The 1997

American League Division Series In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring ea ...

(ALDS), the opening round of the

American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...

side in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...

’s (MLB) 1997 postseason, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Monday, October 6, with the champions of the three AL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were: *(1)

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

(Eastern Division champion, 98–64) vs. (3)

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

(Western Division champion, 90–72): Orioles win series, 3–1. *(2)

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

(Central Division champion, 86–75) vs. (4)

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

(Wild Card, 96–66): Indians win series, 3–2.The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was not tied to playing record but was predetermined—a highly unpopular arrangement which was discontinued after the conclusion of the 1997 playoffs. Also, the team with home field advantage was required to play the first two games on the road, with potentially the last three at home, in order to reduce travel. The Orioles played the Mariners, rather than the wild card Yankees, because the Orioles and Yankees are in the same division. Had the 1997 ALDS been played under the 1998-2011 arrangement, then Baltimore (1) would have faced off against Cleveland (3) and New York (4) would have faced off against Seattle (2). Under the format adopted in 2012 which removed the prohibition against teams from the same division meeting in the Division Series, the matchups instead would have been Baltimore-New York and Seattle-Cleveland, with the Orioles and Mariners having home field advantage. The Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians went on to meet in the AL Championship Series (ALCS). The Indians became the American League champion, and lost to the National League champion

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

in the

1997 World Series The 1997 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1997 season. The 93rd edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Cleveland Indians and the National ...

Matchups

Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Baltimore vs. Seattle

Game 1

Kingdome The Kingdome (officially the King County Stadium) was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Industrial District, Seattle, Industrial District (later SoDo, Seattle, SoDo) neighborhood of Seattle, Washington (state), Washington, United States. O ...

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

The Orioles had gone wire-to-wire and the Mariners had won the AL West for the second time in the decade. In Game 1, both teams had their best on the mound:

Mike Mussina Michael Cole Mussina (born December 8, 1968), nicknamed "Moose", is an American former baseball starting pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1991–2000) and the New York Yankees (2001–2008). ...

for the Orioles and

Randy Johnson Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed, "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizo ...

for the Mariners. The game was scoreless until

Mike Bordick Michael Todd Bordick (born July 21, 1965) is an American retired professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball from 1990 to 2003 with four teams: the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, and Toronto Blue Jays ...

hit an RBI double after a walk for the Orioles in the third, but

Edgar Martínez Edgar Martínez (born January 2, 1963), nicknamed "Gar" and "Papi", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player who is currently the senior director of hitting strategy coach for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). H ...

's home run tied the game in the fourth. In the fifth, after two walks,

Brady Anderson Brady Kevin Anderson (born January 18, 1964) is an American former baseball outfielder and executive who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2002) for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. He spent the major ...

's RBI single put the Orioles up 2–1. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up, Eric Davis's two-run single made it 4–1 Orioles. Davis was caught stealing second for the second out, but Gerónimo Berroa's home run extended the lead to 5–1. Next inning,

Chris Hoiles Chris Allen Hoiles (born March 20, 1965) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles from 1989 to 1998. Although his playing career was sh ...

's lead off home run off

Mike Timlin Michael August Timlin (; born March 10, 1966) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. Timlin played on four World Series championship teams in an 18-year career; the 1992 Toronto Blue Jays, 1993 Toronto Blue Jays, 2004 Bost ...

made it 6–1 Orioles.

Rafael Palmeiro Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964) is a Cuban-American former baseball first baseman and left fielder. He played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for three teams. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State Univer ...

then doubled and one out later, scored on

's double. After a ground out and intentional walk,

Paul Spoljaric Paul Nikola Spoljaric (born September 24, 1970) is a Canadian former left-handed professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four different teams between 1994 and 2000. Biography After being signed by the Toron ...

relieved Timlin and allowed a two-run double to B. J. Surhoff's. The Mariners got their final two runs on home runs by

Jay Buhner Jay Campbell Buhner (born August 13, 1964), nicknamed "Bone", is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played for the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball from 1987 to 2001. Noted for his shaved head ...

and

Alex Rodriguez Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975), nicknamed "A-Rod", is an American former professional baseball shortstop, third baseman and designated hitter and current businessman. Rodriguez played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (ML ...

in the seventh off Mussina and ninth off Armando Benitez, respectively.

Game 2

Scott Erickson Scott Gavin Erickson (born February 2, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees over 15 seasons. He ...

faced

Jamie Moyer Jamie Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Over his 25-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Ba ...

in Game 2 and the situation cried for a Mariner victory. In the bottom of the first, the Mariners got two runs after a leadoff single and subsequent double on RBI groundouts by

Ken Griffey George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born November 21, 1969), nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent most of his career with the Seattle Mari ...

and Edgar Martinez, but

Harold Baines Harold Douglas Baines (born March 15, 1959) is an American former designated hitter and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for five American League (AL) teams from 1980 to 2001, and is best known for his three stints with the Chi ...

homered to make it a one-run game in the second and in the fifth, after Moyer got two quick outs, he surrendered a walk and a single. Moyer then left the game with a strained flexor in his left elbow.

