1997 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1997 MLB season
League Major League Baseball
Sport Baseball
DurationApril 1 – October 26, 1997
Number of games162
Number of teams28
TV partner(s) Fox/FSN/FX, ESPN, NBC
Draft
Top draft pick Matt Anderson
Picked by Detroit Tigers
Regular Season
Season MVP AL: Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
NL: Larry Walker (COL)
Postseason
AL champions Cleveland Indians
  AL runners-up Baltimore Orioles
NL champions Florida Marlins
  NL runners-up Atlanta Braves
World Series
Champions Florida Marlins
  Runners-up Cleveland Indians
World Series MVP Liván Hernández (FLA)
MLB seasons

The 1997 Major League Baseball season was the inaugural season for Interleague play, as well as the final season in the American League for the Milwaukee Brewers before moving to the NL the following season. The California Angels changed their name to the Anaheim Angels. The Florida Marlins ended the season (their fifth season in the majors) as the World Champions defeating the Cleveland Indians in a seven-game World Series, four games to three.

Contents

Standings

American League

AL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Baltimore Orioles 9864.60546355229
New York Yankees 9666.593247334933
Detroit Tigers 7983.4881942393744
Boston Red Sox 7884.4812039423942
Toronto Blue Jays 7686.4692242393447
AL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cleveland Indians 8675.53444374238
Chicago White Sox 8081.497645363545
Milwaukee Brewers 7883.484847333150
Minnesota Twins 6894.42018½35463348
Kansas City Royals 6794.4161933473447
AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Seattle Mariners 9072.55645364536
Anaheim Angels 8478.519646363842
Texas Rangers 7785.4751339423843
Oakland Athletics 6597.4012535463051

National League

NL East
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Atlanta Braves 10161.62350315130
Florida Marlins 9270.568952294041
New York Mets 8874.5431350313843
Montreal Expos 7884.4812345363348
Philadelphia Phillies 6894.4203338433051
NL Central
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Houston Astros 8478.51946353843
Pittsburgh Pirates 7983.488543383645
Cincinnati Reds 7686.469840413645
St. Louis Cardinals 7389.4511141403249
Chicago Cubs 6894.4201642392655
NL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
San Francisco Giants 9072.55648334239
Los Angeles Dodgers 8874.543247344140
Colorado Rockies 8379.512747343645
San Diego Padres 7686.4691439423744

Postseason

Bracket

Division Series
(ALDS, NLDS)
League Championship Series
(ALCS, NLCS)
World Series
C Cleveland 6713*4
WC NY Yankees 85623
CCleveland05212*8*2111
American League
EBaltimore341740
E Baltimore 9923
W Seattle 3341
ALCleveland461110742
NLFlorida7114381311*
E Atlanta 2134
C Houston 131
EAtlanta372414
National League
WCFlorida515027
W San Francisco 162
WC Florida 2*7*6

*Denotes walk-off

Awards and honors

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Scott Rolen (PHI) Nomar Garciaparra (BOS)
Cy Young Award Pedro Martínez (MTL) Roger Clemens (TOR)
Manager of the Year Dusty Baker (SF) Davey Johnson (BAL)
Most Valuable Player Larry Walker (COL) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Greg Maddux (ATL) Mike Mussina (BAL)
Catcher Charles Johnson (FLA) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman J. T. Snow (SF) Rafael Palmeiro (BAL)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Chuck Knoblauch (MIN)
Third Baseman Ken Caminiti (SD) Matt Williams (CLE)
Shortstop Rey Ordóñez (NYM) Omar Vizquel (CLE)
Outfielders Barry Bonds (SF) Jim Edmonds (ANA)
Raúl Mondesí (LA) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Larry Walker (COL) Bernie Williams (NYY)
Silver Slugger Awards
Pitcher/Designated Hitter John Smoltz (ATL) Edgar Martínez (SEA)
Catcher Mike Piazza (LA) Iván Rodríguez (TEX)
First Baseman Jeff Bagwell (HOU) Tino Martinez (NYY)
Second Baseman Craig Biggio (HOU) Chuck Knoblauch (MIN)
Third Baseman Vinny Castilla (COL) Matt Williams (CLE)
Shortstop Jeff Blauser (ATL) Nomar Garciaparra (BOS)
Outfielders Barry Bonds (SF) Juan González (TEX)
Tony Gwynn (SD) Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)
Larry Walker (COL) David Justice (CLE)

Other awards

Player of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Ken Griffey Jr. Larry Walker
May Frank Thomas Tony Gwynn
June Jeff King Mike Piazza
July Tim Salmon Barry Bonds
August Bernie Williams Mike Piazza
September Juan González Mark McGwire

Pitcher of the Month

MonthAmerican LeagueNational League
April Andy Pettitte Tom Glavine
May Roger Clemens Bobby Jones
June Randy Johnson Kent Mercker
July Chuck Finley
Brad Radke
Darryl Kile
August Roger Clemens Pedro Martínez
September Jeff Fassero Jeff Shaw

