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1997 Pittsburgh Pirates Season
The 1997 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 116th season of the franchise; the 111th in the National League (baseball), National League. This was their 28th season at Three Rivers Stadium. The Pirates finished second in the National League Central with a record of 79–83. Offseason * October 4, 1996: The Pirates promote 3rd base coach Gene Lamont to manager, after Jim Leyland resigned after the 1996 season. * November 14, 1996: Dan Plesac, Carlos García (baseball), Carlos García and Orlando Merced were traded by the Pirates to the Toronto Blue Jays for José Silva (baseball), José Silva, Brandon Cromer (minors), Jose Pett (minors), and players to be named later. The Blue Jays completed the deal by sending Abraham Núñez (infielder), Abraham Núñez, Craig Wilson (first baseman), Craig Wilson, and Mike Halperin (minors) to the Pirates on December 11. * December 13, 1996: Jay Bell and Jeff King (baseball), Jeff King were traded by the Pirates to the Kansas City Royals for Jeff G ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League Central
The National League Central is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the National League West (the Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros) and three teams from the National League East (the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the St. Louis Cardinals). When the division was created in 1994, the Pirates were originally supposed to stay in the East while the Atlanta Braves were to be moved to the Central from the West. However, the Braves, wanting to form a natural rivalry with the expansion Florida Marlins, requested to remain in the East. Despite the Marlins offering to go to the Central, the Pirates instead gave up their spot in the East to the Braves. Since then, the Pirates have tried several times unsuccessfully to be placed back in the East. In 1998, the NL Central became the largest division in Major League Baseball when the Milwaukee Brewers were moved in from the American League Central, which gav ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Founded as part of the American Association (19th century), American Association in 1881 under the name the Allegheny Base Ball Club of Pittsburgh, the club joined the National League in 1887 and was a member of the National League East from 1969 through 1993. The Pirates have won five World Series championships, nine List of National League pennant winners, National League pennants, nine National League East division titles and made three appearances in the Major League Baseball Wild Card Game, Wild Card Game. The Pirates were among the best teams in baseball at the start of the 20th century, playing in the 1903 World Series, inaugural World Series in 1903 and winning their first title in behind Honus Wagner. The Pirates took ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeff Granger
Jeffery Adam Granger (born December 16, 1971) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). High school Granger was a star quarterback and pitcher for Orangefield High School in Orangefield, Texas. In 1990, his senior year, he led the Orangefield Bobcats to the state semifinals with a 23–6 record. Also an outstanding hitter, he still holds the Texas state record for longest hitting streak (42 games). In football, he was named the #6 Texas high school prospect in the class of 1990 by the Austin American-Statesman, and the #2 quarterback overall. Still owns the Orangefield 400m school record with a sub 50 second performance. College In two seasons for Texas A&M Granger had a record of 16–6 with 251 strikeouts in 220 innings during his first two seasons. In 1993, he broke the Aggie record with 150 strikeouts and broke Roger Clemens' Southwest Conference career strikeout rec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team was founded as 1969 Major League Baseball expansion, an expansion franchise in 1969, and have made four World Series trips, winning in and , and losing in and . Outside of a dominant 10-year stretch between 1976 and 1985, and a brief, albeit dominant, resurgence from 2013 to 2015, the Royals have combined for a bottom-ten all time winning percentage in MLB history. The name "Royals" pays homage to the American Royal, a livestock show, horse show, rodeo, and championship barbecue competition held annually in Kansas City since 1899, as well as the identical names of two former Negro league baseball teams that played in the first half of the 20th century (one was a semi-pro team based in Kansas City in the 1910s and 1920s that toured the Mi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jeff King (baseball)
Jeffrey Wayne King (born December 26, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals. Career King graduated from Rampart High School in Colorado Springs in 1983. He was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh in the 1986 June Amateur Draft, after playing college ball at the University of Arkansas. He played his 1987–88 seasons with the Eastern League's Harrisburg Senators before being promoted to Pittsburgh. King was a key part of the Pirates Division Championship teams of 1990, 1991, and 1992, batting 6th right after Barry Bonds, Andy Van Slyke and Bobby Bonilla. He was plagued by back injuries which forced Bonilla to play third base during the 1990 NLCS. King was the third player—the first two being Willie McCovey and Andre Dawson—to hit two home runs in the same inning twice during his career. On August 8, 1995, he hit two home runs in the second inning of the Pirates' 9–5 victory over the San F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jay Bell
Jay Stuart Bell (born December 11, 1965) is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and former manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Southern League. He played for the Cleveland Indians (1986–1988), Pittsburgh Pirates (1989–1996), Kansas City Royals (1997), Arizona Diamondbacks (1998–2002) and New York Mets (2003). He was the bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds, and was the bench coach for the New Zealand national baseball team that competed in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Playing career Bell played his high school baseball at J.M. Tate High School, located in Cantonment, Florida. A first-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1984, Bell made 129 errors over his first three minor-league seasons. The following year he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in a deal that brought starter Bert Blyleven to the Twins. When he finally reached the majors in 1986, he faced Blyleven in his first major-league at-bat. During this moment, Bell ripped the fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Craig Wilson (first Baseman)
