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Montreal Expo Pitcher Ray Burris in 1981. Source: https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/ october-14-1981-expos-ray-burris-outduels-valenzuela-to-even-up-nlcs/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Burris was a big part of the staff that propelled the 1981 Montreal Expos to within one pitch of playing for a world championship.
It wasn’t a pitch he delivered – but maybe should have.
Perhaps things would be different.
The years before
Ray Burris was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft, and made his major league debut in 1973 against, coincidentally, the Montreal Expos. He stayed with the Cubs through to the 1979 season. Part way through 1979, he was traded to the New York Yankees. After making 15 appearances with the Yankees, the New York Mets claimed Burris off waivers.
Ray Burris was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1972 Major League Baseball draft, and made his major league debut in 1973 against, coincidentally, the Montreal Expos. He stayed with the Cubs through to the 1979 season. Part way through 1979, he was traded to the New York Yankees. After making 15 appearances with the Yankees, the New York Mets claimed Burris off waivers.
He stayed with the Mets through the end of the 1980 season.
In the offseason he decided to head north.
Ray Burris joined the Montreal Expos for the 1981 season.
Dream season
Ray Burris’ dream season started out as a nightmare. The 1981 season was interrupted by a players’ strike, stopped part way through the season. When play resumed, Major League Baseball made an interesting decision.
Ray Burris’ dream season started out as a nightmare. The 1981 season was interrupted by a players’ strike, stopped part way through the season. When play resumed, Major League Baseball made an interesting decision.
The playoffs would be different. There would be two rounds. All the teams who were in first place in their divisions when play was stopped would be declared first half champions. The records would go back to zero, and the second half champions would play the first half champions in a best-of-five divisional playoff series. If the same team won both halves, the second place team in the second half would qualify for the playoffs. The winners of those divisional series would then play in the standard league championship series.
Burris’ record was three wins and five losses with a 3.09 earned run average when the strike stopped play.
When the season resumed, Burris turned his season around. He turned in a record of six wins and two losses with an earned run average of 3.01.
The Expos had a record of 30 wins and 23 losses to win the second half division title, beating out the St. Louis Cardinals but just one game. That meant the Expos were going to the postseason for the first and only time in their history in Montreal.
It was also the only time Ray Burris went to the playoffs in his entire 15-year Major League Baseball career.
Division series
Awaiting the Expos in the National League Division Series was the Philadelphia Phillies, defending World Series champions and winners of the first half division title.
Awaiting the Expos in the National League Division Series was the Philadelphia Phillies, defending World Series champions and winners of the first half division title.
The Expos opened the best-of-five series with two games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, winning them by scores of 3-1 and 6-2. The next three games, if necessary, would move to Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
Burris would make just one start in the series. He got the call in Game 3, providing a chance to clinch the series and punch Montreal’s ticket to the National League Championship Series. He started against Larry Christianson. After the Expos scored a run in the top of the second, Burris gave up two runs in the bottom half of the inning. That 2-1 score remained when Burris left the game in the fifth inning with one out and runners on first and second. Reliever Bill “Spaceman” Lee allowed both runners to score, giving Burris four earned runs. He took the loss as the Expos dropped a 6-2 decision, and Philadelphia closed the gap to 2-1 in the series.
The Phillies forced a fifth and deciding game with a 1-0, 10-inning win in Game 4. In the deciding fifth game, Montreal rallied, as Steve Rogers pitched a complete game, 3-0 shut out, and drove in the first two runs of the game. Montreal went on to win the game and the series 3-2.
Looming on the horizon were the Los Angeles Dodgers, who defeated the Houston Astros in the National League West Division Series.
Championship series
Back in 1981, the league championship series was a best-of-five, not a best-of-seven.
Back in 1981, the league championship series was a best-of-five, not a best-of-seven.
Los Angeles won Game 1 as Burt Hooton beat Bill Gulickson in Dodgers Stadium by a score of 5-1.
Burris got the start in Game 2, knowing a loss would put his team on the brink of elimination. Compounding the problem was the Dodgers were sending Fernando Valenzuela to the mound. He was a tough lefty with a wicked screwball, who would go on to be National League rookie of the year and National League most valuable player.
I remember watching a chunk of this game at my friend and neighbour Mike’s farm. Burris was masterful in that game, He scattered five singles over nine innings, pitching a complete game, 3-0, shut out. Twice the Dodgers got something going, in the sixth and ninth inning, but both times the Expos turned double plays to end the threat.
The Expos won Game 3 by a score of 4-1 in Montreal, but the Dodgers forced a fifth and deciding game with a 7-1 win.
Montreal called on Ray Burris to start Game 5, and again he was up to the challenge, facing Valenzuela in a re-match of Game 2. Burris allowed just one run over eight innings, and left the game when the Expos pinch-hit for him in their half of the eighth inning.
He was still going strong, but Montreal thought they had a better chance to get the Dodgers out in the ninth inning by bringing in their ace Steve Rogers. With two out, he gave up a solo home run to Rick Monday, which stood up as the winning run.
The Dodgers won the game 2-1, the series 3-2, and would go on to defeat the New York Yankees to win the 1981 World Series.
Montreal should have left Burris in the game.
The rest of the decade
Ray Burris would pitch three seasons for the Expos from 1981 to 1983, then moved on to Oakland for the 1984 season, Milwaukee for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, St. Louis for 1986, and back to Milwaukee for the 1987 season when he retired.
Ray Burris would pitch three seasons for the Expos from 1981 to 1983, then moved on to Oakland for the 1984 season, Milwaukee for the 1984 and 1985 seasons, St. Louis for 1986, and back to Milwaukee for the 1987 season when he retired.
He never again pitched for a team that made the playoffs.
Parting thoughts
Ray Burris will also have a special place in my heart. I followed the Montreal Expos closely back then because they were a contender year after year after year, and finally made it to the playoffs in that 1981 season.
Ray Burris will also have a special place in my heart. I followed the Montreal Expos closely back then because they were a contender year after year after year, and finally made it to the playoffs in that 1981 season.
Steve Rogers may have been their ace but, to make a playoff run, a team has to have a lot more pitching than one arm.
Ray Burris provided that pitching, especially in the National League Championship Series. He not only out-duelled one of the best pitchers in baseball, but went the distance in shutting out the eventual World series champions.
He was also called upon to help the Expos win a trip to the World Series, starting the fifth and deciding game of the National League Championship Series. Again he responded, allowing just one run when he left.
I believe he should have stayed in the game because he had the Dodgers’ number that series.
Instead, he was pulled and the result led to heartbreak for the Expos.
Still, Ray Burris was a big part of that magical 1981 season.
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