1997 New York Yankees

The final standing	Lost the ALDS to Cleveland Indians
Regular season record	96–66 (.593)
Post-season record	2-3
Divisional rank	2
ALDS record and opponent	Lost 2-3 vs Cleveland Indians
AL rank	4
ALCS record and opponent	Did not play
World Series record and opponent	Did not play
Manager	Joe Torre
Captain	None
Top batter	Home runs: Tino Martinez (44), Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill (21), and Cecil Fielder (13) BA: Bernie Williams (.328), Paul O’Neill (.324), Tim Raines (.321) Runs: Derek Jeter (116), Bernie Williams (107), Tino Martinez (96) RBI: Tino Martinez (141), Paul O’Neill (117), Bernie Williams (100)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Andy Pettitte: 18-7, 2.88 David Cone: 12-6, 2.82 David Wells: 16-10, 4.21
Attendance record	2,580,325 (6th of 14)

1997 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

In the pulsating saga of the 1997 New York Yankees, every game was a canvas, and every player had a brushstroke on the masterpiece of baseball. Guided by the maestro Joe Torre, the Yankees embarked on their 95th odyssey with the echoes of past victories ringing in their ears, aiming to etch another chapter into the annals of baseball folklore.

The regular season, a marathon of 162 games, unfolded like a gripping novel. The 1997 New York Yankees, with their record of 96 wins and 66 losses, danced on the precipice of greatness, finishing a mere heartbeat away from the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. The stage was set for a postseason opera, and the Bronx Bombers had a front-row seat.

Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians was a symphony of highs and lows, a crescendo that defined the resilience of the 1997 New York Yankees. David Cone, the virtuoso on the mound, endured a tumultuous five-run first inning, an overture that threatened to overshadow the grand spectacle.

But then, the plot twisted in a way only baseball can contrive. Enter the sixth inning, a magical interlude that will forever reverberate in the hearts of fans. Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O’Neill took center stage, orchestrating a ballet of back-to-back-to-back home runs—a feat so rare, it was akin to witnessing a comet shower in a baseball universe.

Raines’s majestic blast into the right field upper deck was the opening note, a thunderous roar that ignited the slumbering spirits of Yankee Stadium. Jeter followed suit, his bat painting a masterpiece in the left-field seats, and O’Neill, with a stroke of brilliance, sent a missile over the center-field fence. Three homers in three minutes—an artistic expression of defiance against the odds.

As the crowd erupted, the 1997 New York Yankees transformed a 6-1 deficit into an 8-6 triumph. The bullpen, a chorus of unsung heroes, held the fort with Ramiro Mendoza leading the charge and Mariano Rivera casting the final spell. The victory not only gave the Yankees a 1-0 series edge but also unveiled the poetry of their character—a team that could conjure magic when the script seemed destined for despair.

Beyond the heroics on the field, the season unfolded with subplots that added layers to the narrative. The Baltimore Orioles, the elusive antagonist, snatched the division title from the 1997 New York Yankees’ grasp. Tino Martinez, a virtuoso in his own right, played a symphony of hits, while the irreverent David Wells took the mound in Babe Ruth‘s hallowed hat, a moment that transcended the ordinary and danced with the ghosts of baseball legends.

In the grand theater of the 1997 season, the Yankees may not have clinched a repeat World Series title, but they left an indelible mark—a mosaic of resilience, artistic prowess, and an unyielding connection with their fans. The echoes of that season, the crack of the bat, and the roar of the crowd remain eternally woven into the fabric of the Bronx Bombers’ rich tapestry.

1997 New York Yankees greatest moment: A historic comeback

Game 1 of the 1997 ALDS between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians unfolded like a Shakespearean drama—a tale of contrasting fortunes.

The stage was set for a pitching duel between two titans, Orel Hershiser and David Cone. The top of the first inning saw the Indians assert their dominance, crafting a 5-0 lead with precision. Bip Roberts ignited the onslaught with a leadoff walk, navigating the bases with a stolen base, and scoring on Manny Ramirez’s single. As the Yankees’ defense struggled to contain the onslaught, Matt Williams took a hit-by-pitch, setting the scene for Sandy Alomar Jr.’s three-run homer—a stroke of brilliance that capped the Indians’ offensive symphony.

Trailing by five runs, the 1997 New York Yankees faced an uphill battle. The Indians seemed poised for victory. However, the Bronx Bombers were about to script one of the most remarkable turnarounds in postseason history.

In the bottom of the second, the Yankees loaded the bases with no outs, a glimmer of hope in the midst of adversity. Yet, they managed just one run on Wade Boggs’s forceout. The Indians responded with another run in the fourth, extending their lead to 6-1 as Marquis Grissom tripled and scored on Roberts’s single.

As the shadows of doubt loomed over Yankee Stadium, Tino Martinez stepped up in the bottom of the fourth, unleashing a home run that breathed life into the Bronx. The score tightened to 6-2, setting the stage for a dramatic fifth inning.

The Yankees, relentless, orchestrated a five-run surge in the fifth inning that would resonate in the echoes of baseball lore. Rey Sanchez‘s single, coupled with timely hitting, paved the way for a poetic sequence of events. Wade Boggs singled, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Sanchez’s hit. Then came the crescendo—a trio of consecutive home runs by Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O’Neill.

The stadium erupted in a cacophony of cheers as the 1997 New York Yankees flipped the script, turning a 6-3 deficit into an 8-6 lead. The improbable comeback left the Indians shell-shocked, their once-commanding lead was vanquished by the sheer tenacity of the pinstriped warriors.

The bullpen, a fortress of resilience, took the stage. Mariano Rivera, the maestro of saves, closed the curtain on the Indians in the ninth, sealing a victory that would go down as the Yankees’ greatest moment in the 1997 season. The demoralized Indians, having witnessed a five-run lead slip away, trudged off the field, while the 1997 New York Yankees reveled in the glory of a triumph that defied the odds—a masterpiece painted with the brushstrokes of determination, skill, and an unyielding belief in the magic of the pinstripes.

1997 New York Yankees season in videos

ALDS Result

Yankees 2-3 Indians

#	Date	Opponent	Score	Win	Loss	Save	Location	Attendance	Record
1	September 30	Indians	8–6	Mendoza (1–0)	Plunk (0–1)	Rivera (1)	Yankee Stadium	57,398	1–0
2	October 2	Indians	5–7	Wright (1–0)	Pettitte (0–1)		Yankee Stadium	57,360	1–1
3	October 4	@ Indians	6–1	Wells (1–0)	Nagy (0–1)		Jacobs Field	45,274	2–1
4	October 5	@ Indians	2–3	Jackson (1–0)	Mendoza (1–1)		Jacobs Field	45,231	2–2
5	October 6	@ Indians	3–4	Wright (2–0)	Pettitte (0–2)	Mesa (1)	Jacobs Field	45,203	2–3

ALCS

(Didn’t play)

World Series

(Didn’t play)

1997 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Willie Banks	28	R	R	6′ 1″	190	Feb 27, 1969	6	5	1	0.7
Brian Boehringer	28	B	R	6′ 2″	180	Jan 8, 1969	3	34	0	1.6	$161,100
Wade Boggs HOF	39	L	R	6′ 2″	190	Jun 15, 1958	16	104	88	2	$2,000,000
Joe Borowski	26	R	R	6′ 2″	225	May 4, 1971	3	1	0	-0.1
Homer Bush	24	R	R	5′ 10″	180	Nov 12, 1972	1st	10	1	-0.1
David Cone	34	L	R	6′ 1″	180	Jan 2, 1963	12	29	29	6.7	$6,666,667
Ivan Cruz	29	L	L	6′ 3″	210	May 3, 1968	1st	11	3	-0.1
Chad Curtis	28	R	R	5′ 10″	175	Nov 6, 1968	6	93	87	1.1
Mariano Duncan	34	R	R	6′ 0″	160	Mar 13, 1963	12	50	47	-1	$870,000
Cecil Fielder	33	R	R	6′ 3″	230	Sep 21, 1963	12	98	96	0.8	$9,237,500
Mike Figga	26	R	R	6′ 0″	200	Jul 31, 1970	1st	2	1	-0.1
Andy Fox	26	L	R	6′ 4″	205	Jan 12, 1971	2	22	8	0.3
Joe Girardi	32	R	R	5′ 11″	195	Oct 14, 1964	9	112	109	0.1	$2,250,000
Dwight Gooden	32	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Nov 16, 1964	13	20	19	1.2	$2,000,000
Charlie Hayes	32	R	R	6′ 0″	190	May 29, 1965	10	100	89	0.5	$1,700,000
Pete Incaviglia	33	R	R	6′ 1″	225	Apr 2, 1964	11	5	4	-0.2
Hideki Irabu	28	R	R	6′ 4″	240	May 5, 1969	1st	13	9	-0.9	$2,325,000
Derek Jeter HOF	23	R	R	6′ 3″	195	Jun 26, 1974	3	159	159	5	$550,000
Pat Kelly	29	R	R	6′ 0″	180	Oct 14, 1967	7	67	31	-0.1	$1,100,000
Graeme Lloyd	30	L	L	6′ 8″	225	Apr 9, 1967	5	46	0	0.7	$770,000
Tino Martinez	29	L	R	6′ 2″	205	Dec 7, 1967	8	158	153	5.1	$4,400,000
Jim Mecir	27	B	R	6′ 1″	195	May 16, 1970	3	25	0	-0.1
Ramiro Mendoza	25	R	R	6′ 2″	154	Jun 15, 1972	2	39	15	2.5	$157,000
Jeff Nelson	30	R	R	6′ 8″	225	Nov 17, 1966	6	77	0	1.9	$1,090,000
Paul O’Neill	34	L	L	6′ 4″	200	Feb 25, 1963	13	149	145	2.4	$5,500,000
Andy Pettitte	25	L	L	6′ 5″	235	Jun 15, 1972	3	35	35	8.4	$600,000
Jorge Posada	26	B	R	6′ 2″	215	Aug 17, 1970	3	60	52	0.6	$158,500
Scott Pose	30	L	R	5′ 11″	165	Feb 11, 1967	2	54	18	-0.3
Tim Raines HOF	37	B	R	5′ 8″	160	Sep 16, 1959	19	74	64	1.4	$1,703,644
Danny Rios	24	R	R	6′ 2″	190	Nov 11, 1972	1st	2	0	-0.3
Mariano Rivera HOF	27	R	R	6′ 2″	195	Nov 29, 1969	3	66	0	3.7	$550,000
Kenny Rogers	32	L	L	6′ 1″	200	Nov 10, 1964	9	31	22	0.1	$5,000,000
Rey Sanchez	29	R	R	5′ 10″	180	Oct 5, 1967	7	38	37	0.7
Luis Sojo	32	R	R	5′ 11″	172	Jan 3, 1965	8	77	52	0.4	$425,000
Mike Stanley	34	R	R	6′ 1″	185	Jun 25, 1963	12	28	21	0.2
Mike Stanton	30	L	L	6′ 1″	190	Jun 2, 1967	9	64	0	2.8	$1,616,667
Darryl Strawberry	35	L	L	6′ 6″	190	Mar 12, 1962	15	11	8	-0.5	$750,000
David Weathers	27	R	R	6′ 3″	205	Sep 25, 1969	7	10	0	-0.4	$435,000
David Wells	34	L	L	6′ 3″	187	May 20, 1963	11	32	32	4.3	$3,766,667
Mark Whiten	30	B	R	6′ 3″	210	Nov 25, 1966	8	69	52	-0.1	$1,000,000
Bernie Williams	28	B	R	6′ 2″	180	Sep 13, 1968	7	129	127	5.5	$5,300,000

1997 New York Yankees player additions, transactions, and trades

November 1996

• Nov 4: Enlisted Clay Bellinger as a free agent.
• Nov 14: Secured Marc Ronan’s services as a free agent.
• Nov 17: Acquired John Rodriguez as an amateur free agent.
• Nov 27: Added Scott Pose to the team as a free agent.

December 1996

• Dec 3: Signed Joe Girardi as a free agent.
• Dec 11: Brought Mike Stanton on board as a free agent.
• Dec 23: Secured Dave Eiland as a free agent.
• Dec 24: Welcomed David Wells as a free agent.

January

• Jan 3: Signed Willie Banks as a free agent.
• Jan 9: Added Luis Sojo to the roster as a free agent.
• Jan 9: Secured Mark Whiten as a free agent.

February

• Feb 1: Signed Tom Wilson as a free agent.
• Feb 6: Acquired Carlos Reyes as a free agent.

Apri:

• Apr 8: Released Carlos Reyes.
• Apr 22: Traded Rafael Medina, Ruben Rivera, and $3,000,000 to the San Diego Padres. Received players to be named later, Gordie Amerson (minors), and Homer Bush. (Trade completed on May 29, 1997, and June 9, 1997, with Hideki Irabu and Vernon Maxwell)

June

• Jun 3: Drafted Ryan Bradley (1st round, 40th pick).
• Jun 9: Secured Jim Converse as a free agent.
• Jun 9: Traded David Weathers to the Cleveland Indians. Received Chad Curtis.

July

• Jul 10: Signed Yhency Brazoban as an amateur free agent.
• Jul 25: Added Pete Incaviglia to the team as a free agent.
• Jul 29: Traded Mariano Duncan and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays. Received Angel Ramirez (minors).

August

• Aug 11: Selected Jose Alberro off waivers from the Texas Rangers.
• Aug 13: Traded a player to be named later and Tony Armas to the Boston Red Sox. Received Randy Brown (minors) and Mike Stanley. (Trade completed on Sep 29, 1997, with Jim Mecir)
• Aug 15: Secured René Arocha as a free agent.
• Aug 15: Released Pete Incaviglia.
• Aug 15: Released Mark Whiten.
• Aug 16: Traded Frisco Parotte (minors) to the Chicago Cubs. Received Rey Sanchez.

September

• Sep 15: Selected Joe Borowski off waivers from the Atlanta Braves.
• Sep 25: Signed Bernie Castro as an amateur free agent.
• Sep 25: Matt Luke was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers off waivers.

October

• Oct 15: Jim Converse, Dave Eiland, and Scott Pose were granted Free Agency.
• Oct 17: René Arocha, Bubba Carpenter, Marc Ronan, and Tom Wilson were granted Free Agency.
• Oct 27: Cecil Fielder and Mike Stanley were granted Free Agency.
• Oct 29: Tim Raines was granted Free Agency.
• Oct 30: Darryl Strawberry was granted Free Agency.

1997 New York Yankees player debuts

• Homer Bush – 08-16-1997 – 24 years old
• Ivan Cruz – 07-18-1997 – 29 years old
• Mike Figga – 09-16-1997 – 27 years old
• Hideki Irabu – 07-10-1997 – 28 years old
• Danny Rios – 05-30-1997 – 24 years old

1997 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Joe Girardi	32	112	433	398	38	105	23	1	1	50	2	3	26	53	0.264
1B	Tino Martinez	29	158	685	594	96	176	31	2	44	141	3	1	75	75	0.296
2B	Luis Sojo	32	77	239	215	27	66	6	1	2	25	3	1	16	14	0.307
SS	Derek Jeter	23	159	748	654	116	190	31	7	10	70	23	12	74	125	0.291
3B	Charlie Hayes	32	100	398	353	39	91	16	0	11	53	3	2	40	66	0.258
LF	Tim Raines	37	74	318	271	56	87	20	2	4	38	8	5	41	34	0.321
CF	Bernie Williams	28	129	591	509	107	167	35	6	21	100	15	8	73	80	0.328
RF	Paul O’Neill	34	149	637	553	89	179	42	0	21	117	10	7	75	92	0.324
DH	Cecil Fielder	33	98	425	361	40	94	15	0	13	61	0	0	51	87	0.26
3B	Wade Boggs	39	103	407	353	55	103	23	1	4	28	0	1	48	38	0.292
OF	Chad Curtis	28	93	372	320	51	93	21	1	12	50	12	6	36	49	0.291
LF	Mark Whiten	30	69	248	215	34	57	11	0	5	24	4	2	30	47	0.265
C	Jorge Posada	26	60	224	188	29	47	12	0	6	25	1	2	30	33	0.25
2B	Mariano Duncan	34	50	179	172	16	42	8	0	1	13	2	1	6	39	0.244
2B	Rey Sanchez	29	38	150	138	21	43	12	0	1	15	0	4	5	21	0.312
2B	Pat Kelly	29	67	138	120	25	29	6	1	2	10	8	1	14	37	0.242
DH	Mike Stanley	34	28	103	87	16	25	8	0	3	12	0	0	15	22	0.287
LF	Scott Pose	30	54	96	87	19	19	2	1	0	5	3	1	9	11	0.218
UT	Andy Fox	26	22	40	31	13	7	1	0	0	1	2	1	7	9	0.226
DH	Darryl Strawberry	35	11	32	29	1	3	1	0	0	2	0	0	3	9	0.103
UT	Ivan Cruz	29	11	22	20	0	5	1	0	0	3	0	0	2	4	0.25
DH	Pete Incaviglia	33	5	16	16	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.25
2B	Homer Bush	24	10	11	11	2	4	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0.364
C	Mike Figga	26	2	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	Team Totals	30.7	162	6527	5710	891	1636	325	23	161	846	99	58	676	954	0.287
	Rank in 14 AL teams				2	2	2	2	10	8		9	10	1	4	2

1997 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Andy Pettitte	25	18	7	0.720	2.88	35	35	0	4	1	0	240.1	233	86	77
SP	David Wells	34	16	10	0.615	4.21	32	32	0	5	2	0	218	239	109	102
SP	David Cone	34	12	6	0.667	2.82	29	29	0	1	0	0	195	155	67	61
SP	Kenny Rogers	32	6	7	0.462	5.65	31	22	4	1	0	0	145	161	100	91
SP	Dwight Gooden	32	9	5	0.643	4.91	20	19	0	0	0	0	106.1	116	61	58
CL	Mariano Rivera	27	6	4	0.6	1.88	66	0	56	0	0	43	71.2	65	17	15
RP	Ramiro Mendoza	25	8	6	0.571	4.24	39	15	9	0	0	2	133.2	157	67	63
RP	Jeff Nelson	30	3	7	0.3	2.86	77	0	22	0	0	2	78.2	53	32	25
RP	Mike Stanton	30	6	1	0.857	2.57	64	0	15	0	0	3	66.2	50	19	19
RP	Graeme Lloyd	30	1	1	0.5	3.31	46	0	17	0	0	1	49	55	24	18
	Hideki Irabu	28	5	4	0.556	7.09	13	9	0	0	0	0	53.1	69	47	42
	Brian Boehringer	28	3	2	0.6	2.63	34	0	11	0	0	0	48	39	16	14
	Jim Mecir	27	0	4	0	5.88	25	0	11	0	0	0	33.2	36	23	22
	Willie Banks	28	3	0	1	1.93	5	1	1	0	0	0	14	9	3	3
	David Weathers	27	0	1	0	10	10	0	3	0	0	0	9	15	10	10
	Danny Rios	24	0	0		19.29	2	0	0	0	0	0	2.1	9	5	5
	Joe Borowski	26	0	1	0	9	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	2	2	2
	Wade Boggs	39	0	0		0	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
	Team Totals	29.8	96	66	0.593	3.84	162	162	151	11	3	51	1467.2	1463	688	626
	Rank in 14 AL teams		2	13		1				3	2	3	1	4	2	1

1997 New York Yankees vs. opponents/ team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Anaheim Angels (11)	7	4	0.636
Atlanta Braves (3)	1	2	0.333
Baltimore Orioles (12)	4	8	0.333
Boston Red Sox (12)	8	4	0.667
Chicago White Sox (11)	9	2	0.818
Cleveland Indians (11)	6	5	0.545
Detroit Tigers (12)	10	2	0.833
Florida Marlins (3)	1	2	0.333
Kansas City Royals (11)	8	3	0.727
Milwaukee Brewers (11)	7	4	0.636
Minnesota Twins (11)	8	3	0.727
Montreal Expos (3)	1	2	0.333
New York Mets (3)	2	1	0.667
Oakland Athletics (11)	6	5	0.545
Philadelphia Phillies (3)	0	3	0.000
Seattle Mariners (11)	4	7	0.364
Texas Rangers (11)	7	4	0.636
Toronto Blue Jays (12)	7	5	0.583

1997 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (27)	14	13	0.519
May (27)	15	12	0.556
June (25)	17	8	0.680
July (26)	15	11	0.577
August (29)	18	11	0.621
September (28)	17	11	0.607

1997 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Tino Martinez
• David Cone
• Mariano Rivera
• Paul O’Neill
• Bernie Williams

1997 New York Yankees awards and honors

• Gold Glove Award: Bernie Williams
• Silver Slugger Award: Tino Martinez

Other Achievements

• Tino Martinez finished 2nd in AL MVP Voting.
• Andy Pettitte finished 5th in AL Cy Young Voting.
• Joe Torre finished 7th in AL Manager of the Year Voting.

1997 New York Yankees: Unfulfilled dreams

For most teams, the baseball season concludes in September, a neat punctuation mark to 162 games. However, for the New York Yankees, the 1997 season is an epic novel with a run-on sentence that extends into October, November, and sometimes beyond. The allure of championships and the embrace of George Steinbrenner‘s largesse create a narrative where October baseball is not just an expectation but a birthright.

In the grand theater of postseasons past, the Yankees had thrived, claiming victory in 11 games or more four times in the previous five years. Yet, 1997 emerged as an oddity, a year that left a bitter taste in the mouths of pinstriped warriors. The champions of 1996 found themselves falling short of the coveted 11 victories, and the disappointment was palpable.

As the postseason unfolded, the wounds of the 1997 American League Division Series (ALDS) against the Cleveland Indians cut deep. The 1997 New York Yankees had fought bravely, winning two of the first three games. Victory seemed within grasp, only to be cruelly snatched away. Sandy Alomar Jr.’s game-tying home run against the indomitable Mariano Rivera and subsequent defeats in Games 4 and 5 sent the Yankees home, their dreams of a repeat World Series title shattered.

For Paul O’Neill, the sting of that defeat lingered like a haunting melody. The usually resilient outfielder admitted, “That was probably the most depressing time I’ve ever had as a baseball player. It was just frustrating.” Tino Martinez echoed the sentiment, describing the offseason as “probably the most disappointing.” Having tasted the glory of victory in 1996, the unexpected defeat in 1997 cast a long shadow over their winter.

As the final out was recorded and the 1997 New York Yankees scattered to their respective homes, the weight of unfulfilled expectations bore down on their shoulders. Martinez, unable to bear witness to the rest of the postseason, reflected on the missed opportunity, stating, “It was a long offseason.”

However, amidst the heartbreak, a valuable lesson emerged. Martinez saw the defeat as a catalyst for growth, noting, “I think it made us a hungrier team. We realized it wasn’t that easy to win the World Series.” The unexpected loss became a crucible, forging a resolve that would define the Yankees in the seasons to come.

Derek Jeter, who had become accustomed to the World Series being part of the Yankees’ routine, confessed to a lack of interest in the games following their elimination. The postseason had become synonymous with the Bronx Bombers, and the absence of their presence felt surreal.

As the Yankees reflected on the heartbreak of 1997, it became a pivotal chapter in their journey. The disappointment fueled a hunger for redemption, a thirst for a return to the grand stage of October baseball. The defeat was not the end; it was a poignant pause in a run-on sentence, setting the stage for the Yankees to pen new chapters of triumph and glory in the seasons that awaited.

How do you rate the 1997 New York Yankees?