Events in Sports History in October 1981

Oct 2 17-year-old gelding Behavin Jerry, the oldest winning racehorse in modern times, sets record for most career starts by a thoroughbred, 307

Weaver vs. Tillis

Oct 3 After a year's inactivity, American boxer Mike Weaver outpoints countryman James 'Quick' Tillis in 15 rounds in Chicago to retain his WBA heavyweight title

Oct 3 Milwaukee Brewers and Montreal Expos clinch their first-ever postseason appearances; Brewers beat Detroit, 2 - 1, for AL East title; Expos defeat NY Mets, 5 - 4, for NL East second playoff spot
Oct 7 In 1st Eastern Division championship Yanks beat Brewers 5-3

Indy 500

Oct 9 United States Auto Club appeals panel restores disputed Indianapolis 500 victory to disqualified first-across-the-line Bobby Unser

Oct 11 Yanks beat Brewers 7-3 & win only Eastern Championship Series
Oct 14 Yank Graig Nettles is 1st to get 2 hits in same inning of an ALSC game
Oct 15 MLB American League Championship: New York Yankees beat Oakland Athletics, 3 games to 0

Oct 17 Brazilian Nelson Piquet driving for Brabham finishes 5th in the season ending Caesars Palace Grand Prix in Las Vegas to clinch his first Formula 1 World Drivers Championship by 1 point from Carlos Reutemann

Oct 18 NY Giant Joe Danelo ties NFL record of 6 field goals in a game
Oct 19 LA Dodgers beat Montreal Expos for NL pennant
Oct 19 MLB National League Championship: Los Angeles Dodgers beat Montreal Expos, 3 games to 2
Oct 20 1st NBA game at Meadowlands Arena, NJ Nets lose to NY Knicks 103-99

Sports History

Oct 25 George Steinbrenner scuffles with 2 fans in a hotel elevator

New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner

New York City Marathon

Oct 25 New York City Marathon: defending champion Alberto Salazar retains crown in 2:08:13; Allison Roe of New Zealand takes out women's race in 2:25:29

Track Coach and Long Distance Runner Alberto Salazar

Oct 28 Baseball World Series: LA Dodgers beat NY Yankees, 9-2 at Yankee Stadium to clinch series, 4 games to 2; first co-MVP's: LA's Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, Steve Yeager