1997 Toronto Blue Jays season
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Blue Jays
season was a season in American baseball
. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 5th in the American League
East with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses. With a massive re-design of their logos and uniforms, the Blue Jays attempted to re-esteblish themselves in the American League East by signing Roger Clemens via Free Agency and bringing All-Stars Carlos García and Orlando Merced
through trade. Although Clemens rejuvenated himself with the Blue Jays (en route to one of the best-ever single season by a starting pitcher, winning the Cy Young award and the pitchers' triple crown), both Garcia and Merced ended up being flops as dismal overall hitting and inconsistent bullpen doomed the Blue Jays once again to a last-place finish. 1997 also marked the end of the road for manager Cito Gaston
, being fired near the end of the season (Gaston would eventually return to the team in 2008). A long time fan-favourite Joe Carter
also played in his final season for the Blue Jays, as he was released at the end of the season.
. Legendary Roger Clemens
would get the start as the Blue Jays donned red uniforms for the second time. Montreal pitcher Jeff Juden
would have a no-hitter through the first six innings until Joe Carter
would hit a dramatic home run to break Juden's bid for a no-hitter.
All-Star Game
Toronto Blue Jays
The 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 ....
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 5th 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...
East with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses. With a massive re-design of their logos and uniforms, the Blue Jays attempted to re-esteblish themselves in the American League East by signing Roger Clemens via Free Agency and bringing All-Stars Carlos García and Orlando Merced
Orlando Merced
Orlando Luis Merced Villanueva is a former Major League Baseball first Baseman and outfielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Toronto Blue Jays , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Montreal Expos , and Houston Astros...
through trade. Although Clemens rejuvenated himself with the Blue Jays (en route to one of the best-ever single season by a starting pitcher, winning the Cy Young award and the pitchers' triple crown), both Garcia and Merced ended up being flops as dismal overall hitting and inconsistent bullpen doomed the Blue Jays once again to a last-place finish. 1997 also marked the end of the road for manager Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
, being fired near the end of the season (Gaston would eventually return to the team in 2008). A long time fan-favourite Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
also played in his final season for the Blue Jays, as he was released at the end of the season.
Offseason
- October 2, 1996: Dane Johnson was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the Toronto Blue Jays.
- November 14, 1996: Dan PlesacDan PlesacDaniel Thomas Plesac is a former Major League Baseball pitcher with an 18-year career from to . He played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Philadelphia Phillies...
was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with Carlos Garcia and Orlando Merced to the Toronto Blue Jays for players to be named later, Jose Silva, Brandon Cromer (minors), and Jose Pett (minors). The Toronto Blue Jays sent Mike Halperin (minors) (December 11, 1996), Abraham Nunez (December 11, 1996), and Craig Wilson (December 11, 1996) to the Pittsburgh Pirates to complete the trade. - November 27, 1996: Jeff Ware was selected off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
- December 9, 1996: Benito SantiagoBenito SantiagoBenito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for twenty seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the San Diego Padres...
signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays. - December 13, 1996: Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays. - December 18, 1996: Juan Samuel was signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- December 20, 1996: 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 ....
was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays with cash to the New York Mets for Robert Person.
Opening Day starters
- Joe Carter
- Carlos Delgado
- Carlos Garcia
- Alex Gonzalez
- Shawn Green
- Pat Hentgen
- Orlando Merced
- Otis Nixon
- Benito Santiago
- Ed Sprague
Interleague Play
- June 30 - 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 Montreal Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays took place at SkyDome. The Expos won the game by a score of 2-1.
Expos vs. Jays
June 30, SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Toronto | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| W: Pedro Martínez (10-3) L: Pat Hentgen (8-5) | ||||||||||||
| Home Runs: Vladimir Guerrero (4), Carlos Delgado (15) Attendance: 37,430 Time: 2:03 | ||||||||||||
Batting
| Montreal Expos | AB | R | H | RBI | Toronto Blue Jays | AB | R | H | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grudzielanek, ss | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Nixon cf | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lansing 2b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Merced dh | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Santangelo 3b | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Carter lf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Segui 1b | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Delgado 1b | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rodriguez lf | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Sprague 3b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orsulak lf | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Green rf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guerrero rf | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Santiago c | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| McGuire dh | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Gonzalez ss | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| White cf | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Garcia 2b | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Widger c | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 31 | 2 | 6 | 2 | Totals | 29 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Pitching
| Montreal Expos | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinez W (10-3) | 9.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Totals | 9.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hentgen L (8-5) | 9.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Totals | 9.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Canada Day Game
The Blue Jays and Expos played to a sold-out Skydome crowd on Canada DayCanada Day
Canada Day , formerly Dominion Day , is the national day of Canada, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act , which united three British colonies into a single country, called Canada, within the British Empire...
