1997 Cleveland Indians season





































1997 Cleveland Indians

AL Champs
AL Central Champs
Major League affiliations

  • American League (since 1901)


  • Central Division (since 1994)

Location

  • Jacobs Field (since 1994)

  • Cleveland, Ohio (since 1901)

Other information
Owner(s) Richard Jacobs
General manager(s) John Hart
Manager(s) Mike Hargrove
Local television
WUAB
Jack Corrigan, Mike Hegan
SportsChannel
John Sanders, Rick Manning
Local radio
WKNR (1220 AM)
Herb Score, Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood
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The 1997 Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Indians making their second World Series appearance in three years. The Indians finished in first place in the American League Central and hosted the 1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.




Contents






  • 1 Offseason


  • 2 Spring training


    • 2.1 Game log




  • 3 Regular season


    • 3.1 Most Starts by Position


    • 3.2 Season standings


    • 3.3 Record vs. opponents


    • 3.4 Notable transactions


    • 3.5 Roster


    • 3.6 Game log




  • 4 All-Star game


  • 5 Player stats


    • 5.1 Batting


      • 5.1.1 Starters by position


      • 5.1.2 Other batters




    • 5.2 Pitching


      • 5.2.1 Starting pitchers


      • 5.2.2 Other pitchers


      • 5.2.3 Relief pitchers






  • 6 American League Division Series


    • 6.1 Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees


      • 6.1.1 Game 1


      • 6.1.2 Game 2


      • 6.1.3 Game 3


      • 6.1.4 Game 4


      • 6.1.5 Game 5






  • 7 American League Championship Series


    • 7.1 Game 1


    • 7.2 Game 2


    • 7.3 Game 3


    • 7.4 Game 4


    • 7.5 Game 5


    • 7.6 Game 6




  • 8 World Series


    • 8.1 Game 1


    • 8.2 Game 2


    • 8.3 Game 3


    • 8.4 Game 4


    • 8.5 Game 5


    • 8.6 Game 6


    • 8.7 Game 7




  • 9 Award winners


  • 10 Minor league affiliates


  • 11 References





Offseason



  • November 13, 1996: Matt Williams was traded by the San Francisco Giants with a player to be named later to the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, Jeff Kent, Julián Tavárez, and José Vizcaíno. The Cleveland Indians sent Joe Roa (December 16, 1996) to the San Francisco Giants to complete the trade.[1]

  • December 10, 1996: Eric Plunk was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[2]

  • December 13, 1996: Kevin Mitchell signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[3]

  • December 16, 1996: Trenidad Hubbard was sent by the San Francisco Giants to the Cleveland Indians to complete an earlier deal made on November 13, 1996.[4]

  • December 18, 1996: Chad Curtis was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[5]

  • December 19, 1996: Les Norman was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[6]

  • December 28, 1996: Tony Fernandez was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[7]

  • January 1, 1997: Casey Candaele was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[8]

  • January 31, 1997: Greg Cadaret was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[9]



Spring training



Game log



Regular season



  • The season started with several new faces. The Indians acquired home run hitter Matt Williams. On March 25, 1997, the club traded All-Star Kenny Lofton and pitcher Alan Embree to the Atlanta Braves for Marquis Grissom and David Justice.

  • June 16 – The first interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians took place at Jacobs Field. The rivalry would be known as the Battle of Ohio. The Reds won the game by a score of 4-1.[10]



Most Starts by Position





















































Position
Name
# of Starts
C

Sandy Alomar, Jr.
119
1B

Jim Thome
145
2B

Tony Fernández
109
3B

Matt Williams
151
SS

Omar Vizquel
152
LF

Bip Roberts
92
CF

Marquis Grissom
144
RF

Manny Ramírez
146
DH

David Justice
61


Season standings



























































AL Central

W

L

Pct.

GB

Home

Road

Cleveland Indians
86 75
0.534

44–37
42–38

Chicago White Sox
80 81
0.497
6
45–36
35–45

Milwaukee Brewers
78 83
0.484
8
47–33
31–50

Minnesota Twins
68 94
0.420
18½
35–46
33–48

Kansas City Royals
67 94
0.416
19
33–47
34–47




Record vs. opponents



















































































































































































































































































1997 American League Records


Sources: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14]
Team
ANA
BAL
BOS
CWS
CLE
DET
KC
MIL
MIN
NYY
OAK
SEA
TEX
TOR
NL 

