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.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Awards and honors Baseball Hall of Fame Nellie Fox Tommy Lasorda Phil Niekro Willie Wells
Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the YearScott Rolen (PHI)Nomar Garciaparra (BOS)Cy Young AwardPedro Martínez (MON)Roger Clemens (TOR)Manager of the YearDusty Baker (SF)Davey Johnson (BAL)Most Valuable PlayerLarry Walker (COL)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcherGreg Maddux (ATL)Mike Mussina (BAL)CatcherCharles Johnson (FLA)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanJ. T. Snow (SF)Rafael Palmeiro (BAL)Second BasemanCraig Biggio (HOU)Chuck Knoblauch (MIN)Third BasemanKen Caminiti (SD)Matt Williams (CLE)ShortstopRey Ordóñez (NYM)Omar Vizquel (CLE)OutfieldersBarry Bonds (SF)Jim Edmonds (ANA)Raúl Mondesí (LAD)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)Larry Walker (COL)Bernie Williams (NYY)Silver Slugger AwardsPitcher/Designated HitterJohn Smoltz (ATL)Edgar Martínez (SEA)CatcherMike Piazza (LAD)Iván Rodríguez (TEX)First BasemanJeff Bagwell (HOU)Tino Martinez (NYY)Second BasemanCraig Biggio (HOU)Chuck Knoblauch (MIN)Third BasemanVinny Castilla (COL)Matt Williams (CLE)ShortstopJeff Blauser (ATL)Nomar Garciaparra (BOS)OutfieldersBarry Bonds (SF)Juan González (TEX)Tony Gwynn (SD)Ken Griffey Jr. (SEA)Larry Walker (COL)David Justice (CLE)
Other awards Outstanding Designated Hitter Award: Edgar Martínez (SEA) Roberto Clemente Award (Humanitarian): Eric Davis (BAL). Rolaids Relief Man Award: Randy Myers (BAL, American); Jeff Shaw (CIN, National).
Player of the Month Month American League National 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 Month American League National League April Andy Pettitte Tom Glavine May Roger Clemens Bobby Jones June Randy Johnson Kent Mercker July Chuck FinleyBrad 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. SEA 56 Larry Walker COL 49 RBI Ken Griffey Jr. SEA 147 Andrés Galarraga COL 140 Wins Roger Clemens1 TOR 21 Denny Neagle ATL 20 ERA Roger Clemens1 TOR 2.05 Pedro Martínez MON 1.90 SO Roger Clemens1 TOR 292 Curt Schilling PHI 319 SV Randy Myers BAL 45 Jeff Shaw CIN 42 SB Brian Hunter DET 74 Tony Womack PIT 60 1 American League Triple Crown Pitching Winner
Managers American League Team Manager Notes 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 Team Manager Notes 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 attendanceEst. payrollColorado Rockies830.0%3,888,453 −0.1%48,006$43,559,6678.0%Baltimore Orioles9811.4%3,711,1321.8%45,816$58,516,4007.2%Atlanta Braves1015.2%3,464,48819.4%42,771$52,278,5005.2%Cleveland Indians86 −13.1%3,404,7502.6%42,034$56,802,46017.8%Los Angeles Dodgers88 −2.2%3,319,5044.1%40,982$45,380,30428.4%Seattle Mariners905.9%3,192,23717.2%39,410$41,540,6610.5%Texas Rangers77 −14.4%2,945,2281.9%36,361$53,448,83836.9%St. Louis Cardinals73 −17.0%2,634,014 −0.8%32,519$45,456,66712.9%Toronto Blue Jays762.7%2,589,2971.2%31,967$47,079,83354.1%New York Yankees964.3%2,580,32514.6%32,254$62,241,54514.9%Florida Marlins9215.0%2,364,38735.4%29,190$48,692,50056.4%Boston Red Sox78 −8.2%2,226,136 −3.8%27,483$43,558,7502.7%Chicago Cubs68 −10.5%2,190,308 −1.3%27,041$42,155,33327.4%San Diego Padres76 −16.5%2,089,333 −4.5%25,794$37,363,67231.8%Houston Astros842.4%2,046,7813.6%25,269$34,777,50022.1%Chicago White Sox80 −5.9%1,864,78211.2%23,022$57,740,00027.5%Cincinnati Reds76 −6.2%1,785,788 −4.1%22,047$49,768,00017.0%Anaheim Angels8420.0%1,767,330 −2.9%21,553$31,135,4727.9%New York Mets8823.9%1,766,17411.2%21,805$39,800,40062.6%San Francisco Giants9032.4%1,690,86919.6%20,875$35,592,378 −4.2%Pittsburgh Pirates798.2%1,657,02224.4%20,457$10,771,667 −53.2%Kansas City Royals67 −10.7%1,517,6385.7%18,970$34,810,00071.6%Montreal Expos78 −11.4%1,497,609 −7.4%18,489$19,295,50018.6%Philadelphia Phillies681.5%1,490,638 −17.3%18,403$36,656,5006.8%Milwaukee Brewers78 −2.5%1,444,0278.8%18,050$23,655,3388.9%Minnesota Twins68 −12.8%1,411,064 −1.8%17,421$34,072,50047.4%Detroit Tigers7949.1%1,365,15716.8%16,854$17,272,000 −26.3%Oakland Athletics65 −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 January 5 – Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield escapes serious injury when he is hit by a car while out jogging. He is released from the hospital after being treated for bruises. January 6 – Knuckleballer Phil Niekro is elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Niekro receives 80.34% of the vote. Pitcher Don Sutton falls nine votes short of election. February 20 – The Philadelphia Phillies sign free agent outfielder Danny Tartabull. Tartabull broke his foot on Opening Day and sat out the year before retiring. March 5 – Nellie Fox, Tommy Lasorda and Negro leaguer Willie Wells are elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
