1981 Wichita Aeros Roster
Team Record: 65-70
Finished 4th in the AA's West Division
Manager: Rich Donnelly (65-70)
Affiliation: Texas Rangers
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Ballpark: Lawrence-Dumont Stadium
Attendance: 122,371, Avg. 1,813
The Wichita Aeros of the American Association ended the 1981 season with a record of 65 wins and 70 losses, finishing fourth in the league's West Division.
The Aeros scored 615 runs and conceded 718 runs, most in the circuit. Bob Johnson and Bob Jones paced Wichita with 20 home runs apiece. Bob Jones recorded 72 runs batted in. Jim Norris led hitters with significant playing time with a .267 average. Jim Farr and Mark Mercer topped the squad with 10 wins each, while Jim Farr earned a 5.17 ERA, tops among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Members of the 1981 Wichita Aeros who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Dennis Lewallyn, Bob Johnson, Jim Norris, Mark Mercer, John Butcher, Dave Rajsich, Terry Bogener, Gary Wilson, Jim Farr, Mike Richardt, Dave Schmidt, Bobby Bonds, Odie Davis, Nelson Norman, Billy Sample, Jack Lazorko, Len Whitehouse, Ed Figueroa, Jim Kern, Rick Lisi, Wayne Tolleson, Don Werner, Nick Capra, Adrian Devine, Don Kainer, Dan Gonzales, Bob Jones, Mike Bruhert, Roger Holt and Dan Duran.
Rich Donnelly served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mel Barrow | R | R | April 25, 1954 | 5'11" | 180 | Chicago, IL US |
| Terry Bogener | L | L | September 28, 1955 | 6'0" | 193 | Hannibal, MO US |
| Bobby Bonds | R | R | March 15, 1946 | 6'1" | 190 | Riverside, CA US |
| Mike Bruhert | R | R | June 24, 1951 | 6'6" | 220 | Jamaica, NY US |
| John Butcher | R | R | March 8, 1957 | 6'4" | 185 | Glendale, CA US |
| Nick Capra | R | R | March 8, 1958 | 5'8" | 165 | Denver, CO US |
| David Crutcher | R | R | October 21, 1957 | 6'2" | 185 | |
| Odie Davis | R | R | August 13, 1955 | 6'1" | 178 | San Antonio, TX US |
| Adrian Devine | R | R | December 2, 1951 | 6'4" | 185 | Galveston, TX US |
| Dan Duran | L | L | March 16, 1954 | 5'11" | 190 | Palo Alto, CA US |
| Jim Farr | R | R | May 18, 1956 | 6'1" | 195 | Waverly, NY US |
| Ed Figueroa | R | R | October 14, 1948 | 6'1" | 190 | Ciales, PR |
| Dan Gonzales | L | R | September 30, 1953 | 6'1" | 195 | Whittier, CA US |
| Roger Holt | S | R | April 8, 1956 | 5'11" | 165 | Daytona Beach, FL US |
| Stan Jakubowski | R | R | June 3, 1954 | 5'11" | 170 | |
| Bob Johnson | R | R | July 31, 1959 | 6'3" | 195 | Dallas, TX US |
| Bob Jones | L | L | October 11, 1949 | 6'2" | 195 | Elkton, MD US |
| Don Kainer | R | R | September 3, 1955 | 6'3" | 205 | Houston, TX US |
| Jim Kern | R | R | March 15, 1949 | 6'5" | 185 | Gladwin, MI US |
| Jack Lazorko | R | R | March 30, 1956 | 5'11" | 200 | Hoboken, NJ US |
| Dennis Lewallyn | R | R | August 11, 1953 | 6'4" | 200 | Pensacola, FL US |
| Rick Lisi | R | R | March 17, 1956 | 6'0" | 175 | Halifax, NS CA |
| Mark Mercer | L | L | May 22, 1954 | 6'5" | 220 | Fort Bragg, NC US |
| Steven Nielsen | R | R | June 16, 1955 | 6'3" | 200 | |
| Nelson Norman | S | R | May 23, 1958 | 6'2" | 160 | San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris DO |
| Jim Norris | L | L | December 20, 1948 | 5'10" | 175 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Dave Rajsich | L | L | September 28, 1951 | 6'5" | 175 | Youngstown, OH US |
| Mike Richardt | R | R | May 24, 1958 | 6'0" | 170 | North Hollywood, CA US |
| Billy Sample | R | R | April 2, 1955 | 5'9" | 175 | Roanoke, VA US |
| Dave Schmidt | R | R | April 22, 1957 | 6'1" | 185 | Niles, MI US |
| Wayne Tolleson | S | R | November 22, 1955 | 5'9" | 160 | Spartanburg, SC US |
| Don Werner | R | R | March 8, 1953 | 6'1" | 175 | Appleton, WI US |
| Len Whitehouse | L | L | September 10, 1957 | 5'11" | 175 | Burlington, VT US |
| Gary Wilson | R | R | November 21, 1954 | 6'2" | 185 | Camden, AR US |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
