1997 American League Division Series

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1997 American League Division Series
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Baltimore Orioles (3) Davey Johnson 98–64, .605, GA: 2
Seattle Mariners (1) Lou Piniella 90–72, .556, GA: 6
DatesOctober 1 – 5
Television
Fox (Game 3)
TV announcersBob Costas, Joe Morgan, and Bob Uecker (Game 1)
Jon Miller and Joe Morgan (Games 2, 4)
Thom Brennaman and Bob Brenly (Game 3)
RadioCBS
Radio announcersJohn Rooney and Al Downing
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season
Cleveland Indians (3) Mike Hargrove 86–75, .534, GA: 6
New York Yankees (2) Joe Torre 96–66, .593, GB: 2
DatesSeptember 30 – October 6
Television
Fox (Games 1–2, 4–5)
NBC (Game 3)
TV announcersJoe Buck, Tim McCarver, and Bob Brenly (Games 1–2, 4–5)
Bob Costas, Joe Morgan, and Bob Uecker (Game 3)
RadioCBS
Radio announcersErnie Harwell and Jeff Torborg
UmpiresTim McClelland, Dale Ford, Ken Kaiser, Greg Kosc, Dave Phillips, Rocky Roe (Orioles–Mariners, Games 1–2; Indians–Yankees, Games 3–5)
Tim Tschida, Dan Morrison, Rick Reed, Dale Scott, Rich Garcia, Derryl Cousins (Indians–Yankees, Games 1–2; Orioles–Mariners, Games 3–4)
← 1996 ALDS 1998 →

The 1997 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 1997 American League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Monday, October 6, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:

The Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians went on to meet in the AL Championship Series (ALCS). The Indians became the American League champion, and lost to the National League champion Florida Marlins in the 1997 World Series.

Matchups

Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners

Baltimore won the series, 3–1.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 October 1 Baltimore Orioles – 9, Seattle Mariners – 3 Kingdome 3:14 59,579[2] 
2 October 2 Baltimore Orioles – 9, Seattle Mariners – 3 Kingdome 3:25 59,309[3] 
3 October 4 Seattle Mariners – 4, Baltimore Orioles – 2 Oriole Park at Camden Yards 3:26 49,137[4] 
4 October 5 Seattle Mariners – 1, Baltimore Orioles – 3 Oriole Park at Camden Yards 2:42 48,766[5]

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Cleveland won the series, 3–2.

Game Date Score Location Time Attendance 
1 September 30 Cleveland Indians – 6, New York Yankees – 8 Yankee Stadium (I) 3:28 57,398[6] 
2 October 2 Cleveland Indians – 7, New York Yankees – 5 Yankee Stadium (I) 3:32 57,360[7] 
3 October 4 New York Yankees – 6, Cleveland Indians – 1
Jacobs Field
 2:59 45,274[8] 
4 October 5 New York Yankees – 2, Cleveland Indians – 3 Jacobs Field 3:22 45,231[9] 
5 October 6 New York Yankees – 3, Cleveland Indians – 4 Jacobs Field 3:29 45,203[10]

Baltimore vs. Seattle

Game 1

Seattle, Washington

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Baltimore 0 0 1 0 4 4 0 0 0 9 13 0
Seattle 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 3 7 1
WP: Mike Mussina (1–0)   LP: Randy Johnson (0–1)
Home runs:
BAL: Gerónimo Berroa (1), Chris Hoiles (1)
SEA: Edgar Martínez (1), Jay Buhner (1), Alex Rodriguez (1)

The Orioles had gone wire-to-wire and the Mariners had won the AL West for the second time in the decade. In Game 1, both teams had their best on the mound:

Armando Benitez
, respectively.

