January–March

January 15 – In his first year of eligibility, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson is the only person elected this year to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, gathering 337 votes (84.04%). Players falling short of the 301 votes needed for election include Don Drysdale (243), Gil Hodges (241), Harmon Killebrew (239), Hoyt Wilhelm (238) and Juan Marichal (233).
January 23 – Fred Lynn traded by the Boston Red Sox with Steve Renko to the California Angels for Frank Tanana, Jim Dorsey, and Joe Rudi.
February 12 – Reputedly because the Boston Red Sox mailed out his contract two days late, catcher Carlton Fisk is declared a free agent. He will later sign with the Chicago White Sox.
February 28 – The New York Mets reacquire Dave Kingman from the Chicago Cubs for Steve Henderson and cash. Henderson had originally been acquired by the Mets from the Cincinnati Reds as part of the infamous "Midnight Massacre" on June 15, 1977, the same day the Mets traded Kingman to the San Diego Padres for Paul Siebert and Bobby Valentine.
March 11 – Johnny Mize and Rube Foster are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Special Veterans Committee. Mize hit .312 with 359 home runs in 15 seasons for the Cardinals and New York Giants, while Foster was a star pitcher, manager and pioneer of the Negro Leagues during the first quarter of the 20th century.

April–May

April 9 – After pitcher Jerry Reuss pulls a muscle, rookie Fernando Valenzuela is given his first starting assignment. His first Major League start results in a five-hit shutout. It is the beginning of what will be called "Fernandomania" in Southern California.
April 10 – Carlton Fisk debuts with the Chicago White Sox, coincidentally in Fenway Park against his former team, the Boston Red Sox. Fisk hits a three-run home run in the eighth to secure a 5-3 win for Chicago.
April 18 – Tom Seaver of the Cincinnati Reds records his 3000th career strikeout. Keith Hernandez is the victim.
April 27 – Just 18 days after his first start, Fernando Valenzuela has grabbed the attention of the baseball world. In just his fifth start, he pitches his fourth complete game shutout running his record to 5-0 with a microscopic 0.20 ERA. He is also batting over .400 to help his own cause.
April 29 – Steve Carlton of the Philadelphia Phillies records his 3000th career strikeout. April 1981 is the only month in history to have two pitchers reach this milestone. He is the first left-handed pitcher in Major League history to reach that mark.
May 10 – In the second game of a doubleheader, Charlie Lea of the Montreal Expos no-hits the San Francisco Giants 4-0. The no-hitter is the first in the history of Olympic Stadium, which will witness only one other no-hitter, by Philadelphia's Tommy Greene in 1991.
May 15 – Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians pitches a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. He struck out 11, all swinging, after the third inning and never had a 3-ball count on any batter on a misty, rain-soaked night where only 7,290 fans took in the game. Current Indians broadcaster Rick Manning caught the 27th out of the night on a fly ball to center field. Barker's catcher, Ron Hassey will later catch Dennis Martínez's 1991 perfect game making him the first catcher in history to catch two perfect games.
May 21 – Ron Darling of Yale University pitches a no-hitter through eleven innings against St. John's University. In the 12th inning, St. John's broke up the no-hitter and then scored on a double-steal to beat Yale 1-0. Darling's performance remains the longest no-hitter in NCAA history and the game is considered by some to be the best in college baseball history. Frank Viola was the opposing pitcher for St. John's.
May 25 – Carl Yastrzemski plays in his 3,000th major league game, scoring the winning run in Boston's 8–7 triumph over Cleveland. Yaz joins Ty Cobb, Stan Musial and Hank Aaron as the fourth major leaguer to appear in 3,000 games.
May 27 – While visiting the Seattle Kingdome, Kansas City Royals centerfielder Amos Otis hits a slow roller down the third base line in the sixth inning. Seattle Mariners third baseman Lenny Randle gets on his hands and knees and tries unsuccessfully to blow the ball foul.