Anaheim
4–7 6–5 6–5 7–4 5–6 6–5 7–4 4–7 4–7 11–1 6–6 8–4 6–5 4–12

Baltimore
7–4 5–7 5–6 6–5 6–6 7–4 5–6 10–1 8–4 8–3 7–4 10–1 6–6 8–7

Boston
5–6 7–5 3–8 6–5 5–7 3–8 8–3 8–3 4–8 7–4 7–4 3–8 6–6 6–9

Chicago
5–6 6–5 8–3 5–7 4–7 11–1 4–7 6–6 2–9 8–3 5–6 3–8 5–6 8–7

Cleveland
4–7 5–6 5–6 7–5 6–5 8–3 8–4 8–4 5–6 7–4 3–8 5–6 6–5 9–6

Detroit
6–5 6–6 7–5 7–4 5–6 6–5 4–7 4–7 2–10 7–4 4–7 7–4 6–6 8–7

Kansas City
5–6 4–7 8–3 1–11 3–8 5–6 6–6 7–5 3–8 3–8 5–6 6–5 5–6 6–9

Milwaukee
4–7 6–5 3–8 7–4 4–8 7–4 6–6 5–7 4–7 5–6 5–6 7–4 7–4 8–7

Minnesota
7–4 1–10 3–8 6–6 4–8 7–4 5–7 7–5 3–8 7–4 5–6 3–8 3–8 7–8

New York
7–4 4–8 8–4 9–2 6–5 10–2 8–3 7–4 8–3 6–5 4–7 7–4 7–5 5–10

Oakland
1–11 3–8 4–7 3–8 4–7 4–7 8–3 6–5 4–7 5–6 5–7 5–7 6–5 7–9

Seattle
6–6 4–7 4–7 6–5 8–3 7–4 6–5 6–5 6–5 7–4 7–5 8–4 8–3 7–9

Texas
4–8 1–10 8–3 8–3 6–5 4–7 5–6 4–7 8–3 4–7 7–5 4–8 4–7 10–6

Toronto
5–6 6–6 6–6 6–5 5–6 6–6 6–5 4–7 8–3 5–7 5–6 3–8 7–4 4–11




Notable transactions



  • April 21, 1997: Ryan Thompson signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[11]

  • May 20, 1997: Torey Lovullo was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[12]

  • June 3, 1997: Kevin Mitchell was released by the Cleveland Indians.[3]

  • June 5, 1997: Ryan Thompson was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Manto.[11]

  • June 9, 1997: Dave Weathers was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for Chad Curtis.[13]

  • July 3, 1997: Greg Cadaret was released by the Cleveland Indians.[9]

  • July 25, 1997: Pat Listach was signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians.[14]

  • July 31, 1997: John Smiley was traded by the Cincinnati Reds with Jeff Branson to the Cleveland Indians for Jim Crowell, Danny Graves, Damian Jackson, and Scott Winchester.[15]

  • July 31, 1997: Jeff Juden was traded by the Montreal Expos to the Cleveland Indians for Steve Kline.[16]

  • August 13, 1997: Julio Franco was released by the Cleveland Indians.[17]



Roster














1997 Cleveland Indians

Roster

Pitchers


  • 34 Brian Anderson


  • 45 Paul Assenmacher


  • 47 Terry Clark


  • 40 Bartolo Colón


  • 35 Danny Graves


  • 55 Orel Hershiser


  • 42 Mike Jackson


  • 46 Jason Jacome


  •  7 Jeff Juden


  • 52 Steve Kline


  • 59 Albie Lopez


  • 29 Jack McDowell


  • 49 José Mesa


  • 51 Alvin Morman


  • 41 Charles Nagy


  • 37 Chad Ogea


  • 38 Eric Plunk


  • 53 Paul Shuey


  • 57 John Smiley


  • 50 David Weathers


  • 27 Jaret Wright




Catchers


  • 15 Sandy Alomar, Jr.


  • 10 Pat Borders


  •  2 Einar Díaz


Infielders




  • 11 Jeff Branson


  • 26 Casey Candaele


  • 52 Sean Casey


  •  1 Tony Fernández


  • 23 Julio Franco


  • 11 Damian Jackson


  • 12 Jeff Manto


  •  6 Bip Roberts


  • 44 Richie Sexson


  • 20 Kevin Seitzer


  • 25 Jim Thome


  • 13 Omar Vizquel


  •  9 Matt Williams


  • 35 Enrique Wilson




Outfielders


  • 56 Bruce Aven


  • 12 Chad Curtis


  • 22 Brian Giles


  • 17 Marquis Grissom


  • 30 Trent Hubbard


  • 33,23 David Justice


  • 44 Kevin Mitchell


  • 24 Manny Ramírez




Manager

  • 21 Mike Hargrove

Coaches




  • 54 Johnny Goryl (Bench)