Game 2

Seattle, Washington

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Baltimore 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 4 0 9 14 0
Seattle 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 9 0
WP: Scott Erickson (1–0)   LP: Jamie Moyer (0–1)
Home runs:
BAL: Harold Baines (1), Brady Anderson (1)
SEA: None

Edgar Martinez, but Harold Baines homered to make it a one-run game in the second and in the fifth, after Moyer got two quick outs, he surrendered a walk and a single. Moyer then left the game with a strained flexor in his left elbow. Roberto Alomar would double in two runs off of Paul Spoljaric to give the Orioles a 3–2 lead. In the seventh, Brady Anderson's two-run home run after a walk off of Bobby Ayala gave the Orioles a commanding 5–2 lead. The Mariners got a run in the bottom of the inning when Paul Sorrento drew a leadoff walk off of Scott Erickson, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Rob Ducey's RBI single, but the Orioles widened the gap in the eighth off of Ayala. After loading the bases on a single, double and intentional walk, Lenny Webster walked to force in a run before Mike Bordick's two-run single made it 8–3. Norm Charlton relieved Ayala and allowed an RBI double to Brady Anderson
. The Orioles cruised to their second straight 9–3 win and were up 2–0 in the series heading to Baltimore. This would be the final postseason game played at the Kingdome.

Game 3

Baltimore, Maryland

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Seattle 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 11 0
Baltimore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 5 0
WP: Jeff Fassero (1–0)   LP: Jimmy Key (0–1)
Home runs:
SEA: Jay Buhner (2), Paul Sorrento (1)
BAL: None

In a must-win game for the Mariners,

Geronimo Berroa to lead it off, Rafael Palmeiro singled off of Heathcliff Slocumb, who got two outs before Jeffrey Hammonds's two-run double put the tying run at the plate in the person of Harold Baines
, but Baines popped out to ensure a Game 4.

Game 4

Baltimore, Maryland

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Seattle 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0
Baltimore 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 X 3 7 0
WP: Mike Mussina (2–0)   LP: Randy Johnson (0–2)   Sv: Randy Myers (1)
Home runs:
SEA: Edgar Martínez (2)
BAL: Jeff Reboulet (1), Gerónimo Berroa (2)

Geronimo Berroa, and an RBI single to Cal Ripken Jr., but Edgar Martínez's home run in the second made it a one-run game. Gerónimo Berroa's home run in the fifth gave the Orioles a two-run edge. Mussina and Johnson dueled on even terms until Mussina was pulled in the eighth in favor of Armando Benítez
. The Orioles' bullpen managed to hang onto a 3–1 clinching victory that put the Orioles back in the ALCS for the second straight year.

Composite box

1997 ALDS (3–1): Baltimore Orioles over Seattle Mariners

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Baltimore Orioles 2 1 1 0 7 4 2 4 2 23 39 0
Seattle Mariners 2 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 3 11 29 1
Total attendance: 216,791   Average attendance: 54,198

Cleveland vs. New York

Game 1

Bronx, New York

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
WP: Ramiro Mendoza (1–0)   LP: Eric Plunk (0–1)   Sv: Mariano Rivera (1)
Home runs:
CLE: Sandy Alomar Jr. (1)
NYY: Tino Martinez (1), Tim Raines (1), Derek Jeter (1), Paul O'Neill (1)

Game 1 saw a matchup of

Rey Sanchez's single, then Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O'Neill hit three straight home runs to give the Yankees an 8–6 edge. It was a lead the Yankee bullpen would not squander. Mariano Rivera
got the save in the ninth. Having seen a five-run lead disappear, the Indians appeared demoralized.

Game 2

Bronx, New York

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
WP: Jaret Wright (1–0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0–1)
Home runs:
CLE: Matt Williams (1)
NYY: Derek Jeter (2)

The seemingly overmatched

Tony Fernandez's two-run double put the Indians up 5–3. Next inning, Matt Williams's two-run home run extended the lead to 7–3 The Yankees would get two runs against José Mesa on Mike Stanley's bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the eighth and Derek Jeter
's home run in the ninth, but the Indians' lead stood and the series was tied at a game apiece.

Game 3

Cleveland, Ohio

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
WP: David Wells (1–0)   LP: Charles Nagy (0–1)
Home runs:
NYY: Paul O'Neill (2)
CLE: None

Tony Fernandez's forceout with two on. Derek Jeter gave the Yankees the lead in the third when he walked, stole second, and scored on Tino Martinez's RBI hit. In the fourth, the Yankees loaded the bases on three walks off of Nagy before Paul O'Neill hit a grand slam off of Chad Ogea
that gave them a commanding 6–1 lead and silenced the Jacobs Field crowd. Rain was a constant throughout the game and the rain fell on the Indians' parade as the Yankees took a 2–1 series lead.

Game 4

Cleveland, Ohio

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
WP: Mike Jackson (1–0)   LP: Ramiro Mendoza (1–1)
Home runs:
NYY: None
CLE: David Justice (1), Sandy Alomar Jr. (2)

Game 4 proved memorable as two veteran starters, Dwight Gooden and Orel Hershiser, battled back and forth. The Yankees jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first when Derek Jeter hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI double by Paul O'Neill, then after a groundout and hit-by-pitch, Cecil Fielder hit an RBI single. This was all they could muster off Hershiser, whose postseason legend continued to improve. A home run in the second by David Justice cut that 2–0 in half and gave the Indians cause for hope. However, Gooden and the Yankees bullpen kept the Indians scoreless until the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and Mariano Rivera on the mound, the Indians looked finished. Having posted 43 saves during the regular season, Rivera appeared to be the executioner. However, Sandy Alomar Jr. homered to tie the game and that homer gave birth to his postseason legacy in 1997. This would be Rivera's only blown save in the playoffs until 2001. In the ninth, Marquis Grissom singled to lead off the inning off of Ramiro Mendoza. A bunt moved him to second and Omar Vizquel hit a single that rolled past Derek Jeter to the outfield grass. That allowed Grissom to score the game-winning run.

Game 5

Cleveland, Ohio

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
WP: Jaret Wright (2–0)   LP: Andy Pettitte (0–2)   Sv: José Mesa (1)

With the momentum on their side, the Indians looked to finish off the defending champs.

Manny Ramírez and RBI single by Matt Williams. Then Sandy Alomar doubled to lead off the fourth, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a fly by Tony Fernández to make it 4–0 Indians. However, the Yankees gave the Indians cause to pause in the fifth when errors by Alomar and Ramirez allowed two-runs to score on Bernie Williams's single. Then Mike Stanley hit a leadoff double in the sixth and scored on Wade Boggs's pinch hit RBI single to make it a one-run game. The score remained 4–3 and the Yankees blew multiple chances to take the lead. The Indians also had their share of chances to put the series away. The frustration mounted in the ninth when Paul O'Neill's two-out double gave Bernie Williams a chance to hit the go-ahead home run off José Mesa, but Mesa got Williams to fly out (a fairly deep fly ball) to Brian Giles
to end the series and ensure a new World Champion in 1997.

Composite box

1997 ALDS (3–2):

Cleveland Indians over New York Yankees

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cleveland Indians
 5 2 3 7 2 0 0 1 1 21 43 4
New York Yankees 6 1 1 5 3 6 0 1 1 24 43 4
Total attendance: 250,466   Average attendance: 50,093

Notes and references

  1. ^ The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was not tied to playing record but was predetermined—a highly unpopular arrangement which was discontinued after the conclusion of the 1997 playoffs. Also, the team with home field advantage was required to play the first two games on the road, with potentially the last three at home, in order to reduce travel. The Orioles played the Mariners, rather than the wild card Yankees, because the Orioles and Yankees are in the same division. Had the 1997 ALDS been played under the 1998-2011 arrangement, then Baltimore (1) would have faced off against Cleveland (3) and New York (4) would have faced off against Seattle (2). Under the format adopted in 2012 which removed the prohibition against teams from the same division meeting in the Division Series, the matchups instead would have been Baltimore-New York and Seattle-Cleveland, with the Orioles and Mariners having home field advantage.
  2. ^ "1997 ALDS - Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  3. ^ "1997 ALDS - Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  4. ^ "1997 ALDS - Seattle Mariners vs. Baltimore Orioles - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  5. ^ "1997 ALDS - Seattle Mariners vs. Baltimore Orioles - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  6. ^ "1997 ALDS - Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  7. ^ "1997 ALDS - Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  8. ^ "1997 ALDS - New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  9. ^ "1997 ALDS - New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
  10. ^ "1997 ALDS - New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians - Game 5". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.

External links

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