1997 Cleveland Indians season

The 1997 Cleveland Indians season was the 97th season for the franchise and the 4th season at Jacobs Field. It involved the Indians making their second World Series appearance in three years. The Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division and hosted the 1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

1997 Cleveland Indians
American League champions American League Central champions
League	American League
Division	Central
Ballpark	Jacobs Field
City	Cleveland, Ohio
Record	86–75 (.534)
Divisional place	1st
Owners	Richard Jacobs
General managers	John Hart
Managers	Mike Hargrove
Television	WUAB Jack Corrigan, Mike Hegan SportsChannel John Sanders, Rick Manning
Radio	WKNR (1220 AM) Herb Score, Tom Hamilton, Matt Underwood
← 1996 Seasons 1998 →

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	Brian Giles	82
CF	Marquis Grissom	144
RF	Manny Ramírez	146
DH	David Justice	61

Season standings

• v
• t
• e

AL Central

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB	Home	Road
Cleveland Indians	86	75	.534	—	44‍–‍37	42‍–‍38
Chicago White Sox	80	81	.497	6	45‍–‍36	35‍–‍45
Milwaukee Brewers	78	83	.484	8	47‍–‍33	31‍–‍50
Minnesota Twins	68	94	.420	18½	35‍–‍46	33‍–‍48
Kansas City Royals	67	94	.416	19	33‍–‍47	34‍–‍47