  •  4 Luis Isaac (Bullpen)


  • 42 Charlie Manuel (Hitting)


  •  8 Dave Nelson (First base)


  • 16 Jeff Newman (Third base)


  • 28 Mark Wiley (Pitching)


  • 43 Dan Williams (Bullpen catcher)




Game log











1997 Game Log: 86–75 (Home: 44–37; Away: 42–38)



Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Postponement
Bold = Indians team member



All-Star game


The 1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 68th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL). There were no members of the Indians in the starting lineup although three Indians (Sandy Alomar, Jr., Jim Thome, and David Justice) were named to the team. The game was held on July 8, 1997, and the first pitch was thrown by former Indian Larry Doby. The American League were victorious 3 – 1, with the go ahead HR coming courtesy Alomar, Jr.



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











Pos
Player
G
AB
H
Avg.
HR
RBI


Other batters


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










Player
G
AB
H
Avg.
HR
RBI


Pitching



Starting pitchers


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










Player
G
IP
W
L
ERA
SO


Other pitchers


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










Player
G
IP
W
L
ERA
SO


Relief pitchers


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










Player
G
W
L
SV
ERA
SO


American League Division Series




Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees



Game 1


September 30, Yankee Stadium


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Cleveland
5 0 0
1 0 0
0 0 0
6 11
0

New York
0 1 0
1 1 5
0 0 X
8 11
0

W: Ramiro Mendoza (1-0)   L: Eric Plunk (0-1)  SV: Mariano Rivera (1)

HR: CLE – Sandy Alomar, Jr. (1)   NYY – Tino Martinez (1)   Tim Raines (1)   Derek Jeter (1)   Paul O'Neill (1)


Game 2


October 2, Yankee Stadium


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Cleveland
0 0 0
5 2 0
0 0 0
7 11
1
New York
3 0 0
0 0 0
0 1 1
5 7
2

W: Jaret Wright (1-0)   L: Andy Pettitte (0-1)  SV: None

HR: CLE – Matt Williams (1)  NYY – Derek Jeter (2)


Game 3


October 4, Jacobs Field


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

New York
1 0 1
4 0 0
0 0 0
6 4
1
Cleveland
0 1 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 5
1

W: David Wells (1-0)   L: Charles Nagy (0-1)  SV: None

HR: CLE – None   NYY – Paul O'Neill (2)


Game 4


October 5, Jacobs Field


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
New York
2 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
2 9
1

Cleveland
0 1 0
0 0 0
0 1 1
3 9
0

W: Mike Jackson (1-0)   L: Ramiro Mendoza (1-1)  SV: None

HR: CLE – David Justice (1)   Sandy Alomar, Jr. (2)   NYY – None


Game 5


October 6, Jacobs Field


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
New York
0 0 0
0 2 1
0 0 0
3 12
0

Cleveland
0 0 3
1 0 0
0 0 X
4 7
2

W: Jaret Wright (2-0)   L: Andy Pettitte (0-2)  SV: José Mesa (1)

HR: CLE – None   NYY – None


American League Championship Series




Game 1


October 8, Camden Yards


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Cleveland
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 4
1

Baltimore
1 0 2
0 0 0
0 0 X
3 6
1

WP: Scott Erickson (1-0)  LP: Chad Ogea (0-1)  SV: Randy Myers (1)

HRs: BAL – Brady Anderson (1) Roberto Alomar (1)


Game 2


October 9, Camden Yards


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Cleveland
2 0 0
0 0 0
0 3 0
5 6
3
Baltimore
0 2 0
0 0 2
0 0 0
4 8
1

WP: Paul Assenmacher (1-0)  LP: Armando Benítez (0-1)  SV: José Mesa (1)

HRs: CLE – Manny Ramírez (1) Marquis Grissom (1)   BAL – Cal Ripken (1)


Game 3


October 11, Jacobs Field



























































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
R
H
E
Baltimore
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 1
0 0 0
1 8
1

Cleveland
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 0 0
0 0 1
2 6
0

WP: Eric Plunk (1-0)  LP: Randy Myers (0-1)  

HRs: None


Game 4


October 12, Jacobs Field


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Baltimore
0 1 4
0 0 0
1 0 1
7 12
2

Cleveland
0 2 0
1 4 0
0 0 1
8 13
0

WP: José Mesa (1-0)  LP: Alan Mills (0-1)  

HRs: CLE – Sandy Alomar, Jr. (1) Manny Ramírez (2)   BAL – Brady Anderson (2) Harold Baines (1) Rafael Palmeiro (1)