Roberto Alomar Roberto Alomar Velázquez (; ; born February 5, 1968) is a Puerto Ricans, Puerto Rican former second baseman who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seventeen seasons. He is regarded as one of the greatest second basemen and all-around pla ...

would double in two runs off

to give the Orioles a 3–2 lead. In the seventh,

's two-run home run after a walk off

Bobby Ayala Robert Joseph Ayala (born July 8, 1969) is an American former professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos. Career Ayala went to high school at Rio Mesa in Oxnard, California. He was b ...

gave the Orioles a commanding 5–2 lead. The Mariners got a run in the bottom of the inning when

Paul Sorrento Paul Anthony Sorrento (born November 17, 1965) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. From 1989 through 1999, Sorrento played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners and Tam ...

drew a leadoff walk off

, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on

Rob Ducey Robert Thomas Ducey (born May 24, 1965) is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder and coach who played for six teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). Career Ducey was raised in Cambridge, Ontario and graduated from Seminole Communit ...

's RBI single, but the Orioles widened the gap in the eighth off Ayala. After loading the bases on a single, double and intentional walk,

Lenny Webster Leonard Irell Webster (born February 10, 1965) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1989 to 2000. Webster was one of the active players wearing number 42 while playing for the Ba ...

walked to force in a run before

's two-run single made it 8–3.

Norm Charlton Norman Wood Charlton III (born January 6, 1963), nicknamed "the Sheriff", is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Bal ...

relieved Ayala and allowed an RBI double to

. The Orioles cruised to their second straight 9–3 win and were up 2–0 in the series heading to Baltimore. This would be the final postseason game played at the Kingdome.

Game 3

Oriole Park at Camden Yards Oriole Park at Camden Yards, commonly known as Camden Yards, is a ballpark in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the home of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s Baltimore Orioles, and the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the ...

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...

In a must-win game for the Mariners, Jeff Fassero took the mound against

Jimmy Key James Edward Key (born April 22, 1961) is an American former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays (1984–1992), New York Yankees (1993–1996), and Baltimore Orioles (1997–1998). His best ...

, who was looking to end the series. In the third,

Roberto Kelly Roberto Conrado Kelly (born October 1, 1964) is a Panamanian baseball manager and former professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1982 and went on to play for th ...

hit an RBI double after a Rich Amaral single for the Mariners. In the fifth,

Ken Griffey Jr. George Kenneth Griffey Jr. (born November 21, 1969), nicknamed "Junior" and "the Kid", is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 22 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He spent most of his career with the Seattle Mari ...

drove in a run with a base hit to make it 2–0 Mariners. The score remained 2–0 and Fassero had shut the Orioles out through eight innings. In the ninth,

and

hit one-out back-to-back home runs off

Terry Matthews Sir Terence Hedley Matthews (born 6 June 1943) is a Welsh-Canadian business magnate, serial high-tech entrepreneur, and Wales' first billionaire. He was the richest man in Wales until 2012, when he was surpassed by Sir Michael Moritz. He ha ...

to give the Mariners a 4–0 lead. These would turn out to be the deciding runs as the Orioles rallied in the bottom half. After Jeff Fassero walked

Geronimo Berroa Gerónimo (, ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a military leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache bands the Tchihende ...

to lead it off,

singled off Heathcliff Slocumb, who got two outs before Jeffrey Hammonds's two-run double put the tying run at the plate in the person of

, but Baines popped out to ensure a Game 4.

Game 4

and

faced off again in game 4. In the bottom of the first, Johnson gave up a one-out home run to Jeff Reboulet, a double to

, and an RBI single to

Cal Ripken Jr. Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed "the Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played his entire 21-season career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). ...

, but

's home run in the second made it a one-run game. Gerónimo Berroa's home run in the fifth gave the Orioles a two-run edge. Mussina and Johnson dueled on even terms until Mussina was pulled in the eighth in favor of

Armando Benítez Armando Germán Benítez (born November 3, 1972) is a Dominican former major league relief pitcher. Benítez debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in 1994 and within a few years became their closer. He was a reliever for several other organizations ...

. The Orioles' bullpen managed to hang onto a 3–1 clinching victory that put the Orioles back in the ALCS for the second straight year.

Composite box

1997 ALDS (3–1):

over

Cleveland vs. New York

Game 1

Yankee Stadium (I) in

Bronx, New York The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...