Record vs. opponents

1997 American League record Source: MLB Standings Grid – 1997 v t e
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)
April: 12–13 (Home: 5–6; Away: 7–7) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Streak 1 April 2 @ Athletics 9–7 Kline (1–0) Wengert (0–1) Shuey (1) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 41,235 1–0 W1 2 April 3 @ Athletics 4–5 Lewis (1–0) Plunk (0–1) Taylor (1) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 13,707 1–1 L1 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 (2–0) Percival (0–2) Jackson (1) Anaheim Stadium 29,363 3–2 W2 6 April 7 @ Mariners 8–3 Nagy (1–0) Sanders (0–2) – Kingdome 22,012 4–2 W3 7 April 8 @ Mariners 8–14 Hurtado (1–0) Lopez (0–1) – Kingdome 24,348 4–3 L1 8 April 9 @ Mariners 1–11 Wolcott (1–1) Colon (0–1) – Kingdome 28,302 4–4 L2 9 April 11 Angels 15–3 Ogea (2–0) Gubicza (0–1) – Jacobs Field 42,643 5–4 W1 – April 12 Angels Postponed (rain, makeup July 28) 10 April 13 Angels 3–8 Langston (1–1) McDowell (0–1) – Jacobs Field 41,218 5–5 L1 11 April 14 Mariners 1–6 Martinez (1–0) Nagy (1–1) – Jacobs Field 41,184 5–6 L2 12 April 15 Mariners 4–8 Wells (1–0) Jackson (0–1) Charlton (3) Jacobs Field 40,118 5–7 L3 13 April 16 @ Red Sox 6–11 Avery (1–1) Ogea (2–1) – Fenway Park 21,305 5–8 L4 14 April 17 @ Red Sox 4–3 Kline (3–0) Trlicek (2–3) Mesa (1) Fenway Park 17,988 6–8 W1 15 April 18 Brewers 2–10 McDonald (2–1) McDowell (0–2) – Jacobs Field 40,343 6–9 L1 16 April 19 Brewers 11–6 Nagy (2–1) Eldred (2–1) – Jacobs Field 40,237 7–9 W1 17 April 20 Brewers 6–4 Hershiser (1–0) Wickman (2–1) Mesa (2) Jacobs Field 42,285 8–9 W2 18 April 22 Red Sox 2–8 Avery (2–1) Ogea (2–2) Henry (3) Jacobs Field 41,800 8–10 L1 19 April 23 Red Sox 11–7 McDowell (1–2) Trlicek (2–4) – Jacobs Field 42,430 9–10 W1 20 April 24 @ Brewers 6–3 Nagy (3–1) Eldred (2–2) Mesa (3) County Stadium 7,135 10–10 W2 21 April 25 @ Brewers 11–4 Hershiser (2–0) Karl (0–4) – County Stadium 11,150 11–10 W3 22 April 26 @ Brewers 8–9 Jones (1–0) Mesa (0–1) – County Stadium 13,028 11–11 L1 23 April 27 @ Brewers 5–6 Jones (2–0) Plunk (0–2) – County Stadium 19,709 11–12 L2 24 April 29 Athletics 10–4 Nagy (4–1) Prieto (2–1) Jackson (2) Jacobs Field 40,421 12–12 W1 25 April 30 Athletics 9–11 (10) Taylor (1–1) Mesa (0–2) Wengert (1) Jacobs Field 40,463 12–13 L1
May: 15–11 (Home: 9–3; Away: 6–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Streak 26 May 1 Athletics 7–1 McDowell (2–2) Adams (1–3) – Jacobs Field 42,398 13–13 W1 – May 2 Tigers Postponed (rain, makeup August 13) 27 May 3 Tigers 7–6 Plunk (1–2) Brocail (0–3) – Jacobs Field 42,269 14–13 W2 28 May 4 Tigers 0–2 Blair (3–2) Nagy (4–2) Brocail (1) Jacobs Field 42,387 14–14 L1 – May 5 Rangers Postponed (rain, makeup August 9) 29 May 6 Rangers 5–4 Hershiser (3–0) Pavlik (2–3) Jackson (3) Jacobs Field 40,451 15–14 W1 30 May 7 Blue Jays 7–1 McDowell (3–2) Person (0–2) – Jacobs Field 42,463 16–14 W2 31 May 8 Blue Jays 3–4 Guzman (3–2) Ogea (2–3) Quantrill (1) Jacobs Field 42,567 16–15 L1 32 May 9 @ Tigers 5–0 Nagy (5–2) Sager (2–2) – Tiger Stadium 20,393 17–15 W1 33 May 10 @ Tigers 0–6 Olivares (2–2) Colon (0–2) – Tiger Stadium 30,578 17–16 L1 34 May 11 @ Tigers 