The Nashville Sounds' 1997 season was the franchise's 20th year of play. The team finished the regular season with a record of 74 wins and 69 losses. They failed to win either half of the season, which kept them out of the post-season.

Season standings

American Association - Eastern Division
Team	Win	Loss	%	GB
Buffalo Bisons Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...	87	57	.604	—
Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...	85	59	.590	2
Nashville Sounds	74	69	.517	12½
Louisville Redbirds	58	85	.406	28½

Roster

1997 Nashville Sounds roster
Players						Coaches/Other
Pitchers Jason Bere Jason Bere Jason Phillip Bere is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for parts of 11 seasons from to... Mike Bertotti Mike Bertotti Michael David Bertotti is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was signed by the White Sox in the 31st round of the 1991 amateur draft. He was given a $1,000 signing bonus upon his request... Carlos Castillo Chris Clemons Chris Clemons (baseball) Christopher Hale Clemons is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1st round of the 1994 amateur draft... Nelson Cruz Nelson Cruz (pitcher) Nelson Cruz is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Colorado Rockies, and one season in Korea Professional Baseball for the Taepyeongyang Dolphins... Jeff Darwin Jeff Darwin Jeffrey Scott Darwin is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the Mariners in the 13th round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft... Tom Fordham Tom Fordham Thomas James Fordham is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 1993 amateur draft... Keith Foulke Keith Foulke -Career:After graduating from Hargrave High School in Huffman, Texas in 1991, he attended Galveston College and Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho. He began his career in the minor-league system of the San Francisco Giants, but was traded to the Chicago White Sox in 1997 with five other prospects... Derek Hasselhoff Mike Heathcott Mike Heathcott Michael Joseph Heathcott is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 13th round of the amateur draft... Barry Johnson Stacy Jones Stacy Jones (baseball) Joseph Stacy Jones is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago White Sox. He was signed by the Orioles in the 3rd round of the amateur draft... Matt Karchner Matt Karchner Matthew Dean Karchner , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1995-2000.... Brian Keyser Brian Keyser Brian Lee Keyser is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 19th round of the amateur draft... Al Levine Jim Parque Jim Parque James Vo Parque is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from to .-High school:... Rich Pratt Todd Rizzo Todd Rizzo Todd Michael Rizzo is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox. He was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent... Mike Sirotka Mike Sirotka Michael Robert Sirotka is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of Louisiana State University.... Chuck Smith Chuck Smith (baseball) Charles Edward Smith is the current mayor of Woodmere, Ohio and a former Major League Baseball player. He attended John Adams High School in Cleveland, Ohio and later Indiana State University... Larry Thomas Larry Thomas (baseball) Larry Wayne Thomas Jr. is an American retired professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball at the University of Maine and, during his three seasons at the major league level, for the Chicago White Sox from 1995 to 1997. He was drafted by the White Sox in the 2nd round of the 1991... Brian Woods		Catchers Brian Downs Robert Machado Robert Machado Robert Alexis Machado [ma-CHAH-do] is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played most recently with the Texas Rangers organization. Previously, Machado played for the Chicago White Sox , Montreal Expos , Seattle Mariners , Chicago Cubs , Milwaukee Brewers , and Baltimore Orioles... Rick Wrona Rick Wrona Richard James Wrona is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played college ball at Wichita State University. Wrona never managed to hold a starting job in the major leagues, playing no more than 38 games or managing more than 92 at-bats in any one season... Infielders Doug Brady Doug Brady Stephen Douglas Brady is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. He played during one season at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox, and one season in the Korea Baseball Organization for the Lotte Giants.He was drafted by the White Sox in the 12th round of the 1991 amateur draft... Scott Leius Scott Leius Scott Thomas Leius is a former American League baseball player during the 1990s. Leius was a late season call up by the Minnesota Twins and debuted with the parent club on September 3, 1990... Frank Menechino Frank Menechino Frank Menechino is a former Major League Baseball infielder, who played in the majors from -. He played baseball at Susan E. Wagner High School in New York. He played college baseball at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida, before transferring to the University of Alabama... Greg Norton Eddie Pearson Wil Polidor Gene Schall Gene Schall Eugene David Schall is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was drafted by the Phillies in the 4th round of the 1991 amateur draft... Chris Snopek Chris Snopek Christopher Charles Snopek is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He is an alumnus of the University of Mississippi.... Mario Valdez Mario Valdez Mario Ayelar Valdez is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics. He also played one season in Japan for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2004.Valdez was drafted by the White Sox in the 48th... Robin Ventura Robin Ventura Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox... Craig Wilson		Outfielders Jeff Abbott Jeff Abbott (baseball) Jeffrey William Abbott is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from -. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins.-External links:... Allen Battle Allen Battle Allen Zelmo Battle is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1991 amateur draft... Mike Cameron Mike Cameron Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3... Carmine Cappuccio John Cotton John Cotton (baseball) John Cotton is a retired professional baseball player and an Olympic gold medalist in baseball. Cotton has played 15 seasons in minor league baseball, his last coming in 2003... Jason Evans Jason Evans Jason Evans is a Welsh photographer. His best known work is a series of portraits of young black men dressed as "country gents" made in collaboration with stylist Simon Foxton, and which were acquired for the permanent collection of the Tate Gallery, in 2004... Magglio Ordóñez Magglio Ordóñez Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:... Julio Vinas		Manager Tom Spencer Coaches

Awards and honors

Outfielder Magglio Ordóñez

Magglio Ordóñez

Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...

 won the league's Most Valuable Player and Ed C. Johnson Rookie of the Year awards. Ordóñez and pitcher Jeff Darwin

Jeff Darwin

Jeffrey Scott Darwin is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox. He was drafted by the Mariners in the 13th round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft...

 were named to the league's mid-season All-Star team. Ordóñez and fellow outfielder Jeff Abbott

Jeff Abbott (baseball)

Jeffrey William Abbott is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from -. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins.-External links:...

 were named to the post-season squad.

Leading their positions in fielding percentage

Fielding percentage

In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...

 were Abbott (1.000, 243 TC) and pitcher Rich Pratt (1.000, 42 TC).