June–July

June 5 – Nolan Ryan issues the 1,777th walk in his career, breaking the record previously held by Early Wynn.
June 8 – With their twelfth pick in the June amateur draft, the New York Mets select Roger Clemens. He declines to sign, deciding instead to attend the University of Texas at Austin. He is drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round (19th overall) of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.
June 10 – Pete Rose hits a Nolan Ryan pitch in his first at-bat for the 3,630th safe hit of his career; tying Stan Musial's National League record for career hits. He would strike out in his next three at-bats in the game, however, in his bid to break the record.
June 12 – After meeting with major league owners for most of the previous day, players' union chief Marvin Miller announces, "We have accomplished nothing. The strike is on", thus beginning the longest labor action to date in baseball history. By the time the season resumes on August 10, 706 games (38 percent of the season schedule) will have been canceled.
June 16 – In the midst of the players' strike, William Wrigley III announces the sale of the Chicago Cubs to the Tribune Company for $20 million. This ends the decades-long association between the Wrigley family and the Cubs.
June 23 – The Pawtucket Red Sox beat the Rochester Red Wings, 3-2, in the 33rd inning of the longest game in professional baseball history. This game had started 67 days earlier was halted in the early morning of April 19, with the score tied 2-2 after 32 innings and more than eight hours of game time. The game ended 18 minutes after it resumed, with Dave Koza hitting an RBI-single that brought Marty Barrett with the winning run. Future Hall of Famers Wade Boggs and Cal Ripken, Jr. participated for Rochester and Pawtucket, respectively.

August–September

August 6 – As a result of the nearly two-month interruption in play because of the strike, major league owners elect to split the 1981 season into two halves, with the first-place teams from each half in each division (or a wild card team if the same club wins both halves) meeting in a best-of-five divisional playoff series. The last time the major leagues played a split season was 1892. The Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers suddenly find themselves guaranteed playoff spots as first-half champions (a problem noted at this time is that those teams will not have much left to play for in the rest of that year's regular season).
August 9 – At Cleveland Stadium, the National League wins its tenth consecutive All-Star Game over the American League, 5-4. Gary Carter hits two home runs and is selected the MVP. The 1981 Midsummer Classic becomes the second All-Star Game ever played during the month of August, the first having taken place on August 3, 1959.
August 10 – Pete Rose singles in the 8th inning off Mark Littell of the St. Louis Cardinals to break Stan Musial's National League record for career hits.
August 24 – Kent Hrbek debuts as a Minnesota Twin. His twelfth-inning home run beats the Yankees 3-2 in New York. Hrbek will go on to have a 14-year career with his hometown team.
September 4 – In the conclusion of the longest game in Fenway Park history, the Seattle Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 8–7 in 20 innings. The game began on September 3, but was suspended after 19 innings with the score tied 7-7.
September 6 – Despite having won the first-half American League East title, New York Yankees manager Gene Michael is replaced by Bob Lemon, who managed the club in 1978–79. The Yankees are under .500 in the second half of the season.
September 6 – The Los Angeles Dodgers' Fernando Valenzuela beats the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 to tie the National League record of seven shutouts by a rookie pitcher.
September 26 – Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros breaks the record of four no hitters by pitcher Sandy Koufax by pitching his fifth career no hitter in the Astrodome against, coincidentally, Koufax's former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
September 30 – The Kansas City Royals defeat the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, in the last Major League game to be played at Metropolitan Stadium, as the Twins prepare to move into the new Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Clint Hurdle hits the last outdoor Major League home run in Minnesota until Target Field opens twenty-eight seasons later.