3–11 Thompson (3–2) Hershiser (3–1) – Tiger Stadium 19,869 17–17 L2 35 May 12 @ Rangers 2–4 Burkett (2–2) McDowell (3–3) Wetteland (9) The Ballpark in Arlington 25,327 17–18 L3 36 May 13 @ Rangers 7–3 Ogea (3–3) Oliver (1–4) Morman (1) The Ballpark in Arlington 31,798 18–18 W1 37 May 14 @ Rangers 3–4 (10) Wetteland (2–0) Lopez (0–2) – The Ballpark in Arlington 30,268 18–19 L1 38 May 16 @ Blue Jays 2–5 Clemens (7–0) Hershiser (3–2) Timlin (5) SkyDome 35,195 18–20 L2 39 May 17 @ Blue Jays 8–1 Lopez (1–2) Williams (1–3) – SkyDome 36,220 19–20 W1 40 May 18 @ Blue Jays 8–6 Ogea (4–3) Carpenter (0–2) Jackson (4) SkyDome 31,137 20–20 W2 41 May 20 Royals 4–3 Shuey (1–1) Walker (2–2) Jackson (5) Jacobs Field 43,167 21–20 W3 42 May 21 Royals 1–0 Hershiser (4–2) Appier (4–3) Jackson (6) Jacobs Field 42,290 22–20 W4 43 May 22 Royals 9–1 Lopez (2–2) Rosado (3–3) – Jacobs Field 42,962 23–20 W5 44 May 23 Orioles 6–1 Ogea (5–3) Key (8–1) – Jacobs Field 41,154 24–20 W6 45 May 24 Orioles 3–8 Mussina (6–1) Kline (3–1) – Jacobs Field 41,040 24–21 L1 46 May 25 Orioles 7–6 Nagy (6–2) Rhodes (2–2) Morman (2) Jacobs Field 42,944 25–21 W1 47 May 26 @ White Sox 10–4 Hershiser (5–2) Navarro (4–3) – Comiskey Park 26,383 26–21 W2 48 May 27 @ White Sox 2–8 Drabek (4–3) Lopez (2–3) – Comiskey Park 20,847 26–22 L1 49 May 28 @ Royals 10–3 Assenmacher (1–0) Belcher (5–6) – Kauffman Stadium 13,380 27–22 W1 – May 29 @ Royals Postponed (rain, makeup September 19) 50 May 30 @ Orioles 0–3 Mussina (7–1) Nagy (6–3) – Oriole Park at Camden Yards 47,759 27–23 L1 51 May 31 @ Orioles 5–8 Boskie (3–2) Mesa (0–3) Myers (17) Oriole Park at Camden Yards 47,739 27–24 L2
June: 13–11 (Home: 7–7; Away: 6–4) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Streak – June 1 @ Orioles Postponed (rain, makeup September 15) – June 2 @ Orioles Postponed (rain, makeup September 16) 52 June 3 White Sox 5–9 Darwin (2–2) Ogea (5–4) – Jacobs Field 42,994 27–25 L3 53 June 4 White Sox 4–9 Baldwin (3–7) Lopez (2–4) – Jacobs Field 42,992 27–26 L4 54 June 5 White Sox 5–4 (11) Shuey (2–1) Castillo (0–1) – Jacobs Field 42,948 28–26 W1 55 June 6 @ Red Sox 7–3 Hershiser (6–2) Gordon (3–6) – Fenway Park 30,202 29–26 W2 56 June 7 @ Red Sox 9–5 Colon (1–2) Sele (6–5) – Fenway Park 32,780 30–26 W3 57 June 8 @ Red Sox 6–12 Hudson (1–0) Ogea (5–5) – Fenway Park 32,155 30–27 L1 58 June 10 Brewers 5–4 Nagy (7–3) Eldred (6–6) Jackson (7) Jacobs Field 42,882 31–27 W1 59 June 11 Brewers 4–3 (11) Assenmacher (2–0) Jones (3–3) – Jacobs Field 42,864 32–27 W2 60 June 12 Brewers 2–6 Mercedes (3–2) Anderson (0–1) – Jacobs Field 41,975 32–28 L1 – June 13 @ Cardinals Postponed (rain, makeup June 14) 61 June 14 (1) @ Cardinals 8–3 Lopez (3–4) Mathews (2–3) – Busch Stadium 43,582 33–28 W1 62 June 14 (2) @ Cardinals 2–5 Morris (5–3) Ogea (5–6) Eckersley (13) Busch Stadium 44,532 33–29 L1 63 June 15 @ Cardinals 9–2 Nagy (8–3) Stottlemyre (4–5) – Busch Stadium 46,646 34–29 W1 64 June 16 Reds 1–4 Tomko (3–1) Hershiser (6–3) – Jacobs Field 42,961 34–30 L1 65 June 17 Reds 5–1 Anderson (1–1) Smiley (5–8) – Jacobs Field 42,901 35–30 W1 66 June 18 Reds 2–5 Remlinger (2–3) Ogea (5–7) – Jacobs Field 42,865 35–31 L1 67 June 20 Yankees 1–7 Gooden (2–0) Nagy (8–4) – Jacobs Field 43,019 35–32 L2 68 June 21 Yankees 13–4 Hershiser (7–3) Pettitte (8–5) – Jacobs Field 43,006 36–32 W1 69 June 22 Yankees 5–2 Anderson (2–1) Wells (8–4) Jackson (8) Jacobs Field 42,912 37–32 W2 70 June 23 Twins 2–7 Radke (8–5) Ogea (5–8) – Jacobs Field 42,861 37–33 L1 71 June 24 Twins 10–5 Wright (1–0) Stevens (0–1) – Jacobs Field 42,902 38–33 W1 – June 25 Twins Postponed (rain, makeup September 27) 72 June 27 @ Yankees 2–3 Gooden (3–0) Hershiser (7–4) Rivera (26) Yankee Stadium 35,837 38–34 L1 73 June 28 @ Yankees 12–8 Plunk (2–2) Rogers (4–4) – Yankee Stadium 41,085 39–34 W1 74 June 29 @ Yankees 10–11 Rivera (2–2) Mesa (0–4) – Yankee Stadium 39,756 39–35 L1 75 June 30 @ Astros 6–4 Mesa (1–4) Martin (2–2) Jackson (9) Astrodome 29,051 40–35 W1
July: 14–13 (Home: 7–10; Away: 7–3) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Streak 76 July 1 @ Astros 8–6 Plunk (3–2) Lima (1–4) Jackson (10) Astrodome 23,998 41–35 W2 77 July 2 @ Astros 2–6 Hampton (4–7) Hershiser (7–5) – Astrodome 25,661 41–36 L1 78 July 4 Royals 7–6 Anderson (3–1) Pichardo (2–4) Jackson (11) Jacobs Field 42,984 42–36 W1 79 July 5 Royals 8–4 Nagy (9–4) Pittsley (2–6) – Jacobs Field 42,892 43–36 W2 80 July 6 Royals 8–7 Jackson (1–1) Casian (0–2) – Jacobs Field 42,863 44–36 W3 – July 8 68th All-Star Game National League vs. American League (Jacobs Field, Cleveland, Ohio) 81 July 10 @ Twins 2–8 Radke (11–5) Nagy (9–5) – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 13,605 44–37 L1 82 July 11 @ Twins 5–1 Jacome (1–0) Robertson (7–7) – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 14,400 45–37 W1 83 July 12 @ Twins 7–2 Hershiser (8–5) Tewksbury (4–8) – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 30,055 46–37 W2 84 July 13 @ Twins 12–5 Colon (2–2) Hawkins (1–5) – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 16,734 47–37 W3 85 July 14 @ Yankees 3–2 (10) Jackson (2–1) Rivera (2–3) – Yankee Stadium 27,812 48–37 W4 86 July 15 @ Yankees 6–12 Irabu (2–0) Nagy (9–6) Mendoza (1) Yankee Stadium 34,503 48–38 L1 87 July 16 @ Brewers 4–3 Wright (2–0) McDonald (8–7) Jackson (12) County Stadium 23,047 49–38 W1 88 July 17 @ Brewers 3–2 Hershiser (9–5) Eldred (9–9) Jackson (13) County Stadium 23,383 50–38 W2 89 July 18 Red Sox 0–7 Wakefield (4–10) Colon (2–3) – Jacobs Field 43,037 50–39 L1 90 July 19 Red Sox 3–6 Suppan (4–0) Clark (0–1) Slocumb (14) Jacobs Field 43,070 50–40 L2 91 July 20 Red Sox 7–2 Nagy (10–6) Gordon (5–8) – Jacobs Field 42,932 51–40 W1 92 July 21 Red Sox 1–3 Avery (4–2) Wright (2–1) Slocumb (15) Jacobs Field 42,851 51–41 L1 93 July 22 Mariners 6–2 Weathers (1–1) Fassero (8–6) Jackson (14) Jacobs Field 42,951 52–41 W1 94 July 23 Mariners 3–6 Olivares (6–6) Colon (2–4) Holzemer (1) Jacobs Field 43,049 52–42 L1 95 July 24 Mariners 1–11 Johnson (14–2) Clark (0–2) – Jacobs Field 42,984 52–43 L2 96 July 25 Athletics 1–2 Small (7–4) Jackson (2–2) Taylor (19) Jacobs Field 42,945 52–44 L3 97 July 26 Athletics 6–3 Wright (3–1) Karsay (3–10) – Jacobs Field 42,925 53–44 W1 98 July 27 Athletics 4–2 Jacome (2–0) Haynes (0–1) Assenmacher (1) Jacobs Field 42,885 54–44 W2 99 July 28 (1) Angels 0–2 Springer (6–4) Colon (2–5) – Jacobs Field 43,033 54–45 L1 100 July 28 (2) 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 Streak 103 August 1 @ Rangers 8–5 Mesa (2–4) Gunderson (2–1) Assenmacher (2) The Ballpark in Arlington 44,859 55–48 W1 104 August 2 @ Rangers 7–3 Smiley (10–10) Witt (10–7) – The Ballpark in Arlington 23,266 56–48 W2 105 August 3 @ Rangers 7–8 Wetteland (6–2) Jackson (2–3) – The Ballpark in Arlington 42,303 56–49 L1 106 August 4 @ Tigers 7–2 Nagy (11–7) Sanders (3–9) – Tiger Stadium 26,832 57–49 W1 107 August 5 @ Tigers 4–6 Thompson (10–8) Plunk (3–3) Jones (22) Tiger Stadium 24,824 57–50 L1 108 August 6 @ Blue Jays 3–6 Hentgen (12–7) Lopez (3–5) Escobar (7) SkyDome 36,463 57–51 L2 109 August 7 @ Blue Jays 0–4 Clemens (17–4) Smiley (10–11) – SkyDome 35,194 57–52 L3 110 August 8 Rangers 5–6 Bailes (1–0) Jackson (2–4) Wetteland (23) Jacobs Field 43,110 57–53 L4 111 August 9 (1) Rangers 3–4 Clark (1–3) Nagy (11–8) Wetteland (24) Jacobs Field 42,964 57–54 L5 112 August 9 (2) Rangers 4–2 Assenmacher (3–0) Moody (0–1) Mesa (4) Jacobs Field 41,330 58–54 W1 113 August 10 Rangers 6–7 Whiteside (2–1) Juden (11–6) Wetteland (25) Jacobs Field 42,902 58–55 L1 114 August 12 Tigers 7–4 Plunk (4–3) Keagle (0–2) Mesa (5) Jacobs Field 32,992 59–55 W1 115 August 13 (1) Tigers 3–13 Blair (12–5) Smiley (10–12) – Jacobs Field N/A 59–56 L1 116 August 13 (2) Tigers 9–1 Hershiser (10–5) Dishman (1–1) – Jacobs Field 42,673 60–56 W1 117 August 14 Tigers 12–1 Nagy (12–8) Sanders (4–10) – Jacobs Field 42,936 61–56 W2 118 August 15 Blue Jays 5–4 (10) Assenmacher (4–0) Crabtree (2–3) – Jacobs Field 43,011 62–56 W3 119 August 16 Blue Jays 8–4 Shuey (3–1) Quantrill (5–5) – Jacobs Field 42,908 63–56 W4 120 August 17 Blue Jays 5–10 Clemens (19–4) Wright (3–2) – Jacobs Field 42,861 63–57 L1 121 August 18 Blue Jays 5–3 Hershiser (11–5) Williams (7–11) Mesa (6) Jacobs Field 42,471 64–57 W1 122 August 19 @ Mariners 7–5 Smiley (11–12) Cloude (1–2) Mesa (7) Kingdome 33,645 65–57 W2 123 August 20 @ Mariners 0–1 Johnson (17–4) Nagy (12–9) Slocumb (20) Kingdome 32,546 65–58 L1 124 August 21 @ Mariners 6–7 Moyer (13–4) Colon (2–6) Slocumb (21) Kingdome 30,395 65–59 L2 125 August 22 @ Athletics 5–3 Wright (4–2) Prieto (6–8) Mesa (8) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 11,451 66–59 W1 126 August 23 @ Athletics 7–4 Hershiser (12–5) Rigby (0–5) Mesa (9) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 17,066 67–59 W2 127 August 24 @ Athletics 1–4 Haynes (2–3) Smiley (11–13) Mathews (1) Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 20,074 67–60 L1 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 20,140 68–61 W1 130 August 29 Cubs 7–6 Mesa (3–4) Stevens (1–4) – Jacobs Field 43,060 69–61 W2 131 August 30 Cubs 4–9 Tapani (4–3) Smiley (11–14) – Jacobs Field 43,044 69–62 L1 132 August 31 Cubs 9–5 Nagy (13–9) Batista (0–3) Assenmacher (3) Jacobs Field 43,013 70–62 W1
September: 16–13 (Home: 7–5; Away: 9–8) # Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Stadium Attendance Record Streak 133 September 1 @ Pirates 7–5 Ogea (6–8) Cooke (9–14) Mesa (10) Three Rivers Stadium 45,298 71–62 W2 134 September 2 @ Pirates 4–6 Silva (1–0) Wright (5–3) Loiselle (25) Three Rivers Stadium 43,380 71–63 L1 135 September 3 @ Pirates 7–3 Hershiser (13–5) Loaiza (10–10) – Three Rivers Stadium 37,513 72–63 W1 136 September 5 White Sox 11–1 Nagy (14–9) Bere (3–1) – Jacobs Field 43,093 73–63 W2 137 September 6 White Sox 9–7 Colon (3–6) Baldwin (11–14) Mesa (11) Jacobs Field 43,055 74–63 W3 138 September 7 White Sox 5–2 Wright (6–3) Drabek (10–10) Mesa (12) Jacobs Field 43,051 75–63 W4 139 September 8 Orioles 2–1 Assenmacher (5–0) Mills (2–2) Mesa (13) Jacobs Field 43,009 76–63 W5 140 September 9 Orioles 3–9 (8) Krivda (4–0) Ogea (6–9) – Jacobs Field 43,045 76–64 L1 141 September 11 @ White Sox 5–7 Foulke (3–5) Nagy (14–10) Karchner (14) Comiskey Park 22,620 76–65 L2 142 September 12 @ White Sox 9–0 Wright (7–3) Drabek (10–11) – Comiskey Park 31,249 77–65 W1 143 September 13 @ White Sox 6–7 Sirotka (2–0) Hershiser (13–6) Karchner (15) Comiskey Park 32,306 77–66 L1 144 September 14 @ White Sox 8–3 Shuey (4–1) Darwin (0–1) – Comiskey Park 32,485 78–66 W1 145 September 15 (1) @ Orioles 5–6 Benitez (4–4) Plunk (4–5) Myers (42) Oriole Park at Camden Yards 41,602 78–67 L1 146 September 15 (2) @ Orioles 4–1 Ogea (7–9) Krivda (4–1) Mesa (14) Oriole Park at Camden Yards 47,110 79–67 W1 147 September 16 (1) @ Orioles 4–2 Nagy (15–10) Rodriguez (0–1) Mesa (15) Oriole Park at Camden Yards 38,022 80–67 W2 148 September 16 (2) @ Orioles 2–7 Key (16–9) Weathers (1–3) – Oriole Park at Camden Yards 46,185 80–68 L1 149 September 17 @ Twins 7–6 Wright (8–3) Miller (0–4) Mesa (16) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 9,512 81–68 W1 150 September 18 @ Twins 4–1 Hershiser (14–6) Tewksbury (6–13) Jackson (15) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 9,564 82–68 W2 151 September 19 (1) @ Royals 3–10 Belcher (13–12) Colon (3–7) – Kauffman Stadium N/A 82–69 L1 152 September 19 (2) @ Royals 6–2 Anderson (4–1) Bones (3–8) Assenmacher (4) Kauffman Stadium 16,973 83–69 W1 153 September 20 @ Royals 2–5 Olson (4–3) Lopez (3–6) Montgomery (14) Kauffman Stadium 19,125 83–70 L1 154 September 21 @ Royals 0–1 Bevil (1–2) Jackson (2–5) – Kauffman Stadium 15,274 83–71 L2 – September 22 @ Royals Cancelled (rain) 155 September 23 Yankees 10–9 Mesa (4–4) Nelson (3–7) – Jacobs Field 43,039 84–71 W1 156 September 24 Yankees 4–8 Gooden (9–5) Anderson (4–2) – Jacobs Field 42,976 84–72 L1 157 September 25 Yankees 4–5 (10) Mendoza (8–6) Shuey (4–2) Stanton (3) Jacobs Field 43,004 84–73 L2 158 September 26 Twins 7–2 Ogea (8–9) Radke (20–10) – Jacobs Field 42,895 85–73 W1 159 September 27 (1) Twins 10–6 Colon (4–7) Miller (1–5) – Jacobs Field 42,854 86–73 W2 160 September 27 (2) Twins 4–6 (10) Aguilera (5–4) Lopez (3–7) – Jacobs Field 42,867 86–74 L1 161 September 28 Twins 1–5 Tewksbury (8–13) Nagy (15–11) – Jacobs Field 42,940 86–75 L2
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 of 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
C	Sandy Alomar Jr.	125	451	146	.324	21	83
1B	Jim Thome	147	496	142	.286	40	102
2B	Tony Fernández	120	409	117	.286	11	44
SS	Omar Vizquel	153	565	158	.280	5	49
3B	Matt Williams	151	596	157	.263	32	105
LF	Brian Giles	130	377	101	.268	17	61
CF	Marquis Grissom	144	558	146	.262	12	66
RF	Manny Ramirez	150	561	184	.328	26	88
DH	David Justice	139	495	163	.329	33	101

