1997 Anaheim Angels season
Encyclopedia
The Anaheim Angels
1997 season
involved the Angels finishing 2nd in the American League
west with a record of 84 wins and 78 losses.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
1997 season
1997 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
involved the Angels finishing 2nd in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
west with a record of 84 wins and 78 losses.
Offseason
- October 28, 1996: Chili DavisChili DavisCharles Theodore "Chili" Davis is the hitting coach for the Oakland Athletics. Davis is a former outfielder/designated hitter who played in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , California Angels , Minnesota Twins , Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees...
was traded by the Angels to the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
for Mike BoveeMike BoveeMichael Craig Bovee is a retired professional baseball player who played 1 season for the Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball.His son, Michael Bovee was born in 1999 and attended morning creek elementary....
and Mark GubiczaMark GubiczaMark Steven Gubicza is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for 14 seasons for the Kansas City Royals and Anaheim Angels . He currently does color commentary for Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games on Fox Sports...
. - November 12, 1996: Todd Van Poppel was selected off waivers by the Anaheim Angels from the Detroit Tigers.
- November 26, 1996: J.T. Snow was traded by the Anaheim Angels to the San Francisco Giants for Allen Watson andFausto Macey (minors).
- December 5, 1996: Jim Leyritz was traded by the New York Yankees to the Anaheim Angels for players to be named later. The Anaheim Angels sent Jeremy Blevins (minors) (December 9, 1996) and Ryan Kane (minors) (December 9, 1996) to the New York Yankees to complete the trade.
- December 6, 1996: Craig Grebeck was signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels.
- March 26, 1997: Todd Van Poppel was released by the Anaheim Angels.
- March 31, 1997: Jim Abbott was released by the Anaheim Angels.
Regular season
- June 17, 1997: The first interleagueInterleague playInterleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
game between the Anaheim Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers took place at Dodger StadiumDodger StadiumDodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. The rivalry would be known as the Freeway SeriesFreeway SeriesThe term Freeway Series refers to a series of baseball games played between Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League...
. The Dodgers won the game by a score of 4-3.
Notable transactions
- May 18, 1997: Tony Phillips was traded by the Chicago White Sox with Chad Kreuter to the Anaheim Angels for Chuck McElroy and Jorge Fabregas.
- July 10, 1997: Greg CadaretGreg CadaretGregory James Cadaret is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from - and -....
was signed as a Free Agent with the Anaheim Angels. - July 29, 1997: Jim LeyritzJim LeyritzJames Joseph Leyritz is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball.-Early years:Leyritz attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Middle Georgia Jr...
was traded by the Anaheim Angels with a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers for Ken Hill. The Anaheim Angels sent Rob Sasser (October 31, 1997) to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade. - August 13, 1997: Rickey HendersonRickey HendersonRickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Anaheim Angels for a player to be named later, Ryan Hancock, and Stevenson Agosto (minors). The Anaheim Angels sent George Arias (August 19, 1997) to the San Diego Padres to complete the trade.
Roster
| 1997 Anaheim Angels | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches (Bullpen) (Third Base) (Bench) |
||||||
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 | Chad Kreuter Chad Kreuter Chadden Michael "Chad" Kreuter is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the former head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team.... |
70 | 218 | 51 | .234 | 4 | 18 |
| 1B | Darin Erstad Darin Erstad Darin Charles Erstad is the Head Coach of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers baseball team and a former Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman. Prior to , he had played with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 2007... |
139 | 539 | 161 | .299 | 16 | 77 |
| 2B | Luis Alicea Luis Alicea Luis René Alicea de Jesús is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.Alicea played for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox... |
128 | 388 | 98 | .253 | 5 | 37 |
| 3B | Dave Hollins Dave Hollins David Michael Hollins is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played baseball at Orchard Park High School, where he graduated in 1984. He attended the University of South Carolina. He was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 6th round of the 1987 amateur draft... |
149 | 572 | 165 | .288 | 16 | 85 |
| SS | Gary DiSarcina Gary DiSarcina Gary Thomas DiSarcina is a front office executive and a former shortstop in Major League Baseball. He was raised in Billerica, Massachusetts and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst. DiSarcina was drafted by the California Angels in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft... |
