Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Record
  
79–83 (.488)

Owner(s)
  
Kevin McClatchy

Manager(s)
  
Gene Lamont

Divisional place
  
2nd

General manager(s)
  
Cam Bonifay

Local television
  
WPGH-TV & WPTT-TV Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh

The 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 116th season of the franchise; the 111th in the National League. The Pirates finished second in the National League Central with a record of 79–83.

Contents

Offseason

  • November 14, 1996: Dan Plesac, Carlos García and Orlando Merced were traded by the Pirates to the Toronto Blue Jays for José Silva, Brandon Cromer (minors), Jose Pett (minors), and players to be named later. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Abraham Núñez, Craig Wilson, and Mike Halperin (minors) to the Pirates on December 11.
  • December 13, 1996: Jay Bell and Jeff King were traded by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals for Jeff Granger, Joe Randa, Jeff Wallace, and Jeff Martin (minors).
  • December 20, 1996: Kevin Elster was signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

    • Regular season

    The 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates were informally known as "The Freak Show," as the team of rookies and cheap veterans (the team only had a $9 million payroll) unexpectedly competed with the Houston Astros for the division title until the final week of the season.

    Player stats

    Batting
    Pitching

    Awards and honors

    The Sporting News Executive of the Year Award

  • Cam Bonifay, GM

    • 1997 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

  • Tony Womack, 2B, Reserve

    • Notable transactions

  • July 8, 1997: Midre Cummings was selected off waivers from the Pirates by the Philadelphia Phillies.

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Lynchburg

    References

    1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA