1981 Kansas City Royals Game-by-Game Results
American League (AL)
Team Record: 50-53
Finished 4th in the AL's West Division
Attendance: 1,279,403, Avg. 27,222
Ballpark: Royals Stadium
Won Division
American League West Division Series - Lost to Oakland Athletics 3-0
Manager: Jim Frey (30-40)
Manager: Dick Howser (20-13)
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
1981 Kansas City Royals StatisticsTeam Record: 50-53
Finished 4th in the AL's West Division
Attendance: 1,279,403, Avg. 27,222
Ballpark: Royals Stadium
Won Division
American League West Division Series - Lost to Oakland Athletics 3-0
Manager: Jim Frey (30-40)
Manager: Dick Howser (20-13)
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
1981 Kansas City Royals Roster
The Kansas City Royals of the American League ended the 1981 season with a record of 50 wins and 53 losses, finishing fourth in the AL's West Division.
The Royals plated 397 runs and yielded 405 runs. Willie Aikens paced Kansas City with 17 home runs Amos Otis recorded 57 runs batted in. George Brett led hitters with significant playing time by connecting at a .314 clip. Dennis Leonard topped the squad with 13 wins, while Larry Gura recorded a 2.72 ERA, leading regularly-used pitchers.
Jim Frey and Dick Howser coached the team. The 1981 Kansas City Royals qualified for the playoffs as a division winner.
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Regular Season Runs For: 397
Regular Season Runs Against: 405
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 10, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Baltimore Orioles 5 | L | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | ||
| April 12, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Baltimore Orioles 2 | W | 0-0 | 1-1 | 1-1 | ||
| April 14, 1981 | Detroit Tigers 6 at Kansas City Royals 5 | L | 0-1 | 1-1 | 1-2 | ||
| April 15, 1981 | Detroit Tigers 4 at Kansas City Royals 0 | L | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-3 | ||
| April 17, 1981 | Baltimore Orioles 3 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 0-3 | 1-1 | 1-4 | ||
| April 19, 1981 | Baltimore Orioles 2 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 1-3 | 1-1 | 2-4 | ||
| April 20, 1981 | Cleveland Indians 4 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 1-4 | 1-1 | 2-5 | ||
| April 21, 1981 | Cleveland Indians 4 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 1-5 | 1-1 | 2-6 | ||
| April 22, 1981 | Cleveland Indians 4 at Kansas City Royals 0 | L | 1-6 | 1-1 | 2-7 | ||
| April 24, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Milwaukee Brewers 6 | L | 1-6 | 1-2 | 2-8 | ||
| April 25, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Milwaukee Brewers 2 | W | 1-6 | 2-2 | 3-8 | ||
| April 26, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Milwaukee Brewers 11 | L | 1-6 | 2-3 | 3-9 | ||
| April 30, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 0 at Texas Rangers 7 | L | 1-6 | 2-4 | 3-10 | ||
| May 1, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Texas Rangers 0 | W | 1-6 | 3-4 | 4-10 | ||
| May 2, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 7 at Texas Rangers 2 | W | 1-6 | 4-4 | 5-10 | ||
| May 3, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 8 at Texas Rangers 9 | L | 1-6 | 4-5 | 5-11 | ||
| May 4, 1981 | Boston Red Sox 8 at Kansas City Royals 7 | L | 1-7 | 4-5 | 5-12 | ||
| May 5, 1981 | Boston Red Sox 1 at Kansas City Royals 2 | W | 2-7 | 4-5 | 6-12 | ||
| May 6, 1981 | Boston Red Sox 3 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 2-8 | 4-5 | 6-13 | ||
| May 8, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at Chicago White Sox 9 | L | 2-8 | 4-6 | 6-14 | ||
| May 9, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 0 at Chicago White Sox 3 | L | 2-8 | 4-7 | 6-15 | ||
| May 11, 1981 | Texas Rangers 9 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 2-9 | 4-7 | 6-16 | ||
| May 12, 1981 | Texas Rangers 2 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 3-9 | 4-7 | 7-16 | ||
| May 14, 1981 | Texas Rangers 3 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 3-10 | 4-7 | 7-17 | ||
| May 15, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Boston Red Sox 4 | L | 3-10 | 4-8 | 7-18 | ||
| May 16, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 7 at Boston Red Sox 6 | W | 3-10 | 5-8 | 8-18 | ||
| May 17, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at Boston Red Sox 4 | W | 3-10 | 6-8 | 9-18 | ||
| May 18, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at New York Yankees 2 | L | 3-10 | 6-9 | 9-19 | ||
| May 19, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at New York Yankees 6 | L | 3-10 | 6-10 | 9-20 | ||
| May 20, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at New York Yankees 5 | L | 3-10 | 6-11 | 9-21 | ||
| May 22, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 7 at Kansas City Royals 0 | L | 3-11 | 6-11 | 9-22 | ||
| May 23, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 0 at Kansas City Royals 1 | W | 4-11 | 6-11 | 10-22 | ||
| May 24, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 4 at Kansas City Royals 6 | W | 5-11 | 6-11 | 11-22 | ||
| May 25, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 2 at Seattle Mariners 5 | L | 5-11 | 6-12 | 11-23 | ||
| May 25, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Seattle Mariners 7 | L | 5-11 | 6-13 | 11-24 | ||
| May 26, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at Seattle Mariners 4 | W | 5-11 | 7-13 | 12-24 | ||
| May 27, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 8 at Seattle Mariners 5 | W | 5-11 | 8-13 | 13-24 | ||
| May 29, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Minnesota Twins 1 | W | 5-11 | 9-13 | 14-24 | ||
| May 30, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Minnesota Twins 5 | W | 5-11 | 10-13 | 15-24 | ||
| May 31, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Minnesota Twins 5 | L | 5-11 | 10-14 | 15-25 | ||
| June 1, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 2 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 6-11 | 10-14 | 16-25 | ||
| June 2, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 4 at Kansas City Royals 3 | L | 6-12 | 10-14 | 16-26 | ||
| June 3, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 9 at Kansas City Royals 12 | W | 7-12 | 10-14 | 17-26 | ||
| June 5, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 6 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 7-13 | 10-14 | 17-27 | ||
| June 6, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 4 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 7-14 | 10-14 | 17-28 | ||
| June 7, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 1 at Kansas City Royals 7 | W | 8-14 | 10-14 | 18-28 | ||
| June 8, 1981 | New York Yankees 8 at Kansas City Royals 3 | L | 8-15 | 10-14 | 18-29 | ||
| June 9, 1981 | New York Yankees 8 at Kansas City Royals 5 | L | 8-16 | 10-14 | 18-30 | ||
| June 10, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 7 at Toronto Blue Jays 4 | W | 8-16 | 11-14 | 19-30 | ||
| June 11, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 10 at Toronto Blue Jays 5 | W | 8-16 | 12-14 | 20-30 | ||
| August 10, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 2 at Baltimore Orioles 3 | L | 8-16 | 12-15 | 20-31 | ||
| August 12, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 10 at Baltimore Orioles 0 | W | 8-16 | 13-15 | 21-31 | ||
| August 12, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Baltimore Orioles 4 | L | 8-16 | 13-16 | 21-32 | ||
| August 13, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Baltimore Orioles 2 | L | 8-16 | 13-17 | 21-33 | ||
| August 14, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Cleveland Indians 1 | W | 8-16 | 14-17 | 22-33 | ||
| August 15, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at Cleveland Indians 3 | W | 8-16 | 15-17 | 23-33 | ||
| August 16, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Cleveland Indians 8 | L | 8-16 | 15-18 | 23-34 | ||
| August 16, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Cleveland Indians 2 | W | 8-16 | 16-18 | 24-34 | ||
| August 17, 1981 | Toronto Blue Jays 3 at Kansas City Royals 5 | W | 9-16 | 16-18 | 25-34 | ||
| August 18, 1981 | Toronto Blue Jays 5 at Kansas City Royals 3 | L | 9-17 | 16-18 | 25-35 | ||
| August 19, 1981 | Toronto Blue Jays 9 at Kansas City Royals 4 | L | 9-18 | 16-18 | 25-36 | ||
| August 21, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at New York Yankees 0 | W | 9-18 | 17-18 | 26-36 | ||
| August 22, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 0 at New York Yankees 5 | L | 9-18 | 17-19 | 26-37 | ||
| August 23, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 0 at New York Yankees 8 | L | 9-18 | 17-20 | 26-38 | ||
| August 24, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Detroit Tigers 2 | W | 9-18 | 18-20 | 27-38 | ||
| August 25, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Detroit Tigers 4 | L | 9-18 | 18-21 | 27-39 | ||
| August 26, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Detroit Tigers 1 | W | 9-18 | 19-21 | 28-39 | ||
| August 27, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 11 at Toronto Blue Jays 5 | W | 9-18 | 20-21 | 29-39 | ||
