The 1997 Houston Astros season was the 36th season for the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located in Houston, Texas, their 33rd as the Astros, 36th in the National League (NL), fourth in the NL Central division, and 33rd at The Astrodome. The Astros entered the season with an 82–80 record and second-place finish in the NL Central, 6 games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals. In the NL Wild Card race, Houston placed third, 8 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 1997 season was the first for former player-turned-broadcaster Larry Dierker as manager, the 13th in Astros' franchise history, succeeding Terry Collins. On April 1, pitcher Shane Reynolds made his second of five consecutive Opening Day starts for the Astros, who hosted the Atlanta Braves and won, 2–1. In the amateur draft, the Astros selected first baseman Lance Berkman in the first round, at 16th overall. On June 13, the Astros played their first interleague game in franchise history, an 8–1 defeat to the Minnesota Twins of the American League (AL).
First baseman Jeff Bagwell (second career selection), second baseman Craig Biggio (sixth), and pitcher Darryl Kile (second) each represented the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game, playing for the National League. Former second baseman Nellie Fox, who played for Houston during their days as the Colt .45s, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. With 42 home runs and 31 stolen bases, Bagwell became the first Houston Astro to join the 30–30 club and first regular first baseman in major league history.
The Astros finished in first place with an 84–78 record for their first division title as a member of the NL Central, their first division title since 1986. It was the fourth division title overall and fourth playoff appearance in franchise history.
In the National League Division Series (NLDS), Atlanta swept the best-of-5 playoff, ending the Astros' season.
Following the season, Bagwell (second) and Biggio (fourth) each received Silver Slugger Awards, while Biggio was also recognized with the Branch Rickey and Gold Glove Awards.
Offseason Summary The Astros concluded the 1996 campaign with a final record of , for a second-place ranking in the National League (NL) Central division, six games behind the division-champion St. Louis Cardinals. In the NL Wild Card race, Houston finished in third place and eight games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. For the fifth straight campaign, since 1992, Houston concluded with a record of at least .500, adding to the franchise-best string. Also unprecedented during any period in franchise annals, the Astros stacked a fourth consecutive winning season, which surpassed the catenation by the 1979, 1980, and 1981-era clubs. The 1996 Astros also set then-club records for runs scored (753) and doubles (297).
The Astros hired former player-turned-broadcaster Larry Dierker as manager, the 13th in Astros' franchise history, to succeed Terry Collins, who had led the club to three consecutive second-place results in the NL Central division. Dierker pitched 13 seasons for Houston, from 1964–1976, gaining two All-Star selections. He pitched his final season as an active player with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977. Dierker returned to Houston in 1979 as a broadcaster, serving in that capacity for the club through the 1996 campaign.
Two of Dieker's teammates during his playing career realized significant milestones in 1997. Former second baseman Nellie Fox, who played for Houston during their days as the Colt .45s (1964 to 1965), was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, while former outfielder José Cruz (1975 to 1987), joined the on-field staff as Houston's first base coach for his first major league coaching role.
Transactions December 2, 1996: Pat Listach signed as a free agent with the Houston Astros.
Regular season Summary April + Opening Day starting lineup Player Position 7 Craig Biggio Second baseman 4 Pat Listach Shortstop 5 Jeff Bagwell First baseman 14 Derek Bell Center fielder 26 Luis Gonzalez Left fielder 17 Sean Berry Third baseman 11 Brad Ausmus Catcher 53 Bobby Abreu Right fielder 37 Shane Reynolds Pitcher Venue: Astrodome • Final: Houston 2, Atlanta 1 Sources:
Larry Dierker made his managerial debut on Opening Day, April 1, sending right-hander Shane Reynolds to the mound opposite John Smoltz—the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner—of the Atlanta Braves, the defending NL pennant winners. In front of an attendance of 44,618, an Astrodome record on an Opening Day, Houston opened the scoring during the bottom of the first when Craig Biggio raced home on Jeff Bagwell's high chopper to third baseman Chipper Jones. Jones then tied the score in the top of the third by golfing a liner which cleared the center field fence for a home run. During the bottom of the third, Pat Listach swatted a sacrifice fly to score Brad Ausmus for a 2–1 Houston lead. Reynolds and Smoltz locked into a pitching duel to maintain the score. For his eighth and ultimate frame, Reynolds whiffed two of his last three batters, Jones and Ryan Klesko. Billy Wagner took over for Reynolds in the ninth, and ended the contest on consecutive strikeouts of Jeff Blauser and Mike Mordecai for the save to seal the Astros' 2–1 victory. Hence, Dierker won his managerial debut, while Reynolds was the winning pitcher.
On April 8, Russ Johnson made his major league debut, going 1-for-4 in a 4–2 defeat to Atlanta. Johnson followed up his debut by collecting a seven-game hitting streak, during which he batted .321. This feat set a franchise record by hitting safely in each of his first 7 major league appearances, and was later tied by Jose Altuve on July 27, 2011. Johnson went 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts on April 19 to end the hitting streak. It was his final appearance in the major leagues until later August.
Bagwell was named NL Player of the Week for April 27. He batted .391 (nine hits in 23 at bats), .826 slugging percentage. with three home runs and nine RBI.