. Legendary Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
would get the start as the Blue Jays donned red uniforms for the second time. Montreal pitcher Jeff Juden
Jeff Juden
Jeffrey Daniel Juden is a former Major League Baseball player. He is 6'8" and weighs 270 lbs...
would have a no-hitter through the first six innings until Joe Carter
Joe Carter
Joseph Christopher Carter is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to . Carter is most famous for hitting a walk-off home run to win the 1993 World Series for the Toronto Blue Jays....
would hit a dramatic home run to break Juden's bid for a no-hitter.
Notable transactions
- May 11, 1997: Rubén Sierra was signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- June 3, 1997: Orlando HudsonOrlando HudsonOrlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 43rd round of the 1997 amateur draft. Player signed May 20, 1998. - June 5, 1997: Ryan Thompson was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jeff Manto.
- June 16, 1997: Rubén Sierra was released by the Toronto Blue Jays.
- July 25, 1997: Omar Daal was selected off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Montreal Expos.
- July 29, 1997: Mariano Duncan was traded by the New York Yankees with cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for Angel Ramirez (minors).
- July 31, 1997: Paul Spoljaric was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays with Mike Timlin to the Seattle Mariners for Jose Cruz.
- August 8, 1997: Tilson Brito was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the Toronto Blue Jays.
- August 12, 1997: Otis NixonOtis NixonOtis Junior Nixon, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. He was a center fielder and switch-hitter who played from 1983 to 1999...
was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Bobby Cripps (minors).
Roster
| 1997 Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Game log
| 1997 Game Log | |
|---|---|
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Player | G | AB | H | HR | RBI | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benito Santiago | 97 | 341 | 83 | 13 | 42 | .243 |
| Carlos Delgado | 153 | 519 | 136 | 30 | 91 | .262 |
| Carlos García | 103 | 350 | 77 | 3 | 23 | .220 |
| Ed Sprague | 138 | 504 | 115 | 14 | 48 | .228 |
| 126 | 426 | 102 | 12 | 35 | .239 | |
| Jose Cruz, Jr. | 55 | 212 | 49 | 14 | 34 | .231 |
| Otis Nixon | 103 | 401 | 105 | 1 | 26 | .262 |
| Orlando Merced | 98 | 368 | 98 | 9 | 40 | .266 |
| Joe Carter | 157 | 612 | 143 | 21 | 102 | .234 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | HR | RBI | Avg. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawn Green | 135 | 429 | 123 | 16 | 53 | .287 |
| Charlie O’Brien | 69 | 225 | 49 | 4 | 27 | .218 |
| Jacob Brumfield | 58 | 174 | 36 | 2 | 20 | .207 |
| Shannon Stewart | 44 | 168 | 48 | 0 | 22 | .286 |
| Mariano Duncan | 39 | 167 | 38 | 0 | 12 | .228 |
| Tilson Brito | 49 | 126 | 28 | 0 | 8 | .222 |
| Tomas Perez | 40 | 123 | 24 | 0 | 9 | .195 |
| Juan Samuel | 45 | 95 | 27 | 3 | 15 | .284 |
| Robert Perez | 37 | 78 | 15 | 2 | 6 | .192 |
| Rubén Sierra | 14 | 48 | 10 | 1 | 5 | .208 |
| Tom Evans | 12 | 38 | 11 | 1 | 2 | .289 |
| Felipe Crespo | 12 | 28 | 8 | 1 | 5 | .286 |
| Rich Butler | 7 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .286 |
| Julio Mosquera | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Sandy Martinez | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA |
|---|
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|
Award winners
- Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, Pitcher of the MonthPitcher of the MonthThe Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in . The American League followed in...
Award, May - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, Pitcher of the MonthPitcher of the MonthThe Pitcher of the Month award is a Major League Baseball award named by each league for each month of the regular season. The National League started recognizing the award in . The American League followed in...
Award, August - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, Cy Young AwardCy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955... - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, MLB Leader, 21 Wins - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, AL Strikeout Crown, 292 Strikeouts - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, AL ERA Crown, 2.05 - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, American League Leader, Complete Games (9) - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, American League Leader, Shutouts (3) - Roger ClemensRoger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
, American League Leader, Innings Pitched (264)
All-Star Game
1997 Major League Baseball 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 and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 8, 1997 at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio, the home of the...
- Roger Clemens, P
- Pat HentgenPat HentgenPatrick George Hentgen is a former Major League Baseball player. Hentgen was a right-handed starting pitcher in the major leagues and a Cy Young Award winner in...
, P