The 1997 Carolina League was a Class A-Advanced baseball season played between April 4 and August 30. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with the winners of each half of the season competing in the playoffs.
The Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, defeating the Kinston Indians in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Prince William Cannons ended their affiliation with the Chicago White Sox and began a new affiliation with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Winston-Salem Warthogs ended their affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds and began a new affiliation with the Chicago White Sox.
Teams 1997 Carolina League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Northern Frederick Keys Frederick, Maryland Baltimore Orioles Harry Grove Stadium Lynchburg Hillcats Lynchburg, Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates City Stadium Prince William Cannons Woodbridge, Virginia St. Louis Cardinals G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium Wilmington Blue Rocks Wilmington, Delaware Kansas City Royals Daniel S. Frawley Stadium Southern Durham Bulls Durham, North Carolina Atlanta Braves Durham Bulls Athletic Park Kinston Indians Kinston, North Carolina Cleveland Indians Grainger Stadium Salem Avalanche Salem, Virginia Colorado Rockies Salem Memorial Ballpark Winston-Salem Warthogs Winston-Salem, North Carolina Chicago White Sox Ernie Shore Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Kinston Indians finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 1991.
Standings 1997 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 22, 2024 Northern division Team Win Loss % GB Lynchburg Hillcats 82 58 – Prince William Cannons 69 70 12.5 Frederick Keys 69 71 13 Wilmington Blue Rocks 62 78 20Southern division Kinston Indians 87 53 – Salem Avalanche 63 75 23 Durham Bulls 63 76 23.5 Winston-Salem Warthogs 63 77 24
League Leaders Batting leaders 1997 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 22, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Rick Short, Frederick Keys .319 H Carlos Lee, Winston-Salem Warthogs 173 R Scott Morgan, Kinston Indians 86 2B Carlos Lee, Winston-Salem Warthogs 50 3B Ramon Gomez, Winston-Salem Warthogs 12 HR Danny Peoples, Kinston Indians 34 RBI Aramis Ramírez, Lynchburg Hillcats 114 SB Ramon Gomez, Winston-Salem Warthogs 53
Pitching leaders 1997 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 22, 2024 Stat Player Total W Bronson Arroyo, Lynchburg Hillcats Clint Weibl, Prince William Cannons 12 ERA Cliff Politte, Prince William Cannons 2.24 CG Tom Stepka, Salem Avalanche 4 SV Armando Almanza, Prince William Cannons 36 SO Carlos Chantres, Winston-Salem Warthogs 158 IP Top Stepka, Salem Avalanche 182.1
Playoffs The Lynchburg Hillcats won their fourth Carolina League championship, defeating the Kinston Indians in four games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Aramis Ramírez, Lynchburg Hillcats Pitcher of the Year Cliff Politte, Prince William Cannons Manager of the Year Joel Skinner, Kinston Indians
See also 1997 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website