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1997 American League Division Series

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The 1997 American League Division Series (ALDS), the opening round of the 1997 American League playoffs, 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:

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.

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 in the 1997 World Series.

Managers:

Umpires: Tim McClelland, Dale Ford, Ken Kaiser, Greg Kosc, Dave Phillips, Rocky Roe (Orioles-Mariners, Games 1-2; Indians-Yankees, Games 3-5); Tim Tschida, Dan Morrison, Rick Reed, Dale Scott, Rich Garcia, Derryl Cousins (Indians-Yankees, Games 1-2; Orioles-Mariners, Games 3-4)

Television:

Series Network(s) Play-by-play Color Commentator(s)
Cleveland Indians/New York Yankees FOX (Games 1, 2, 4, 5)
NBC (Game 3) 		Joe Buck (Games 1, 2, 4, 5)
Bob Costas (Game 3) 		Tim McCarver and Bob Brenly (Games 1, 2, 4, 5)
Bob Uecker and Joe Morgan
Baltimore Orioles/Seattle Mariners NBC (Game 1)
ESPN (Games 2, 4)
FOX (Game 3) 		Bob Costas (Game 1)
Jon Miller (Games 2, 4)
Joe Buck (Game 3) 		Bob Uecker (Game 1) and Joe Morgan (Games 1, 2, 4)
Tim McCarver and Bob Brenly (Game 3)


Baltimore Orioles vs. Seattle Mariners

Series Summary:

Orioles win series: 3-1

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Series Summary:

Game 1 saw a matchup of Orel Hershiser and David Cone. The Indians made their presence felt in the top of the 1st when they struck for five runs. The inning was capped by Sandy Alomar Jr.'s three run homer, the first of 19 RBIs in the 1997 postseason. The Yankees would scratch out a run in the 2nd but the Indians made it 6-1 when Marquis Grissom scored on a Bip Roberts base hit in the 4th. The Yankees began their comeback by getting a run in both the 4th and 5th innings to cut the lead to three. Finally, in the 6th, the Yankees completed a five run comeback by getting five runs. Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O'Neill hit three straight homers 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 9th. Having seen a five run lead disappear, the Indians appeared demoralized.

The seemingly overmatched Jaret Wright faced Andy Pettitte in Game 2. The Yankees jumped out to a 3-0 1st inning lead on a two run double by Tino Martinez and a sac fly by Charlie Hayes. All hope appeared lost for the Indians against the defending World Champions. But the Indians mustered a five run rally with 2 out in the 4th with 4 straight RBI hits. And when Matt Williams hit a two run homer in the 5th it sent the spirit of the Yankees plummeting. The Yankees would get runs in the 8th and 9th against Jose Mesa but the lead would stand and the series was tied at a game a piece.

David Wells faced Charles Nagy in Game 3. An error by Nagy gave Wells a 1-0 lead in the 1st. But the Indians would tie the game in the 2nd on a forceout. Derek Jeter would help give the Yankees the lead in the 3rd when he walked, stole second, and scored on Tino Martinez's RBI hit. In the 4th, Paul O'Neill hit a grand slam that gave the Yankees 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 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 on an RBI double by Paul O'Neill and an RBI single by Cecil Fielder. This would be all the Yankees could muster off Hershiser, whose postseason legend continued to improve. A solo homer in the 2nd 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 8th. With 2 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. But 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. In the 9th, Marquis Grissom singled to leadoff the inning. A bunt moved him to second and Omar Vizquel hit a single off reliever Ramiro Mendoza that rolled past Derek Jeter to the outfield grass. That allowed Grissom to score the game winning run.

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 3rd thanks to back-to-back two out hits by Manny Ramirez and Matt Williams. Then a sac fly by Tony Fernandez in the 4th made it 4-0. But the Yankees gave the Indians cause to pause in the 5th when an error by Ramirez cut the lead in half. Then Wade Boggs's pinch hit RBI single made it a one run game in the 6th. 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 9th when Paul O'Neill's two out double gave Bernie Williams a chance to hit the go-ahead homer off Jose Mesa. But Mesa got Williams to fly out to Brian Giles to end the series and ensure a new World Champion in 1997.

Notable Quotes

Into right field, well hit...track...wall...TIED! - Joe Buck, calling Sandy Alomar's dramatic home run off Mariano Rivera to tie Game 4, CLE vs. NYY

Off [Ramiro] Mendoza, base hit! There will be Game 5 tomorrow night! - Joe Buck, calling Omar Vizquel's game-winning hit in Game 4, CLE vs. NYY

Into left centerfield, [Brian] Giles is there...celebrate! - Joe Buck, calling the final out in Game 5, CLE vs. NYY

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