On October 28, 1981, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 6 at Yankee Stadium to win the 1981 World Series.
The championship was the Dodgers’ fifth overall, first since 1965, and one of two the franchise would win during the 1980s. Los Angeles faced plenty of adversity on their path to the 78th Fall Classic.
The Dodgers fought their way back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five series against the Houston Astros, then came from behind in another best-of-five series to defeat the Montreal Expos after falling behind 2-1.
New York won Games 1 and 2 at home, putting the Dodgers in an all-too-familiar hole against the Yankees. New York beat Los Angeles in 1977 and 1978 to win back-to-back World Series titles.
However, the Dodgers took advantage of playing in front of their home crowd, winning Games 3, 4 and 5, all by one run, to take a 3-2 lead.
Rain postponed Game 6 by one day, but did nothing to slow the Dodgers’ momentum. Willie Randolph hit a solo home to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the third inning, only for the Dodgers to answer back with eight runs over the next three frames.
New York cut their deficit to 8-2 in the sixth inning, but the Dodgers tacked on one run in the eighth, and cruised to a 9-2 win. Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager shared World Series MVP honors.
Guerrero went 7-for-21 (.333) with two home runs, one triple, one double and sevens RBI in the series, and drove in five RBIs in the decided Game 6.
Cey was 7-for-20 (.350) with one home run and six RBIs over the World Series, while Yeager finished 4-for-14 (.286) with two home runs, one double and four RBIs.
Burt Hooton was credited with the win, George Frazier suffered the loss, and Steve Howe recorded the game’s final 11 outs to earn the save.
Final game for longest Dodgers infield
Game 6 of the 1981 World Series was the final time Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Cey and Bill Russell would start together. Lopes was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Lance Hudson on February 8, 1982.
Clayton Kershaw receives Clemente Award
Also on this day in Dodgers history, but in 2012, Clayton Kershaw was named the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award. Kershaw was presented with the award during a press conference before Game 4 of the World Series at Comerica Park.
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