Events in Sports History in November 1981

Sports History

Nov 1 Darrell Waltrip wins his 4th straight NASCAR Cup race, the American 500 at North Carolina Motor Speedway; ties Richard Petty record 1967; 12th win of season; goes on to win Winston Cup crown

Nov 3 Milwaukee Brewers future Baseball Hall of Fame reliever Rollie Fingers (6-3 record, 28 saves and 1.04 ERA) wins American League Cy Young Award, with 22 of 28 possible 1st-place votes

Holmes vs. Snipes

Nov 6 Larry Holmes TKOs Renaldo Snipes in 11 for heavyweight boxing title

Nov 10 Donald Driver and Michael Valenti's musical comedy "Oh, Brother!" opens at ANTA Theater, NYC; runs for 3 performances
Nov 11 Donald Driver and Michael Valenti's musical comedy "Oh, Brother!" closes at ANTA Theater, NYC, after 3 performances

First Rookie Wins Cy Young

Nov 11 LA Dodgers starter Fernando Valenzuela becomes first MLB rookie to win a Cy Young Award; Milwaukee Brewers' Rollie Fingers takes AL Award

Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher Fernando Valenzuela

Billy Martin

Nov 12 Billy Martin named AL Manager of Year (Oakland A's)

Benitez vs. Santos

Nov 14 In the first world championship fight between 2 Puerto Ricans in boxing history, WBC Super Welterweight champion Wilfred Benitez beats Carlos Santos in a 15-round unanimous decision at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas

Nov 16 Dennis Lillee kicks Javed Miandad after he had waved his bat at Dennis
Nov 17 NBA NY Knick Bill Cartwright, ties record of 19 of 19 free throws

Schmidt NL MVP

Nov 18 Phillies 3rd baseman Mike Schmidt wins his 2nd consecutive NL MVP

Karpov Retains Championship

Nov 20 Russian Anatoly Karpov retains world chess championship

Waltrip Wins NASCAR

Nov 22 31st NASCAR Sprint Cup: Darrell Waltrip wins

Nov 22 CFL Grey Cup, Olympic Stadium, Montreal: Edmonton Eskimos 4th consecutive Championship; beat Ottawa Rough Riders, 26-23; final Grey Cup game for Rough Riders, fold in 1996
Nov 25 Rollie Fingers is 1st relief pitcher to win AL MVP
Nov 28 46th Iron Bowl: Alabama beats Auburn 28-17 in Birmingham
Nov 28 Bear Bryant wins his 315th game to out distance Almos Alonzo Stagg, becomes college football's winningest coach