Game 1 saw a matchup of Orel Hershiser and David Cone. In the top of the first, Bip Roberts drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Manny Ramirez's single. Ramirez moved to second on another single, then to third on a forceout before scoring on wild pitch. After Matt Williams (third baseman), Matt Williams was hit by a pitch, Sandy Alomar Jr.'s three-run homer, the first of his nineteen RBIs in the 1997 postseason, capped the scoring at 5–0. The Yankees loaded the bases in the second on a single and two walks with no outs, but scored just one run on Wade Boggs's forceout. The Indians got that run back in the fourth when Marquis Grissom tripled and scored on Roberts's single. Tino Martinez's home run in the bottom half cut the lead to 6–2, then next inning, after a leadoff single and double, Tim Raines's sacrifice fly made it 6–3 Indians. In the sixth, the Yankees completed a five-run comeback. Boggs singled with one out, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Rey Sanchez's single, then Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O'Neill (baseball), Paul O'Neill hit three straight home runs to give the Yankees an 8–6 edge. It was a lead the Yankee bullpen would not squander. Mariano Rivera got the save in the ninth. Having seen a five-run lead disappear, the Indians appeared demoralized.

Game 2

Yankee Stadium (I) in

The seemingly overmatched Jaret Wright faced Andy Pettitte in Game 2. After three straight one-out walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first, the Yankees jumped out to a 3–0 first inning lead on a two-run double by Tino Martinez and a sacrifice fly by Charlie Hayes. In the top of the fifth with two on, three straight RBI singles by David Justice, Sandy Alomar Jr., Sandy Alomar, and Jim Thome tied the game, then Tony Fernandez's two-run double put the Indians up 5–3. Next inning, Matt Williams (third baseman), Matt Williams's two-run home run extended the lead to 7–3 The Yankees would get two runs against José Mesa on Mike Stanley's bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the eighth and Derek Jeter's home run in the ninth, but the Indians' lead stood and the series was tied at a game apiece.

Game 3

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio David Wells faced Charles Nagy in Game 3. An error by Nagy gave Wells a 1–0 lead in the first on Paul O'Neill (baseball), Paul O'Neill's RBI single with two on, but the Indians would tie the game in the second on Tony Fernandez's forceout with two on. Derek Jeter gave the Yankees the lead in the third when he walked, stole second, and scored on Tino Martinez's RBI hit. In the fourth, the Yankees loaded the bases on three walks off Nagy before Paul O'Neill (baseball), Paul O'Neill hit a grand slam off Chad Ogea that gave them a commanding 6–1 lead and silenced the Jacobs Field crowd. Rain was a constant throughout the game and the rain fell on the Indians' parade as the Yankees took a 2–1 series lead.

Game 4

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio Game 4 proved memorable as two veteran starters, Dwight Gooden and Orel Hershiser, battled back and forth. The Yankees jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the first when Derek Jeter hit a one-out double and scored on an RBI double by Paul O'Neill (baseball), Paul O'Neill, then after a groundout and hit-by-pitch, Cecil Fielder hit an RBI single. This was all they could muster off Hershiser, whose postseason legend continued to improve. A home run in the second by David Justice cut that 2–0 in half and gave the Indians cause for hope. However, Gooden and the Yankees bullpen kept the Indians scoreless until the bottom of the eighth. With two outs and Mariano Rivera on the mound, the Indians looked finished. Having posted 43 saves during the regular season, Rivera appeared to be the executioner. However, Sandy Alomar Jr. homered to tie the game and that homer gave birth to his postseason legacy in 1997. This would be Rivera's only blown save in the playoffs until 2001 World Series, 2001. In the ninth, Marquis Grissom singled to lead off the inning off Ramiro Mendoza. A bunt moved him to second and Omar Vizquel hit a single that rolled past Derek Jeter to the outfield grass. That allowed Grissom to score the game-winning run.

Game 5

Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio With the momentum on their side, the Indians looked to finish off the defending champs. Andy Pettitte and Jaret Wright once again faced off. The Indians would take a 3–0 lead in the third after two one-out singles were followed by a two-out two-run double by Manny Ramírez and RBI single by Matt Williams (third baseman), Matt Williams. Then Sandy Alomar Jr., Sandy Alomar doubled to lead off the fourth, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a fly by Tony Fernández to make it 4–0 Indians. However, the Yankees gave the Indians cause to pause in the fifth when errors by Alomar and Ramirez allowed two-runs to score on Bernie Williams's single. Then Mike Stanley hit a leadoff double in the sixth and scored on Wade Boggs's pinch hit RBI single to make it a one-run game. The score remained 4–3 and the Yankees blew multiple chances to take the lead. The Indians also had their share of chances to put the series away. The frustration mounted in the ninth when Paul O'Neill (baseball), Paul O'Neill's two-out double gave Bernie Williams a chance to hit the go-ahead home run off José Mesa, but Mesa got Williams to fly out (a fairly deep fly ball) to Brian Giles to end the series and ensure a new World Champion in 1997.

Composite box

1997 ALDS (3–2): Cleveland Indians over New York Yankees

Notes and references

External links

BAL vs. SEA at Baseball-ReferenceCLE vs. NYY at Baseball-Reference
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