October–December

October 3 – Bob Horner hits two home runs and scores the winning run to give the Atlanta Braves a 4–3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, and give the Houston Astros the second-half title in the NL West division. Cincinnati, which lost the first-half title to the Dodgers by one-half game, will finish with the best overall record (66-42) in the major leagues, but will miss the playoffs due to not winning either half's division title.
October 3 – The Milwaukee Brewers (playing since 1970) and Montreal Expos (since 1969) clinch their first postseason appearances. Milwaukee beats Detroit 2–1 to wrap up the second-half title in the AL East division, while Montréal edges the Mets 5–4 to win the NL East division's second playoff spot. (St. Louis finishes with the best overall record in the NL East but misses the playoffs for the same reason as the Cincinnati Reds.)
October 5 – The Kansas City Royals shut out Cleveland 9–0 in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader to clinch the second-half title in the AL West division. The second game is canceled as irrelevant. This was a make-up game after the scheduled season ended the day before.
October 19 – Rick Monday of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ninth inning home run to break a 1-1 tie, and secure a Game five victory in the National League Championship Series. The losing Montréal Expos had been leading the series 2 games-to-one in what would be their only post season appearance.
October 28 – Pedro Guerrero drives in five runs, and pitcher Burt Hooton and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Yankees, 9–2, to win the 1981 World Series in six games. In a remarkable postseason, the Dodgers rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the Astros in the division series, they rallied from a 2 games to 1 deficit against the Expos in the National League Championship series, and they rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the Yankees in the World Series. Guerrero, Ron Cey and Steve Yeager are named co-MVPs.
November 11 – Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers wins the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the first rookie to win the award.
November 20 – In a blockbuster three team trade, the Cleveland Indians send catcher Bo Díaz to the Philadelphia Phillies; the Phillies sent Lonnie Smith to the St. Louis Cardinals; the Cardinals sent pitchers Silvio Martinez and Lary Sorensen to the Indians, and the Phillies sent a player to be named later to the Indians. The Phillies sent Scott Munninghoff to the Indians on December 9 to complete the trade.
November 25 – Rollie Fingers of the Milwaukee Brewers becomes the first relief pitcher ever to win the American League MVP Award, edging Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics, 319 to 308. Fingers saved 28 games while posting a significant 1.04 ERA.
December 2 – Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela became the third consecutive Dodgers player to be named National League Rookie of the Year. The Mexican left-hander posted a 13-7 record with a 2.48 ERA and led the NL in strikeouts (180), games started (25), complete games (11), shutouts (eight) and innings pitched (192 ¹⁄₃). His 13 wins tied him with Steve Carlton in second place behind Tom Seaver, who finished with 14. Valenzuela also made his first All-Star appearance and received both the Cy Young Award and TSN Rookie of the Year.

Movies

Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige (TV)

Births

January

January 2 – Ryan Garko
January 4 – Jailen Peguero
January 5 – Andy Cavazos
January 8 – Daniel Davidson
January 8 – Jeff Francis
January 8 – Derek Thompson
January 13 – José Capellán
January 13 – Darrell Rasner
January 16 – Mitch Stetter
January 20 – John Baker
January 20 – Brandon Fahey
January 20 – Freddy Guzmán
January 21 – Wilfredo Ledezma
January 25 – Andy Machado
January 26 – Juan Lara
January 26 – Josh Sharpless
January 28 – Doug Waechter

February

February 4 – Ben Hendrickson
February 4 – Tom Mastny
February 7 – Seth McClung
February 12 – Chris Snyder
February 14 – Brad Halsey
February 16 – Sergio Mitre
February 16 – Jerry Owens
February 17 – Andrew Brown
February 18 – Alex Ríos
February 18 – Alex Serrano
February 21 – Adam Greenberg
February 21 – Tsuyoshi Wada
February 24 – Paul McAnulty
February 28 – Brian Bannister
February 28 – Rob Bowen

March

March 5 – Francisley Bueno
March 9 – Clay Rapada
March 12 – Carlos Muñiz
March 13 – Mike Avilés
March 14 – Bobby Jenks
March 16 – Curtis Granderson
March 18 – Darren Clarke
March 19 – José Castillo
March 23 – Anderson García
March 23 – Tony Peña
March 24 – Dirk Hayhurst
March 26 – Josh Wilson
March 27 – Brian Slocum
March 28 – Edwar Ramírez

April

April 2 – Brian Barden
April 3 – Ryan Doumit
April 4 – Casey Daigle
April 5 – Jorge de la Rosa
April 8 – Brian Burres
April 8 – Matt Ford
April 9 – A. J. Ellis
April 9 – Dennis Sarfate
April 9 – Chris Smith
April 12 – Hisashi Iwakuma
April 17 – Ryan Raburn
April 18 – Brian Buscher
April 21 – Ronny Paulino
April 23 – Sean Henn
April 25 – Sean White
April 27 – Joey Gathright
April 28 – Yoslan Herrera
April 28 – Shawn Hill
April 28 – Chad Santos
April 29 – Omir Santos

