1981 American League Division Series

The Division Series were approved by team owners on August 6 in response to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike,[1] which caused the cancellation of roughly one-third of the regular season between June 12 and August 9; by the time play was resumed, it was decided that the best approach was to have the first-half leaders automatically qualify for postseason play, and allow all the teams to begin the second half with a clean slate.

The Royals made a managerial change during the season as well; the team started at 30–40 (.429) under Jim Frey,[3] then went 20–13 (.606) under Dick Howser.

Mike Norris faced Dennis Leonard and the defending AL Champions in Game 1.

After giving up an RBI double to Tony Armas in the first, Jones settled into a groove and kept the A's from scoring for the next six innings.

But in the bottom of fourth the A's scored two runs on a Dave McKay homer and an RBI double by Dwayne Murphy.

1981 ALDS (3–0): Oakland Athletics over Kansas City Royals Milwaukee (then Braves) and New York faced off in their first October meeting since the 1958 World Series.

The Brewers needed to win this game to stay in contention and it certainly looked good with Caldwell having allowed only run in the fourth on Lou Piniella's homer.

But the decision to allow Caldwell pitch the ninth proved costly as he surrendered a two-run homer to Reggie Jackson.

Dave Winfield collected three hits while Righetti pitched a dominant four-hit shutout for six innings and Goose Gossage got his second consecutive save.

Randy Lerch faced Tommy John, who was looking to end the series with a sweep.

The Yankees would waste little time in responding as back-to-back RBI singles tied the game in the bottom of the seventh.

But Paul Molitor's leadoff homer in the eighth seemed to turn the tide as John then allowed a single to Robin Yount.

In the top of the fourth, the Brewers jumped in front 2–0 on a sac fly by Cecil Cooper and an RBI double by Ben Oglivie.

Guidry allowed single runs in the 2nd and 3rd on Gorman Thomas' homer and Cecil Cooper's sacrifice fly, respectively.

Gossage shut the Brewers out in the ninth for his third save of the series and to keep a historical collapse from happening.