1981 World Series Championship

Lore & Background

The 1981 championship was part of a period of sustained success from 1973–1988, during which the team won two championships (1981, 1988), five pennants, and seven National League West division titles. The 1981 title was the Dodgers' fourth championship since moving to Los Angeles, following wins in 1959, 1963, and 1965.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Yankee Stadium was electric as Game 6 reached its climax. The scoreboard flickered, showing the series tied at three games apiece, but the narrative hung on a single inning in the Bronx. Under the harsh stadium lights, Pedro Guerrero stepped into the box, his bat heavy with the weight of a city's hope. He didn't just swing; he connected with a crack that echoed through the rafters as the Dodgers took the lead. In the dugout, Tommy Lasorda wiped sweat from his brow, watching his ragtag team of strike-weary veterans and rookie phenoms finally reclaim their throne without needing a seventh game.

Reader's Guide

The 1981 Dodgers were managed by Tommy Lasorda, who managed the team from 1976–1996. The team won the National League West division title and the National League pennant before defeating the Yankees in the World Series.

Did You Know?

• The Dodgers' 1981 championship was one of two World Series titles the team won during the 1980s, the other being in 1988.
• The 1981 World Series was the Dodgers' fifth championship in franchise history.
• The Dodgers' 1988 championship was highlighted by Kirk Gibson's walk-off home run in Game 1, named the greatest moment in team history by the Los Angeles Times.