May

May 1 – Manny Acosta
May 3 – Iggy Suarez
May 5 – Chris Duncan
May 6 – Dustin Nippert
May 8 – John Maine
May 8 – Alfredo Simón
May 9 – Bill Murphy
May 11 – Daniel Ortmeier
May 15 – Justin Morneau
May 20 – Kensuke Tanaka
May 21 – Josh Hamilton
May 26 – Ben Zobrist
May 28 – Daniel Cabrera
May 28 – Leo Rosales
May 30 – Reggie Willits
May 31 – Jake Peavy
May 31 – Ray Olmedo

June

June 1 – Carlos Zambrano
June 2 – Jared Burton
June 2 – Chin-hui Tsao
June 3 – Rich Rundles
June 3 – Munenori Kawasaki
June 6 – Eddie Bonine
June 7 – Tyler Johnson
June 8 – Kevin Mahar
June 9 – Drew Anderson
June 11 – Jason Waddell
June 15 – Jeremy Reed
June 16 – Joe Saunders
June 18 – Ben Johnson
June 19 – Val Majewski
June 21 – Jeff Baker
June 21 – Garrett Jones
June 28 – Brandon Phillips

July

July 2 – Ángel Pagán
July 3 – Dan Meyer
July 4 – Francisco Cruceta
July 5 – Jesse Crain
July 7 – Jon Huber
July 9 – Tommy Hottovy
July 11 – Blaine Boyer
July 12 – Phil Dumatrait
July 12 – Sam Narron
July 19 – Jimmy Gobble
July 22 – Ángel Chávez
July 23 – Hong-Chih Kuo
July 25 – Kevin Kouzmanoff

August

August 3 – Travis Bowyer
August 3 – Félix Sánchez
August 5 – Carl Crawford
August 8 – Eddy Rodríguez
August 10 – Fernando Cortez
August 13 – Cory Doyne
August 13 – Randy Messenger
August 14 – Chris Sáenz
August 15 – Óliver Pérez
August 18 – Pat Misch
August 24 – Omar Beltré
August 28 – Yuniesky Maya
August 29 – Drew Meyer
August 30 – Adam Wainwright
August 31 – Dennis Dove
August 31 – Ramón Ramírez

September

September 3 – Jake Woods
September 6 – Mark Teahen
September 10 – Kameron Loe
September 10 – Connor Robertson
September 12 – Franquelis Osoria
September 14 – Cody Clark
September 17 – Casey Janssen
September 19 – Scott Baker
September 20 – Jordan Tata
September 21 – Scott Rice
September 21 – Billy Sadler
September 22 – Alexei Ramírez
September 23 – Justin James
September 25 – Rocco Baldelli
September 25 – Jay Bergmann
September 27 – Mike Esposito
September 30 – Brandon Watson

October

October 2 – Marino Salas
October 3 – Matt Murton
October 4 – Joe Thatcher
October 6 – Joel Hanrahan
October 13 – Taylor Buchholz
October 14 – Boof Bonser
October 16 – Anthony Reyes
October 17 – Brett Campbell
October 17 – Edwin Maysonet
October 18 – David Murphy
October 23 – Ben Francisco
October 24 – Beltrán Pérez
October 24 – Omar Quintanilla
October 28 – Nate McLouth
October 30 – Ian Snell
October 31 – Mike Napoli
October 31 – Jared Wells

November

November 2 – Wilson Betemit
November 4 – Erick Threets
November 7 – Dave Krynzel
November 9 – Chuck James
November 10 – Tony Blanco
November 10 – Merkin Valdez
November 16 – Fernando Cabrera
November 19 – Jeff Gray
November 20 – Sam Fuld
November 21 – Enrique Cruz
November 22 – Óscar Villarreal
November 29 – Guillermo Quiróz
November 30 – Rich Harden

December

December 3 – Chris Snelling
December 4 – Jerome Williams
December 8 – Kory Casto
December 10 – Víctor Díaz
December 12 – Shane Costa
December 14 – Ángel Guzmán
December 14 – Shaun Marcum
December 15 – Andy González
December 15 – Luis Montañez
December 18 – Jeremy Accardo
December 20 – Chris Narveson
December 20 – James Shields
December 25 – Willy Taveras
December 26 – Alvin Colina
December 26 – Dustin Moseley
December 26 – Omar Infante
December 27 – David Aardsma

Deaths