Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

1997 Texas Rangers season

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Owner(s)
  
George W. Bush

Manager(s)
  
Johnny Oates

General manager(s)
  
Doug Melvin

Local television
  
KXTX-TV KXAS-TV Fox Sports Southwest (Mark Holtz, Tom Grieve, Bill Jones)

Local radio
  
KRLD (Eric Nadel, Brad Sham ) KMRT (Luis Mayoral, Josue Perez)

The Texas Rangers 1997 season involved the Rangers finishing 3rd in the American League west with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses. Despite not making the playoffs the club would set an all-time attendance record of over 2.945 million fans, which would be the franchise's best until 2011.

Contents

On a somber note, the club would lose long-time radio broadcaster Mark Holtz to leukemia during the season; however, in his final game in May the Rangers won, allowing him to sign off one final time with his trademark "Hello Win Column!".

Offseason

  • December 10, 1996: Billy Ripken was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
  • December 16, 1996: Scott Bailes was signed as a Free Agent with the Texas Rangers.
  • December 19, 1996: Mike Simms was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
  • March 27, 1997: Dave Silvestri was selected off waivers by the Rangers from the Seattle Mariners.

    • Regular season

  • June 12, 1997: The first interleague game took place as the Texas Rangers hosted the San Francisco Giants at The Ballpark in Arlington (now Rangers Ballpark in Arlington).

    • Notable transactions

  • April 16, 1997: Alex Diaz was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
  • June 20, 1997: Todd Van Poppel was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.
  • July 29, 1997: Ken Hill was traded by the Rangers to the Anaheim Angels for Jim Leyritz and a player to be named later. The Angels completed the deal by sending Rob Sasser to the Rangers on October 31.

    • Draft Picks

  • June 3, 1997: Mike Lamb was drafted by the Rangers in the 7th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed June 6, 1997.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Other pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Awards and honors

  • Juan González, Silver Slugger Award
  • Iván Rodríguez, C, Gold Glove
  • Iván Rodríguez, Silver Slugger Award

    • All-Star Game

    References

    1997 Texas Rangers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA