DODGERS NOTEBOOK: '81 TEAM WILL BE HONORED.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND  Staff Writer

The beginning of Fernandomania and the end of the famous infield combination of Garvey, Lopes, Russell and Cey intersected in 1981, when the Dodgers won the franchise's fifth World Series in a season interrupted by a players' strike.

On the 25th anniversary of that odd but historic season, the Dodgers will honor the 1981 team today in a ceremony that is expected to reunite 19 of the players, along with five members of the coaching staff.

Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager, who shared Most Valuable Player honors when the Dodgers beat the Yankees in the World Series, will throw out the first pitch after a 6:30 p.m. on-field ceremony.

Valenzuela, who won the National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young awards in 1981, will be a focal point, as will three of the members of the historic infield combination who are expected to attend today.

Third baseman Cey, first baseman Steve Garvey, second baseman Davey Lopes and shortstop Bill Russell played together for 8 1/2 years, and 1981 was their last season together. The Dodgers won the first-half NL West title in the strike-interrupted season and beat Houston and Montreal to reach the World Series.

Cey, Garvey and Russell will attend but Lopes, a coach for the Washington Nationals, is unable to be there.

Ready to go: Chad Billingsley, out since Aug. 27 with a strained oblique muscle, returns to the mound tonight, but manager Grady Little will keep a close eye on the rookie.

``We feel confident that he will be good to go,'' Little said. ``How far, we don't know, but he'll go as long as he can, the best he can. We'll take whatever he can give us, whether it's four or five innings.''

Billingsley faced the Padres on Aug. 21 and allowed two runs (one earned) in five innings. Little said a long reliever, likely Mark Hendrickson or Aaron Sele, would be available if Billingsley stumbles.

One more day: Rookie outfielder Andre Ethier, who has been struggling of late, was given a third consecutive day off by Little but will be back tonight.

``Hopefully he will come back (tonight) ready to finish strong,'' Little said. ``This is a good thing for him, and we'll start to see the results.''

Ethier went 1 for 19 on the road trip but still leads Dodger regulars with a .320 average.