The Seattle Mariners 1997 season was their 21st season, and the team won their second American League West with a record of six games ahead of the runner-up Anaheim Angels. For the second straight year, they led the AL in runs scored and shattered the all-time record for most home runs hit by a team in one season with 264. Five Mariners scored at least 100 runs and six hit at least 20 home runs. In addition, the Seattle pitching staff led the league with 1,207 strike outs. The Mariners drew over three million in home attendance for the first time in franchise in the penultimate full season at the Kingdome. Ken Griffey Jr. hit a franchise record 56 home runs and won the Most Valuable Player award in the American League.
Offseason
October 3, 1996: Ricky Jordan was released by the Mariners.
November 12, 1996: Jalal Leach was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
December 21, 1996: Josías Manzanillo was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
January 10, 1997: Brent Mayne was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
January 22, 1997: Rob Ducey was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
January 24, 1997: Mike Blowers was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
February 20, 1997: Dennis Martínez was signed as a free agent with the Mariners.
March 27, 1997: Dave Silvestri was selected off waivers by the Texas Rangers from the Mariners.
March 28, 1997: Brent Mayne was released by the Mariners.
Regular season
In 1997, Randy Johnson set an American League record for left-handers by striking out nineteen batters in a 4-1 loss to the Oakland A's on June 24. On August 8 he matched the feat by setting down nineteen Chicago White Sox. Johnson posted a 20-4 record with 291 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.28. He finished second in the Cy Young balloting to Toronto's Roger Clemens.
Opening Day starters
Jay Buhner
Joey Cora
Russ Davis
Jeff Fassero
Ken Griffey, Jr.
Edgar Martínez
Alex Rodriguez
Paul Sorrento
Lee Tinsley
Dan Wilson
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions
April 8, 1997: Steve Decker was signed as a Free Agent with the Seattle Mariners.
May 24, 1997: Dennis Martínez was released by the Seattle Mariners.
July 17, 1997: Josías Manzanillo was released by the Seattle Mariners.
July 31, 1997: Paul Spoljaric was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays with Mike Timlin to the Seattle Mariners for Jose Cruz.
August 20, 1997: Roberto Kelly was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Seattle Mariners for players to be named later. The Seattle Mariners sent Joe Mays and Jeromy Palki to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade.
September 2, 1997: Steve Decker was released by the Seattle Mariners.
Roster
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pos
Player
G
AB
H
Avg.
HR
RBI
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