On April 28 at the Astrodome, Bobby Abreu belted his first two major league home runs, the second of which was a game-tying shot. Abreu went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI. In the bottom of the second, Astros starter Mike Hampton singled in Brad Ausmus to tie the contest, 1–1. Leading off the third, Abreu connected off Rockies starter Jamey Wright to right-center field for the first home run. In the bottom of the fourth, Abreu doubled in Ray Montgomery and Biggio. Leading the off the bottom of the seventh, Abreu connected for the second time, off Steve Reed, tying the score, 6–6. However, the Rockies nipped the Astros, 7–6, in extra innings. Vinny Castilla went 3-for-5, capping his evening with the game-winning home run to left-center field in the top of the tenth frame off Astros closer Billy Wagner (2–1). This was also the first 4-RBI bout of Abreu's career.
May Craig Biggio greeted Philadelphia Phillies starter Mark Leiter with a leadoff home run on May 16 at Veterans Stadium for his 100th career home run, his tenth career leadoff home run, and first of two for the contest. The Astros scored four runs until Leiter was chased after just having recorded just one out by Brad Ausmus, who slugged his first home run as an Astro. In the top of the second inning, Houston did not relent, exploding for seven off left-hander Mike Mimbs, including Biggio's second home run with two outs. Biggio's effort spearheaded 12–7 drubbing of Philadelphia. The Astros coaxed 11 bases on balls as plate discipline savants Jeff Bagwell (4) and Bobby Abreu (3) led the way. Bagwell also added a home run in the ninth inning. This was the seventh multi-home game of Biggio's career, and third game with four or more RBI.
On May 20, Jeff Bagwell collected his 1,000th career hit on a home run (his first of two on the day) off Calvin Maduro in a 9–5 win over the Phillies.
Starting May 26, outfielder Luis Gonzalez authored a 23-game hitting streak, tying the franchise record established by Art Howe in 1981. Gonzalez batted .351, .413 on-base percentage (OBP), and .479 slugging percentage (SLG). The streak ended on June 20 in a 7–3 victory over the Chicago Cubs, though Gonzalez did reach base again by drawing a base on balls. He had two hits the following game, which extended an overlapping on-base streak to 27 games, his season high. The franchise record stood until the 2000 season, when Gonzalez' teammate Tony Eusebio hit in 24 straight.
First intterleague series On June 13, Houston faced the Minnesota Twins of the American League (AL) the first regular-season interleague game in franchise history, losing 8–1.
On June 16, Sean Berry assumed the role as first designated hitter (DH) during the regular season in team history at Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals hosted the Astros for the team's first interleague road contest against an AL opponent. Hence, the first pitcher to play without a spot in the batting order for the Astros was Mike Hampton, who would later win five Silver Slugger Awards during his career. Batting seventh, Berry went 1-for-4; however, the Royals triumphed, 5–2. Hampton (2–6) was charged with the loss after surrendering three runs, eight hits and three walks over innings pitched (IP).
MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby: Jeff Bagwell—Round 1: 4 / Round 2: 1 / Total: 5 (4th place) • Winner: Tino Martinez (NYY)—Total:16
Bagwell, at first base, second baseman Craig Biggio, and pitcher Darryl Kile were selected to represent the Astros at the MLB All-Star Game, and played for the National League. With Bagwell and Biggio elected to the starting lineup, this represented the first time that fans had elected two Astros position players to the Midsummer Classic starting lineup. Bagwell became the first starter as his position to represent Houston since Lee May at the 1972 game.
July Just one game back of first-place Houston on July 12, the Pittsburgh Pirates sold out Three Rivers Stadium for the first time on a date that was not a home opener. The Pirates did not disappoint their fans, with starter Francisco Córdova tossing nine dominant no-hit innings. However, when he retired the Astros to end the top half of the ninth inning, no celebration ensued.; Box score via Baseball Reference The Astros' Chris Holt and Billy Wagner had matched Córdova's shutout effort, also keeping the Pirates scoreless through nine. In the top of the tenth, Ricardo Rincón relieved Córdova, who had thrown 121 pitches, and retired the Astros in order. After John Hudek assumed the bottom of the tenth inning for Houston, he issued two bases on balls prior to serving an offering to Mark Smith that Smith converted into a three-run, walk-off home run to win it for Pittsburgh, 3–0. This became the first combined, extra-innings no-hitter in Major League history. Córdova tied a major league record achieved just once—eight decades earlier—for most innings by one pitcher in a combined no-hitter, by Ernie Shore, on June 23, 1917.
During the month of July, right-hander Darryl Kile won all six of his starts to go with a 1.59 earned run average (ERA), three complete games, and two shutouts. Over 51 innings pitched, Kile surrendered 36 hits, two home runs, 11 walks and struck out 46, with a 0.922 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). For the second time in his career (June 1993), Kile was selected as NL Pitcher of the Month.
August—September Russ Johnson made his first major league appearance in four month on August 26, which was a 7–6 loss to Atlanta. This time, he had two hits in five at bats and two RBI, to collect hits in 8 of his first 9 games.