1997 Texas Rangers season

Last updated

1997  Texas Rangers
League American League
Division West
Ballpark The Ballpark in Arlington
City Arlington, Texas
Record77–85 (.475)
Divisional place3rd
Owners George W. Bush
General managers Doug Melvin
Managers Johnny Oates
Television KXTX-TV
KXAS-TV
Fox Sports Southwest
(Mark Holtz, Tom Grieve, Bill Jones)
Radio KRLD
(Eric Nadel, Brad Sham )
KMRT
(Luis Mayoral, Josue Perez)
←  1996 Seasons 1998  →

The 1997 Texas Rangers season was the 37th of the Texas Rangers franchise overall, their 26th in Arlington as the Rangers, and their 4th season at The Ballpark in Arlington. The Rangers finished third in the American League West with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses. Despite not making the playoffs the club would set an all-time attendance record of over 2.945 million fans, which would be the franchise's best until 2011.

Contents

On a somber note, the club would lose long-time radio broadcaster Mark Holtz to leukemia during the season; however, in his final game in May the Rangers won, allowing him to sign off one final time with his trademark "Hello Win Column!".

Offseason

Regular season

Opening Day starters

Mark McLemore, 2B

Iván Rodríguez, C

Rusty Greer, LF

Dean Palmer, 3B

Lee Stevens, 1B

Mickey Tettleton, DH

Warren Newson, RF

Damon Buford, CF

Benji Gil, SS

Season standings

AL West
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Seattle Mariners 9072.556—45‍–‍3645‍–‍36
Anaheim Angels 8478.519646‍–‍3638‍–‍42
Texas Rangers 7785.4751339‍–‍4238‍–‍43
Oakland Athletics 6597.4012535‍–‍4630‍–‍51

Record vs. opponents

1997 American League record

Sources:
TeamANABALBOSCWSCLEDETKCMILMINNYYOAKSEATEXTORNL 
Anaheim —4–76–56–57–45–66–57–44–74–711–16–68–46–54–12
Baltimore 7–4—5–75–66–56–67–45–610–18–48–37–410–16–68–7
Boston 5–67–5—3–86–55–73–88–38–34–87–47–43–86–66–9
Chicago 5–66–58–3—5–74–711–14–76–62–98–35–63–85–68–7
Cleveland 4–75–65–67–5—6–58–38–48–45–67–43–85–66–59–6
Detroit 6–56–67–57–45–6—6–54–74–72–107–44–77–46–68–7
Kansas City 5–64–78–31–113–85–6—6–67–53–83–85–66–55–66–9
Milwaukee 4–76–53–87–44–87–46–6—5–74–75–65–67–47–48–7
Minnesota 7–41–103–86–64–87–45–77–5—3–87–45–63–83–87–8
New York 7–44–88–49–26–510–28–37–48–3—6–54–77–47–55–10
Oakland 1–113–84–73–84–74–78–36–54–75–6—5–75–76–57–9
Seattle 6–64–74–76–58–37–46–56–56–57–47–5—8–48–37–9
Texas 4–81–108–38–36–54–75–64–78–34–77–54–8—4–710–6
Toronto 5–66–66–66–55–66–66–54–78–35–75–63–87–4—4–11

Notable transactions

Draft picks

Roster

1997 Texas Rangers
Roster
PitchersCatchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Other batters

Manager

Coaches

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
C Iván Rodríguez 150597187.3132077
1B Will Clark 110393128.3261251
2B Mark McLemore 8934991.261125
SS Benji Gil 11031771.224531
3B Dean Palmer 9435587.2451455
LF Rusty Greer 157601193.3212687
CF Damon Buford 12236682.224839
RF Warren Newson 8116936.2131023
DH Juan González 133533158.29642131

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
Lee Stevens 137426128.3002174
Domingo Cedeño 113365103.282436
Fernando Tatis 6022357.256829
Tom Goodwin 5320749.237017
Billy Ripken 7120356.276324
Mike Simms 5911128.252522
Alex Diaz 289020.222212
Jim Leyritz 378524.282014
Mike Devereaux 297215.20807
Henry Mercedes 234710.21304
Mickey Tettleton 17444.09134
Marc Sagmoen 21436.14014
Hanley Frias 14265.19201
Kevin Brown 452.40011
Dave Silvestri 240.00000

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Bobby Witt 34209.012124.82121
Darren Oliver 32201.113124.20104
John Burkett 30189.19124.56139
Ken Hill 19111.0585.1968
Roger Pavlik 1157.2354.3735
Rick Helling 1055.0334.5846

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGIPWLERASO
Julio Santana 30104.0466.7564
Tanyon Sturtze 932.2118.2718
Terry Clark 930.2145.8711
Jose Alberro 1028.1037.9411

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

PlayerGWLSVERASO
John Wetteland 6172311.9463
Eric Gunderson 602113.2631
Danny Patterson 5410613.4269
Xavier Hernandez 440404.5636
Matt Whiteside 424105.0844
Ed Vosberg 421204.6129
Scott Bailes 241002.8614
Wilson Heredia 101003.208
Eric Moody 100104.2612
Bryan Eversgerd 302020.252

Awards and honors

All-Star Game

Farm system

LevelTeamLeagueManager
AAA Oklahoma City 89ers American Association Greg Biagini
AA Tulsa Drillers Texas League Bobby Jones
A Charlotte Rangers Florida State League Butch Wynegar
Rookie Pulaski Rangers Appalachian League Julio Cruz
Rookie GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League Jim Byrd

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References

  1. ↑ Billy Ripken at Baseball Reference
  2. ↑ "Scott Bailes Stats".
  3. ↑ Mike Simms at Baseball Reference
  4. ↑ Dave Silvestri at Baseball Reference
  5. ↑ Alex Diaz at Baseball Reference
  6. ↑ Todd Van Poppel at Baseball Reference
  7. ↑ Ken Hill at Baseball Reference
  8. ↑ Mike Lamb at Baseball Reference
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