1997 Chicago Cubs season

MLB yearly infobox alt
name=Chicago Cubs
season=1997
misc=
logo=Chicago Cubs Logo.pngcurrent league=National League
y1=1876
division=Central Division
y2=1994
Uniform logo =
ballpark=Wrigley Field
y4=1916
city=Chicago, Illinois
y5=1871
owners=Tribune Company
general managers = Ed Lynch
managers=Jim Riggleman
television = WGN-TV/Superstation WGN/Chicagoland TV
(Harry Caray, Steve Stone, Josh Lewin)
radio = WGN
(Ron Santo, Pat Hughes)
espntn=chc
brtn=CHC|

The 1997 Chicago Cubs season was one of little success for the team. The Cubs never had a record above .500 at any point during the season, and finished last in their division. The season is probably best remembered for the miserable way in which the team began the season, losing their first 14 games before finally winning the second game of a double against the New York Mets. The 0-14 start brought the superstition of the "billy goat curse" to the forefront, and at one point a goat was actually led around Wrigley Field.

Offseason

*December 10, 1996: Mel Rojas was signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago Cubs. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/r/rojasme01.shtml Mel Rojas Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

Regular season

*June 16 - The first interleague game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox took place at U.S. Cellular Field. The Cubs won the game by a score of 8-3. [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199706160CHA]

Opening Day Starters

eason standings

Notable Transactions

* July 12, 1997: Carlos Zambrano was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/z/zambrca01.shtml]
* August 8, 1997: Brian McRae was traded by the Chicago Cubs with Mel Rojas and Turk Wendell to the New York Mets for players to be named later and Lance Johnson. The New York Mets sent Mark Clark (August 11, 1997) and Manny Alexander (August 14, 1997) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/mcraebr01.shtml Brian McRae Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
* August 11, 1997: Mark Clark was sent by the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs to complete an earlier deal made on August 8, 1997. The New York Mets sent players to be named later and Lance Johnson to the Chicago Cubs for Brian McRae, Mel Rojas, and Turk Wendell. The New York Mets sent Mark Clark (August 11, 1997) and Manny Alexander (August 14, 1997) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/clarkma01.shtml Mark Clark Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]

Roster

Relief pitchers

Farm system [Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., "The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball," 3rd edition. Durham, N.C.: Baseball America, 2007]

* Class AAA: Iowa Cubs (American Association; Tim Johnson, manager)
* Class AA: Orlando Rays (Southern League; Dave Trembley, manager)
* Class A: Daytona Cubs (Florida State League; Steve Roadcap, manager)
* Class A: Rockford Cubbies (Midwest League; Ruben Amaro, Sr., manager)
* Class SS-A: Williamsport Cubs (New York-Penn League; Bobby Ralston, manager)
* Rookie: AZL Cubs (Arizona League; Terry Kennedy, manager) -- LEAGUE CHAMPION

References

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1997.shtml 1997 Chicago Cubs season at Baseball Reference]