MLB statistical leaders

Statistic American League National League
AVG Frank Thomas CWS.347 Tony Gwynn SD.372
HR Ken Griffey Jr. SEA56 Larry Walker COL49
RBI Ken Griffey Jr. SEA147 Andrés Galarraga COL140
Wins Roger Clemens 1 TOR21 Denny Neagle ATL20
ERA Roger Clemens 1 TOR2.05 Pedro Martínez MTL1.90
SO Roger Clemens 1 TOR292 Curt Schilling PHI319
SV Randy Myers BAL45 Jeff Shaw CIN42
SB Brian Hunter DET74 Tony Womack PIT60

1 American League Triple Crown Pitching Winner

Managers

American League

TeamManagerNotes
Anaheim Angels Terry Collins
Baltimore Orioles Davey Johnson
Boston Red Sox Jimy Williams
Chicago White Sox Terry Bevington
Cleveland Indians Mike Hargrove Won American League Pennant
Detroit Tigers Buddy Bell
Kansas City Royals Bob Boone, Tony Muser
Milwaukee Brewers Phil Garner
Minnesota Twins Tom Kelly
New York Yankees Joe Torre
Oakland Athletics Art Howe
Seattle Mariners Lou Piniella
Texas Rangers Johnny Oates
Toronto Blue Jays Cito Gaston, Mel Queen

National League

TeamManagerNotes
Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox
Chicago Cubs Jim Riggleman
Cincinnati Reds Ray Knight, Jack McKeon
Colorado Rockies Don Baylor
Florida Marlins Jim Leyland Won World Series
Houston Astros Larry Dierker
Los Angeles Dodgers Bill Russell
Montreal Expos Felipe Alou
New York Mets Bobby Valentine
Philadelphia Phillies Terry Francona
Pittsburgh Pirates Gene Lamont
St. Louis Cardinals Tony La Russa
San Diego Padres Bruce Bochy
San Francisco Giants Dusty Baker

Home field attendance and payroll

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer gameEst. payroll
Colorado Rockies [1] 830.0%3,888,453−0.1%48,006$43,559,6678.0%
Baltimore Orioles [2] 9811.4%3,711,1321.8%45,816$58,516,4007.2%
Atlanta Braves [3] 1015.2%3,464,48819.4%42,771$52,278,5005.2%
Cleveland Indians [4] 86−13.1%3,404,7502.6%42,034$56,802,46017.8%
Los Angeles Dodgers [5] 88−2.2%3,319,5044.1%40,982$45,380,30428.4%
Seattle Mariners [6] 905.9%3,192,23717.2%39,410$41,540,6610.5%
Texas Rangers [7] 77−14.4%2,945,2281.9%36,361$53,448,83836.9%
St. Louis Cardinals [8] 73−17.0%2,634,014−0.8%32,519$45,456,66712.9%
Toronto Blue Jays [9] 762.7%2,589,2971.2%31,967$47,079,83354.1%
New York Yankees [10] 964.3%2,580,32514.6%32,254$62,241,54514.9%
Florida Marlins [11] 9215.0%2,364,38735.4%29,190$48,692,50056.4%
Boston Red Sox [12] 78−8.2%2,226,136−3.8%27,483$43,558,7502.7%
Chicago Cubs [13] 68−10.5%2,190,308−1.3%27,041$42,155,33327.4%
San Diego Padres [14] 76−16.5%2,089,333−4.5%25,794$37,363,67231.8%
Houston Astros [15] 842.4%2,046,7813.6%25,269$34,777,50022.1%
Chicago White Sox [16] 80−5.9%1,864,78211.2%23,022$57,740,00027.5%
Cincinnati Reds [17] 76−6.2%1,785,788−4.1%22,047$49,768,00017.0%
Anaheim Angels [18] 8420.0%1,767,330−2.9%21,553$31,135,4727.9%
New York Mets [19] 8823.9%1,766,17411.2%21,805$39,800,40062.6%
San Francisco Giants [20] 9032.4%1,690,86919.6%20,875$35,592,378−4.2%
Pittsburgh Pirates [21] 798.2%1,657,02224.4%20,457$10,771,667−53.2%
Kansas City Royals [22] 67−10.7%1,517,6385.7%18,970$34,810,00071.6%
Montreal Expos [23] 78−11.4%1,497,609−7.4%18,489$19,295,50018.6%
Philadelphia Phillies [24] 681.5%1,490,638−17.3%18,403$36,656,5006.8%
Milwaukee Brewers [25] 78−2.5%1,444,0278.8%18,050$23,655,3388.9%
Minnesota Twins [26] 68−12.8%1,411,064−1.8%17,421$34,072,50047.4%
Detroit Tigers [27] 7949.1%1,365,15716.8%16,854$17,272,000−26.3%
Oakland Athletics [28] 65−16.7%1,264,21810.1%15,608$24,018,50013.1%

Television coverage

This was the second season under the five-year rights agreements with ESPN, Fox, and NBC. ESPN continued to air Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball . In addition to Fox Saturday Baseball broadcasts, Fox's coverage extended to Thursday night games on sister network Fox Sports Net, and selected Monday and Tuesday primetime games on sister network FX. Fox also aired the All-Star Game. During the postseason, ESPN, Fox, and NBC split the four Division Series. Fox then televised the American League Championship Series while NBC aired both the National League Championship Series and the World Series.

Events

January–March

April–May

June–July

August–September

October–December

Deaths

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References

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  3. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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  7. "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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  12. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. "San Diego Padres Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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  20. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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