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 · SportsChannel Ohio
Local radio	WKNR (1220)
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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.

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]

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:
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  4 Luis Isaac 42 Charlie Manuel  8 Dave Nelson 16 Jeff Newman 28 Mark Wiley 43 Dan Williams

Game log

1997 Game Log: 86–75 (Home: 44–37; Away: 42–38)
April: 12–13 (Home: 5–6; Away: 7–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap 3 April 4 @ Angels 6–8 (11) Holtz (1–0) Shuey (0–1) Anaheim Stadium 17,758 1–2 L2 4 April 5 @ Angels 7–5 Ogea (1–0) Hasegawa (0–1) Shuey (2) Anaheim Stadium 23,913 2–2 W1 5 April 6 @ Angels 10–8 Kline (1–0) Percival (0–2) Jackson (1) Anaheim Stadium 29,363 3–2 W2 9 April 11 Angels 15–3 Ogea (2–0) Gubicza (0–1) Jacobs Field 42,643 5–4 W1 10 April 13 Angels 3–8 Langston (1–1) McDowell (0–1) Jacobs Field 41,218 5–5 L1
May: 15–11 (Home: 9–3; Away: 6–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap
June: 13–11 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap
July: 14–13 (Home: 7–10; Away: 7–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap – July 8 68th All-Star Game National League vs. American League (Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio) 99 July 28 Angels 0–2 Springer (6–4) Colón (2–5) Jacobs Field 43,033 54–45 L1 100 July 28 Angels 7–10 Harris (2–2) Weathers (1–2) Holtz (2) Jacobs Field 42,857 54–46 L2 101 July 29 Angels 2–7 Finley (10–6) Clark (0–3) Jacobs Field 42,975 54–47 L3 102 July 30 Angels 2–5 Hill (6–8) Nagy (10–7) James (7) Jacobs Field 42,898 54–48 L4
August: 16–14 (Home: 9–6; Away: 7–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap 128 August 26 @ Angels 7–8 May (1–1) Plunk (4–4) Anaheim Stadium 21,012 67–61 L2 129 August 27 @ Angels 10–4 Wright (5–2) Watson (11–8) Anaheim Stadium 20,148 68–61 W1
September: 16–13 (Home: 7–5; Away: 9–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Recap
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, Florida

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, Florida

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	2	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, Florida

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, Florida

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)
HR – FLA: 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. http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/plunker01.shtml
3. Kevin Mitchell Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
4. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hubbatr01.shtml
5. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/curtich01.shtml
6. Les Norman Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
7. http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fernato01.shtml
8. http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/candaca01.shtml
9. http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cadargr01.shtml
10. http://baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199706160CLE
11. Ryan Thompson Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
12. http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lovulto01.shtml
13. http://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