April–May April 15 – In an unprecedented move, Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig announces on the 50th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson's debut that the number he wore with the Brooklyn Dodgers, number 42, would be unilaterally retired throughout all of Major League Baseball during a mid-game ceremony in a game between the Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Jackie's widow Rachel Robinson and President Bill Clinton attended the event as well. The number would be worn by players during the anniversary of his major league debut, and would still be worn by players who started wearing the number before the announcement, most famously the New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, until he retired after the 2013 season, thus officially retiring number 42, as he was the last player to wear the number 42 jersey on a regular basis. April 29 – Chili Davis' 300th home run, leading off the 10th inning, snaps a 5–5 tie and gives the Kansas City Royals a 6–5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. May 7 – The Montreal Expos score a National League-record 13 runs in the 6th inning of their game against the San Francisco Giants on the way to a 19–3 win, tying a modern (1900–present) major league record set in for most runs scored in the sixth inning. The Expos send 17 batters to the plate. Mike Lansing homers twice in the inning to drive in five runs, becoming the third Expos player to perform the feat, and the first NL second baseman to do so since Bobby Lowe in 1894. May 8 – At home, the Baltimore Orioles stop Randy Johnson's 16-game win streak with a decisive 13–3 pasting of the Seattle Mariners. Baltimore is led by catcher Chris Hoiles, who collects six RBI on two homers and a double. Johnson strikes out 10 in six innings, but gives up five runs on six hits and two walks in his attempt to become the first AL pitcher since Dave McNally (1968–69) to win 17 straight. May 13 – Eddie Murray gets two hits in Anaheim's 8–7 win over the Chicago White Sox. The game is the 3,000th of Murray's career, making him only the sixth player in history to reach that mark, joining Pete Rose, Carl Yastrzemski, Hank Aaron, Ty Cobb and Stan Musial. May 21 – Roger Clemens fires the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees 4–1, for his 8th win of the year against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200th game, the 94th pitcher to reach the 200 victories mark. May 25 – The Minnesota Twins retire Kirby Puckett's uniform number 34 in a 90-minute pregame ceremony. May 26 – In the Chicago Cubs' 2–1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cub Sammy Sosa and Pirate Tony Womack both hit inside-the-park home runs in the sixth inning. It is the first time two inside-the-park homers are hit in the same NL game since Lou Brock and Héctor Cruz of the St. Louis Cardinals did it against the San Diego Padres on June 18, 1976. Greg Gagne of the Twins had two for Minnesota on October 4, 1986. May 26 – In Toronto, Roger Clemens allows one run and four hits in seven innings and strikes out seven to beat the Rangers 8–1. The Rocket is now 9–0, his best start since beginning 1986 at 14–0. May 26 – Andrés Galarraga hits a 469-foot two-run homer and Vinny Castilla adds a solo shot as the Colorado Rockies overcome a six-run deficit to beat the Cardinals 9–7. Galarraga has four RBI, and his moon shot off Mark Petkovsek is the third-longest homer in the three-season history of Coors Field. May 27 – Barry Larkin's streak of consecutively reaching base 13 times is stopped by Curt Schilling, who goes all the way to beat Cincinnati 2–1. Larkin singles in the first inning, but flies out in the 3rd to end his streak one shy of Pedro Guerrero's NL record, set in 1985. May 30 – The Orioles' Mike Mussina retires the first 25 Indian batters before Sandy Alomar Jr. ruins his no-hit bid with a one-out single in the 9th. Mussina then strikes out the final two batters for a 3–0 victory. May 31 – Cal Ripken Jr. snaps a 7th-inning tie with a record-breaking home run as the Baltimore Orioles rally from a 4-run deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians 8–5. Ripken's homer gives him 4,274 total bases with Baltimore, breaking the franchise mark for total bases in a career. Baltimore also place Eric Davis on the disabled list. Davis is suffering from colon cancer and will be operated on in early June. May 31 – In Miami, Andrés Galarraga golfs a 529-foot grand slam, the longest home run ever at Pro Player Stadium. His homer gives the Colorado Rockies a 7–0 lead over the Florida Marlins, and they eventually win 8–4. Galarraga has three home runs in the past three games against Florida that traveled 1,435 feet, an average of 478 feet. He hit a 455-foot homer two days before and a 451-foot homer the previous day. The longest previous homer at the stadium was 482 feet by Pete Incaviglia of the Phillies off Al Leiter on May 1, 1996.