| 1981 Kansas City Royals | ||
|---|---|---|
| League | American League | |
| Division | West | |
| Ballpark | Royals Stadium | |
| City | Kansas City, Missouri | |
| Owners | Ewing Kauffman | |
| General managers | Joe Burke | |
| Managers | Jim Frey and Dick Howser | |
| Television | WDAF-TV 4 (Al Wisk, Denny Trease) | |
| Radio | WIBW–AM 580 KMBZ–AM 980 (Denny Matthews, Fred White) | |
| ||
The 1981 Kansas City Royals season was their 13th in Major League Baseball. The 1981 season was interrupted by a players strike from June 12 to July 31, and resumed on August 10. Major League Baseball officials decided to split the season, and the division winners of both halves would advance to the playoffs. The Royals were 20–30 and in fifth place in the American League West when the strike began, but won the second half with a 30–23 mark. Dick Howser replaced Jim Frey as manager on August 31. Kansas City's overall 50-53 record made the Royals the first team in MLB history to reach the postseason with a losing mark. Kansas City lost to the first half American League West winner Oakland Athletics 3–0 in the ALDS.