| August 28, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at Toronto Blue Jays 4 | L | 9-18 | 20-22 | 29-40 | ||
| August 29, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 2 at Toronto Blue Jays 0 | W | 9-18 | 21-22 | 30-40 | ||
| August 31, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 5 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 9-19 | 21-22 | 30-41 | ||
| September 1, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 1 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 10-19 | 21-22 | 31-41 | ||
| September 2, 1981 | Milwaukee Brewers 4 at Kansas City Royals 5 | W | 11-19 | 21-22 | 32-41 | ||
| September 3, 1981 | New York Yankees 2 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 12-19 | 21-22 | 33-41 | ||
| September 4, 1981 | New York Yankees 4 at Kansas City Royals 0 | L | 12-20 | 21-22 | 33-42 | ||
| September 5, 1981 | New York Yankees 2 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 12-21 | 21-22 | 33-43 | ||
| September 6, 1981 | New York Yankees 6 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 12-22 | 21-22 | 33-44 | ||
| September 7, 1981 | California Angels 1 at Kansas City Royals 7 | W | 13-22 | 21-22 | 34-44 | ||
| September 8, 1981 | California Angels 3 at Kansas City Royals 5 | W | 14-22 | 21-22 | 35-44 | ||
| September 9, 1981 | California Angels 3 at Kansas City Royals 7 | W | 15-22 | 21-22 | 36-44 | ||
| September 11, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Oakland Athletics 6 | L | 15-22 | 21-23 | 36-45 | ||
| September 12, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Oakland Athletics 0 | W | 15-22 | 22-23 | 37-45 | ||
| September 13, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Oakland Athletics 5 | W | 15-22 | 23-23 | 38-45 | ||
| September 14, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at California Angels 3 | W | 15-22 | 24-23 | 39-45 | ||
| September 15, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at California Angels 2 | W | 15-22 | 25-23 | 40-45 | ||
| September 16, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 3 at California Angels 1 | W | 15-22 | 26-23 | 41-45 | ||
| September 18, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 8 at Seattle Mariners 3 | W | 15-22 | 27-23 | 42-45 | ||
| September 19, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Seattle Mariners 4 | L | 15-22 | 27-24 | 42-46 | ||
| September 20, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 2 at Seattle Mariners 3 | L | 15-22 | 27-25 | 42-47 | ||
| September 21, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 7 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 15-23 | 27-25 | 42-48 | ||
| September 22, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 1 at Kansas City Royals 2 | W | 16-23 | 27-25 | 43-48 | ||
| September 23, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 6 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 16-24 | 27-25 | 43-49 | ||
| September 24, 1981 | Minnesota Twins 2 at Kansas City Royals 9 | W | 17-24 | 27-25 | 44-49 | ||
| September 25, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 8 at Kansas City Royals 3 | L | 17-25 | 27-25 | 44-50 | ||
| September 26, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 4 at Kansas City Royals 2 | L | 17-26 | 27-25 | 44-51 | ||
| September 27, 1981 | Seattle Mariners 3 at Kansas City Royals 15 | W | 18-26 | 27-25 | 45-51 | ||
| September 28, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 6 at Minnesota Twins 1 | W | 18-26 | 28-25 | 46-51 | ||
| September 29, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 4 at Minnesota Twins 2 | W | 18-26 | 29-25 | 47-51 | ||
| September 30, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 5 at Minnesota Twins 2 | W | 18-26 | 30-25 | 48-51 | ||
| October 2, 1981 | Oakland Athletics 0 at Kansas City Royals 3 | W | 19-26 | 30-25 | 49-51 | ||
| October 3, 1981 | Oakland Athletics 8 at Kansas City Royals 4 | L | 19-27 | 30-25 | 49-52 | ||
| October 4, 1981 | Oakland Athletics 4 at Kansas City Royals 3 | L | 19-28 | 30-25 | 49-53 | ||
| October 5, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 9 at Cleveland Indians 0 | W | 19-28 | 31-25 | 50-53 | ||
| October 6, 1981 | Oakland Athletics 4 at Kansas City Royals 0 | L | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-1 | ||
| October 7, 1981 | Oakland Athletics 2 at Kansas City Royals 1 | L | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-2 | ||
| October 9, 1981 | Kansas City Royals 1 at Oakland Athletics 4 | L | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-3 |