Craig Allan Wilson (born November 30, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball, most often as a right fielder or first baseman. He bats and throws right-handed. Major league career After three years as a role player and pinch-hitter, Wilson played regularly in 2004, hitting .264 with 29 home runs and 82 RBI in 155 games, but posted a franchise-record 169 strikeouts (surpassing Donn Clendenon's 163 in 1968) in 561 at bats. He led the major leagues at being hit by pitches in 2002 (21) and 2004 (30). Wilson tied the major league single-season record for pinch-hit home runs with seven in 2001. In 2005, Wilson played in only 59 games as a result of two separate hand injuries that caused him to spend over half the season on the disabled list, playing in only five games between May 6 and August 28. He ended the season with a .264 batting average, 5 home runs, and 22 RBI in 197 at bats. At the trade deadl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Abraham Núñez (infielder)
Abraham Orlando Núñez Adames OO-nyez(born March 16, 1976) is a Dominican former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1997 to 2008 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and New York Mets. Núñez primarily played third base, but was capable of playing all four infield positions. Career He played 630 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates from –. He joined the St. Louis Cardinals in , and with a mid-season injury to third baseman Scott Rolen, Núñez saw his playing time increase, becoming the everyday starter at third base for the rest of the season and the playoffs. After the 2005 season, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. While he was with the Phillies, Nunez was used in roles as a defensive replacement and as a starter when pitcher Jamie Moyer was on the mound. Nunez is known for his sharp fielding skills, and was apparently a better fielder than the Phillies Greg Dobbs and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
José Silva (baseball)
José Leonel Silva (born December 19, 1973) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the La New Bears. Career Silva was drafted out of Hilltop High School (Chula Vista, California), Hilltop High School in Chula Vista, California. He last pitched in the affiliated minor leagues in 2006 for the Oklahoma RedHawks, and has been playing in the Mexican League since then. Silva became a pitching coach in the San Diego area. References External links 1973 births Águilas Cibaeñas players Mexican expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Altoona Curve players Baseball players at the 2007 Pan American Games Baseball players from Tijuana Calgary Cannons players Cincinnati Reds players Diablos Rojos del México players Dorados de Chihuahua players Dunedin Blue Jays players Mexican expatriate base ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games primarily at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The name "Blue Jays" originates from the blue jay, bird of the same name, and blue is also the Sports in Toronto#Toronto's association with the colour blue, traditional colour of Toronto's College athletics, collegiate and Major professional sports teams of the United States and Canada, professional sports teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leafs (ice hockey) and the Toronto Argonauts, Argonauts (Canadian football). In 1976, out of the over 4,000 suggestions, 154 people selected the name "Blue Jays." In addition, the team was originally owned by the Labatt Brewing Company, makers of the popular beer Labatt Blue. Colloquially nicknamed the "Jays," the team's of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orlando Merced
Orlando Luis Merced Villanueva (born November 2, 1966) is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He played all or parts of 13 seasons in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990–1996), Toronto Blue Jays (1997), Minnesota Twins (1998), Boston Red Sox (1998), Chicago Cubs (1998), Montreal Expos (1999), and Houston Astros (2001–2003). He also played one season for the Orix BlueWave (2000) in Japan. Career Merced was signed as an amateur free agent out of high school at the age of 17 by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1985. Six years later, he made his major league debut. He played for the Pirates for another six years, where he helped the Pirates win the National League East Division in three consecutive seasons, from 1990 through 1992. He was part of the Astros' 2001 NL Central Division champions. He finished second in voting for 1991 National League Rookie of the Year, behind Jeff Bagwell Jeffrey Robert Bagwell (born May 27, 1968) is an Ame ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carlos García (baseball)
Carlos Jesús García Guerrero (born October 15, 1967) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1990–1996), Toronto Blue Jays (1997), Anaheim Angels (1998) and San Diego Padres (1999). He is a former Manager of the Pirates' Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve. In 2018, he became manager of the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. Since 2021, he is the manager of the Líderes de Miranda of the Venezuelan Major League. Playing career García signed as an amateur free agent with the Pirates in 1987. He spent nearly three seasons at the Pirates' AAA Buffalo farm team. García had his best season yet at Buffalo in 1992, batting .303, with 13 home runs and 70 runs batted in. Originally a shortstop the Pirates' trade of José Lind offered García an opportunity at second base, as Jay Bell was entrenched at shortstop. He enjoyed his best seasons in 1995 and 1996, batting .294 and .285. I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
