The 1997 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's twenty-first season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing fifth 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-establish 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 seasons 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 an 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). Longtime fan-favourite Joe Carter also played in his final season for the Blue Jays, as he was released at the end of the season.
October 2, 1996: Dane Johnson was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the Toronto Blue Jays.November 14, 1996: Dan Plesac was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates with Carlos Garcia and Orlando Merced to the Toronto Blue Jays for players to be named later, José 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 Santiago signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.December 13, 1996: Roger Clemens 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 Olerud was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays with cash to the New York Mets for Robert Person.Joe CarterCarlos DelgadoCarlos GarciaAlex GonzalezShawn GreenPat HentgenOrlando MercedOtis NixonBenito SantiagoEd SpragueJune 30 – The first interleague 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.June 30, SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario
The Blue Jays and Expos played to a sold-out Skydome crowd on Canada Day. 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.
May 11, 1997: Rubén Sierra was signed as a Free Agent with the Toronto Blue Jays.June 3, 1997: Orlando Hudson 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 Nixon was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Bobby Cripps (minors).Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Relief pitchers
Roger Clemens, Pitcher of the Month Award, MayRoger Clemens, Pitcher of the Month Award, AugustRoger Clemens, Cy Young AwardRoger Clemens, MLB Leader, 21 WinsRoger Clemens, AL Strikeout Crown, 292 StrikeoutsRoger Clemens, AL ERA Crown, 2.05Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Complete Games (9)Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Shutouts (3)Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Innings Pitched (264)All-Star Game
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