154 | 549 | 135 | .246 | 4 | 47 |
| LF | Garret Anderson Garret Anderson Garret Joseph Anderson is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played most of his career with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels... |
154 | 624 | 189 | .303 | 8 | 92 |
| CF | Jim Edmonds Jim Edmonds James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds... |
133 | 502 | 146 | .291 | 26 | 80 |
| RF | Tim Salmon Tim Salmon Timothy James Salmon is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter who played his entire career with the California/Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels... |
157 | 582 | 172 | .296 | 33 | 129 |
| DH | Eddie Murray Eddie Murray Eddie Clarence Murray , nicknamed "Steady Eddie", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. He was known as one of the most reliable and productive hitters of his era. Murray is regarded as one of the best switch hitters ever to play the game... |
46 | 160 | 35 | .219 | 3 | 15 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Phillips Tony Phillips Keith Anthony Phillips is a former Major League Baseball utility player who had an 18-year career from to . He played regularly at three infield positions, primarily as a second baseman, but also had significant time as a shortstop and third baseman... |
105 | 405 | 107 | .264 | 6 | 48 |
| Jim Leyritz Jim Leyritz James Joseph Leyritz is a former catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball.-Early years:Leyritz attended Turpin High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Middle Georgia Jr... |
84 | 294 | 81 | .276 | 11 | 50 |
| Jack Howell | 77 | 174 | 45 | .259 | 14 | 34 |
| Orlando Palmeiro Orlando Palmeiro Orlando Palmeiro is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended high school at Miami Southridge High School and played college baseball at the University of Miami.... |
74 | 134 | 29 | .216 | 0 | 8 |
| Craig Grebeck Craig Grebeck Craig Allen Grebeck is a former middle infielder in Major League Baseball who was nicknamed 'The Little Hurt to our offense' by Chicago White Sox announcer Ken Harrelson.... |
63 | 126 | 34 | .270 | 1 | 6 |
| Todd Greene Todd Greene Todd Anthony Greene is a former Major League Baseball catcher. In an 11 year career, he played for the Anaheim Angels , Toronto Blue Jays , New York Yankees , Texas Rangers , Colorado Rockies , and San Francisco Giants . He batted and threw right-handed. Greene allegedly received steroids from Dr... |
34 | 124 | 36 | .290 | 9 | 24 |
| Rickey Henderson Rickey Henderson Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner... |
32 | 115 | 21 | .183 | 2 | 7 |
| Jorge Fabregas Jorge Fabregas Jorge Fábregas is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for eight teams during a nine-year major league career. He is an alumnus of the University of Miami.... |
21 | 38 | 3 | .079 | 0 | 3 |
| Chris Turner | 13 | 23 | 6 | .261 | 1 | 2 |
| Robert Eenhoorn Robert Eenhoorn Robert Franciscus Eenhoorn is a retired Dutch professional baseball player and manager. He played four seasons of Major League Baseball as a utility infielder for the New York Yankees and California/Anaheim Angels.-Major League career:Robert Eenhoorn played four seasons in Major League Baseball as... |
11 | 20 | 7 | .350 | 1 | 6 |
| Angelo Encarnación Angelo Encarnación Eleutero Benjamin "Angelo" Encarnación is a former professional baseball player who played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball.... |
11 | 17 | 7 | .412 | 1 | 4 |
| George Arias George Arias ----George Alberto Arias is a former baseball player in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball.-Career:... |
3 | 6 | 2 | .333 | 0 | 1 |
| Randy Velarde Randy Velarde Randy Lee Velarde is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the New York Yankees, California/Anaheim Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Texas Rangers from to... |
1 | 0 | 0 | .--- | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen Watson | 35 | 199 | 12 | 12 | 4.93 | 141 |
| Jason Dickson | 33 | 203.2 | 13 | 9 | 4.29 | 115 |
| Dennis Springer | 32 | 194.2 | 9 | 9 | 5.18 | 75 |
| Chuck Finley Chuck Finley Charles Edward "Chuck" Finley is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1986-2002 for three different teams, but pitched primarily with the California Angels... |
25 | 164 | 13 | 6 | 4.23 | 155 |
| Ken Hill | 12 | 79 | 4 | 4 | 3.65 | 38 |
| Mark Langston | 9 | 48 | 2 | 4 | 5.85 | 30 |
| Matt Perisho | 11 | 45 | 0 | 2 | 6.00 | 35 |
| Mark Gubicza | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 25.07 | 5 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shigetoshi Hasegawa Shigetoshi Hasegawa is a retired relief pitcher in Major League Baseball and best-selling author and Japanese television personality. He achieved the most recognition when he played for the Seattle Mariners from through . Previously, Hasegawa played with the Anaheim Angels , and before that spent six years with the... |
50 | 117 | 3 | 7 | 3.93 | 83 |
| Darrell May | 29 | 52 | 2 | 1 | 5.23 | 42 |
| Kevin Gross | 12 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 6.75 | 20 |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Bovee Mike Bovee Michael Craig Bovee is a retired professional baseball player who played 1 season for the Anaheim Angels of Major League Baseball.His son, Michael Bovee was born in 1999 and attended morning creek elementary.... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.40 | 5 |