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
Julio Franco	78	289	82	.284	3	25
Kevin Seitzer	64	198	53	.268	2	24
Pat Borders	55	159	47	.296	4	15
Bip Roberts	23	85	23	.271	3	8
Jeff Branson	29	72	19	.264	2	7
Kevin Mitchell	20	59	9	.153	4	11
Jeff Manto	16	30	8	.267	2	7
Chad Curtis	22	29	6	.207	3	5
Casey Candaele	14	26	8	.308	0	4
Bruce Aven	13	19	4	.211	0	2
Enrique Wilson	5	15	5	.333	0	1
Trent Hubbard	7	12	3	.250	0	0
Richie Sexson	5	11	3	.273	0	0
Sean Casey	6	10	2	.200	0	1
Damian Jackson	8	9	1	.111	0	0
Einar Díaz	5	7	1	.143	0	1

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
Charles Nagy	34	227.0	15	11	4.28	149
Orel Hershiser	32	195.1	14	6	4.47	107
Chad Ogea	21	126.1	8	9	4.99	80
Bartolo Colón	19	94.0	4	7	5.65	66
Jaret Wright	16	90.1	8	3	4.38	63
Brian Anderson	8	48.0	4	2	4.69	22
John Smiley	6	37.1	2	4	5.54	26
Terry Clark	4	26.1	0	3	6.15	13

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
Albie Lopez	37	76.2	3	7	6.93	63
Jason Jacome	21	42.2	2	0	5.27	24
Jack McDowell	8	40.2	3	3	5.09	38
Jeff Juden	8	31.1	0	1	5.46	29
David Weathers	9	16.2	1	2	7.56	14

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
José Mesa	66	4	4	16	2.40	69
Paul Assenmacher	75	5	0	4	2.94	53
Mike Jackson	71	2	5	15	3.24	74
Eric Plunk	55	4	5	0	4.66	66
Paul Shuey	40	4	2	2	6.20	46
Alvin Morman	34	0	0	2	5.89	13
Steve Kline	20	3	1	0	5.81	17
Danny Graves	5	0	0	0	4.76	4

American League Division Series

Main article: 1997 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

Main article: 1997 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

Main article: 1997 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)
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