Receiving 337 votes of the 401 BBWAA ballots cast in 1981 (84%) in his first year of eligibility, Cardinal right-hander Bob Gibson is the only player elected to the Hall of Fame this year. Players falling short of the votes needed include well-known Dodgers Don Drysdale and Gil Hodges as well as Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew.
Birthdays
- Grover Loudermilk 1885
- Bob Sadowski 1937
- Luis Alvarado 1949
- Delino DeShields 1969
- Ray King 1974
- Matt Holliday 1980
Deaths
- Jimmy Sheckard 1947
- Bob Larmore 1964
- Lyle Judy 1991