Game 5


October 13, Jacobs Field


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Baltimore
0 0 2
0 0 0
0 0 2
4 10
0
Cleveland
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 2
2 8
1

WP: Scott Kamieniecki (1-0)  LP: Chad Ogea (0-2)  

HRs: BAL – Eric Davis (1)


Game 6


October 15, Camden Yards
























































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E

Cleveland
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 1
1 3
0
Baltimore
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0
0 10
0

WP: Brian Anderson (1-0)  LP: Armando Benítez (0-2)  S: José Mesa (1)

HRs: CLE: – Tony Fernández (1)


World Series




Game 1


October 18, 1997, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Cleveland
1 0 0
0 1 1
0 1 0
4 11
0

Florida
0 0 1
4 2 0
0 0 x
7 7
1

W: Liván Hernández (1-0)   L: Orel Hershiser (0-1)  S: Robb Nen (1)

HR: CLE – Manny Ramírez (1), Jim Thome (1)  FLA – Moisés Alou (1), Charles Johnson (1)


Game 2


October 19, 1997, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Cleveland
1 0 0
0 3 2
0 0 0
6 14
0
Florida
1 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 8
0

W: Chad Ogea (1-0)   L: Kevin Brown (0-1)  

HR: CLE – Sandy Alomar, Jr. (1)


Game 3


October 21, 1997, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Florida
1 0 1
1 0 2
2 0 7
14 16
3
Cleveland
2 0 0
3 2 0
0 0 4
11 10
3

W: Dennis Cook (1-0)   L: Eric Plunk (0-1)  S: Robb Nen (2)

HR: FLA – Gary Sheffield (1), Darren Daulton (1), Jim Eisenreich (1)  CLE – Jim Thome (2)


Game 4


October 22, 1997, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Florida
0 0 0
1 0 2
0 0 0
3 6
2

Cleveland
3 0 3
0 0 1
1 2 X
10 15
0

W: Jaret Wright (1-0)   L: Tony Saunders (0-1)  

HR: FLA – Moisés Alou (2)  CLE – Manny Ramírez (2), Matt Williams (1)


Game 5


October 23, 1997, at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio


















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Florida
0 2 0
0 0 4
0 1 1
8 15
2
Cleveland
0 1 3
0 0 0
0 0 3
7 9
0

W: Liván Hernández (2-0)   L: Orel Hershiser (0-2)  S: Robb Nen (3)

HR: FLA – Moisés Alou (3)  CLE – Sandy Alomar, Jr. (2)


Game 6


October 25, 1997, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami

















































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E

Cleveland
0 2 0
1 0 1
0 0 0
4 7
0
Florida
0 0 0
0 1 0
0 0 0
1 8
0

W: Chad Ogea (2-0)   L: Kevin Brown (0-2)  S: José Mesa (1)


Game 7


October 26, 1997, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami
























































Team
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E
Cleveland
0 0 2
0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
2 6
2

Florida
0 0 0
0 0 0
1 0 1 0 1
3 8
0

W: Jay Powell (1-0)   L: Charles Nagy (0-1)  

HRFLA: Bobby Bonilla (1)


Award winners



  • Marquis Grissom, Outfield, ALCS MVP

All-Star Game




  • Sandy Alomar, Jr., Catcher, Reserve


  • Jim Thome, First Baseman, Reserve


  • David Justice, Outfield, elected to start, but was unable to play due to an injury.



Minor league affiliates













































Classification level
Team
League
Season article

AAA

Buffalo Bisons

International League

1997 Buffalo Bisons season

AA

Akron Aeros

Eastern League

1997 Akron Aeros season

Advanced A

Kinston Indians

Carolina League


A

Columbus RedStixx

South Atlantic League


Short Season A

Watertown Indians

New York–Penn League


Rookie

Burlington Indians

Appalachian League



References





  1. ^ Matt Williams Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  2. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/plunker01.shtml


  3. ^ ab Kevin Mitchell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  4. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hubbatr01.shtml


  5. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/curtich01.shtml


  6. ^ Les Norman Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  7. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fernato01.shtml


  8. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/candaca01.shtml


  9. ^ ab https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cadargr01.shtml


  10. ^ http://baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199706160CLE


  11. ^ ab Ryan Thompson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  12. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lovulto01.shtml


  13. ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weathda01.shtml


  14. ^ Pat Listach Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  15. ^ John Smiley Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  16. ^ Jeff Juden Statistics Baseball-Reference.com


  17. ^ Julio Franco Statistics Baseball-Reference.com





  • 1997 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Reference


  • 1997 Cleveland Indians at Baseball Almanac


  • 1997 WS at Baseball Reference












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