1997 New York Mets season
Encyclopedia
The New York Mets
' 1997 season
was the 36th regular season for the Mets. They went 88-74 and finished 3rd in the NL East. They were managed by Bobby Valentine
. They played home games at Shea Stadium
.
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
' 1997 season
1997 Major League Baseball season
*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández**National League Division Series...
was the 36th regular season for the Mets. They went 88-74 and finished 3rd in the NL East. They were managed by Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
. They played home games at Shea Stadium
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
.
Offseason
- November 25, 1996: Paul ByrdPaul ByrdPaul Gregory Byrd is an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009. He is known as being the "nicest guy in baseball"...
and a player to be named later were traded by the Mets to the Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Greg McMichaelGreg McMichaelGregory Winston McMichael , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in relief in the Major Leagues from 1993-2000....
. The Mets completed the deal by sending Andy Zwirchitz (minors) to the Braves on May 25, 1997. - November 27, 1996: Rico BrognaRico BrognaRico Joseph Brogna is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Atlanta Braves in his career starting in 1992, and from 1994 to 2001...
was traded by the Mets to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Ricardo JordanRicardo JordanRicardo Jordan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, from until , for four different teams....
and Toby BorlandToby BorlandToby Shawn Borland is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between and for the Philadelphia Phillies , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Anaheim Angels and Florida Marlins . He batted and threw right-handed.Borland was a 16-year veteran, who divided his playing time...
. - December 20, 1996: Robert PersonRobert PersonRobert Alan Person is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played 9 seasons in Major League Baseball: two for the New York Mets, two and a half for the Toronto Blue Jays, three and a half for the Philadelphia Phillies, and only 7 games pitched for the Boston Red Sox in the last year of his...
was traded by the Mets to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
for John OlerudJohn OlerudJohn Garrett Olerud , is a former American first baseman in Major League Baseball. Olerud played with the Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox ....
and cash. - March 22, 1997: Héctor RamírezHéctor Ramírez (baseball)Héctor Bienvenido Ramírez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of two seasons, and , for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Sources:...
was traded by the Mets to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Scott McClainScott McClainScott Michael McClain is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who is a scout in Nippon Professional Baseball....
and Manny AlexanderManny AlexanderManuel De Jesús Alexander is a professional baseball infielder who currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies Of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles , New York Mets , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres...
.
Regular season
- April 15, 1997: The Mets hosted ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of Jackie RobinsonJackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
's first game with the Brooklyn DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
before their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea StadiumShea StadiumWilliam A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
. During the ceremonies, Robinson's jersey number, 42, was retired by Major League Baseball. The Mets won the game 5-0. - June 16, 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 New York Mets and New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
took place at Yankee Stadium. The Mets won the game by a score of 6-0.
Notable transactions
- June 3, 1997: 1997 Major League Baseball Draft1997 Major League Baseball DraftThe 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
- Garrett AtkinsGarrett AtkinsGarrett Bernard Atkins is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a Free Agent. He bats and throws right-handed....
was drafted by the Mets in the 10th round, but did not sign. - Jeremy GuthrieJeremy GuthrieJeremy Shane Guthrie is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life and education:...
was drafted by the Mets in the 15th round, but did not sign.
- Garrett Atkins
- August 8, 1997: Lance JohnsonLance JohnsonKenneth Lance Johnson is a retired Major League Baseball player. At the age of 24, Johnson broke into the big leagues on July 10, 1987, with the St. Louis Cardinals after being drafted by them in the 6th round of the 1984 amateur draft. In 1987 Johnson, playing for the Louisville Redbirds, was...
and players to be named later were traded by the Mets to the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for Brian McRaeBrian McRaeBrian Wesley McRae is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies and Toronto Blue Jays from to . McRae is the son of former major league All-Star, Hal McRae, and was also managed by the elder McRae for four...
, Mel RojasMel RojasMelquiades Rojas Medrano was a pitcher with a 10 year career from 1990 to 1999. He played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League and the Detroit Tigers of the American League.His best season was in 1992, when he posted a 7-1 record in 68...
and Turk WendellTurk WendellSteven John "Turk" Wendell is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher from to ....
. The Mets completed the deal by sending Mark Clark to the Cubs on August 11 and Manny AlexanderManny AlexanderManuel De Jesús Alexander is a professional baseball infielder who currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies Of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles , New York Mets , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres...
to the Cubs on August 14.
Roster
| 1997 New York Mets | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
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
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carl Everett Carl Everett Carl Edward Everett III is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently an outfielder for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. A switch hitter, he played with the Chicago White Sox on their 2005 World Series winning team... |
142 | 443 | 110 | .248 | 14 | 57 |
| Kevin Morgan Kevin Morgan (baseball) Kevin Lee Morgan is a former Major League Baseball player and current New York Mets executive. In , he had one at bat for the Mets, playing two innings in the field at third base. He is currently the Mets' Director of Minor League Operations.-Sources:... |
1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg McMichael Greg McMichael Gregory Winston McMichael , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in relief in the Major Leagues from 1993-2000.... |
73 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 2.98 | 81 |
| Ricardo Jordan Ricardo Jordan Ricardo Jordan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, from until , for four different teams.... |
22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5.33 | 19 |