1997 New York Mets season

The 1997 New York Mets season was the 36th regular season for the Mets. They went 88–74 and finished third in the National League East, thirteen games behind the first place Atlanta Braves. The Mets were managed by Bobby Valentine. They played home games at Shea Stadium. It was their first winning season since 1990, despite not making the playoffs.

Offseason

• November 25, 1996: Paul Byrd and a player to be named later were traded by the Mets to the Atlanta Braves for Greg McMichael. The Mets completed the deal by sending Andy Zwirchitz (minors) to the Braves on May 25, 1997.
• November 27, 1996: Rico Brogna was traded by the Mets to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ricardo Jordan and Toby Borland.
• December 20, 1996: Robert Person was traded by the Mets to the Toronto Blue Jays for John Olerud and cash.
• March 22, 1997: Héctor Ramírez was traded by the Mets to the Baltimore Orioles for Scott McClain and Manny Alexander.

Regular season

For the first time since 1990, the Mets finished the regular season with a winning record. Their offensive output was led by their corner infielders, the 23-year old third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo and the two-time former world champion first baseman John Olerud, the latter of whom was acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Alfonzo, in his first full season as a starter, led the team with a .315 average and 163 hits while Olerud notched a .294 average and drove in 102 runs to lead the Mets in that category. Catcher Todd Hundley, a year removed from his record setting 1996 campaign, led the team in home runs with 30 and added 86 RBI, one of five Mets to record 70 or more (joining Alfonzo, Olerud, Bernard Gilkey, and Butch Huskey).

After a year out of baseball, Rick Reed joined the Mets' starting rotation and led them with a 2.89 ERA. Bobby Jones led with fifteen wins, with Reed recording thirteen. John Franco saved 36 games, his most since 1988.

Jackie Robinson tribute

On April 15 the Mets hosted ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers before their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Shea Stadium. The ceremony was attended by President Bill Clinton and commissioner Bud Selig announced that Robinson's jersey number, 42, would be retired permanently across baseball. The Mets won the game 5–0.

Subway Series

Interleague play was brought to MLB in 1997 and the Mets played New York Yankees in June as part of the first ever regular season games that counted in the standings between the two teams (they had previously an exhibition game until 1983 during the season). The series took place at Yankee Stadium, and Mets won the first game by a score of 6–0.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 3, 1997: 1997 Major League Baseball draft
• Garrett Atkins was drafted by the Mets in the 10th round, but did not sign.
• Jeremy Guthrie was drafted by the Mets in the 15th round, but did not sign.
• August 8, 1997: Lance Johnson and players to be named later were traded by the Mets to the Chicago Cubs for Brian McRae, Mel Rojas and Turk Wendell. The Mets completed the deal by sending Mark Clark to the Cubs on August 11 and Manny Alexander to the Cubs on August 14.

Game log

|- bgcolor="#fcc" | 1 || April 1 || @ Padres || 5–12 || Hamilton (1–0) || Pérez (0–1) || — || Qualcomm Stadium || 43,005 || 0–1 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 2 || April 2 || @ Padres || 5–6 || Bergman (1–0) || Jordan (0–1) || — || Qualcomm Stadium || 16,465 || 0–2 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 3 || April 3 || @ Padres || 4–1 || B. Jones (1–0) || Valenzuela (0–1) || Franco (1) || Qualcomm Stadium || 21,611 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 4 || April 4 || @ Giants || 4–6 || Rodriguez (1–1) || Jordan (0–2) || Beck (1) || 3Com Park || 8,380 || 1–3 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 5 || April 5 || @ Giants || 0–2 || Roa (1–0) || Manuel (0–1) || Beck (2) || 3Com Park || 13,768 || 1–4 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 6 || April 6 || @ Giants || 4–2 || Bohanon (1–0) || Gardner (0–1) || Franco (2) || 3Com Park || 15,073 || 2–4 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 7 || April 7 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Astacio (1–0) || Crawford (0–1) || — || Dodger Stadium || 27,547 || 2–5 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 8 || April 8 || @ Dodgers || 5–3 || B. Jones (2–0) || Valdez (1–1) || McMichael (1) || Dodger Stadium || 27,318 || 3–5 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 9 || April 9 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Candiotti (2–0) || Bohanon (1–1) || — || Dodger Stadium || 28,056 || 3–6 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 12 || Giants || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for April 13 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 10 || April 13 || Giants || 1–5 || Gardner (1–1) || Clark (0–1) || — || Shea Stadium || N/A || 3–7 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 11 || April 13 || Giants || 6–7 || Estes (2–0) || B. Jones (2–1) || Beck (6) || Shea Stadium || 21,981 || 3–8 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 12 || April 14 || Giants || 2–3 || Rodriguez (2–1) || McMichael (0–1) || Beck (7) || Shea Stadium || 12,001 || 3–9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 13 || April 15 || Dodgers || 5–0 || Reynoso (1–0) || Valdez (1–2) || Borland (1) || Shea Stadium || 54,047 || 4–9 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 14 || April 16 || Dodgers || 2–5 || Astacio (2–0) || Reed (0–1) || Worrell (4) || Shea Stadium || 13,759 || 4–10 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || April 18 || Cubs || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for April 20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 15 || April 19 || Cubs || 6–3 || Clark (1–1) || Wendell (0–2) || Franco (3) || Shea Stadium || 15,849 || 5–10 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 16 || April 20 || Cubs || 8–2 || B. Jones (3–1) || Trachsel (0–3) || — || Shea Stadium || N/A || 6–10 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 17 || April 20 || Cubs || 3–4 || Foster (1–1) || Mlicki (0–1) || Wendell (1) || Shea Stadium || 18,484 || 6–11 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 18 || April 21 || Cubs || 4–6 || Castillo (1–3) || McMichael (0–2) || Adams (1) || Shea Stadium || 13,250 || 6–12 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 19 || April 22 || Reds || 7–2 || Reed (1–1) || Smiley (1–4) || — || Shea Stadium || 14,585 || 7–12 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 20 || April 23 || Reds || 10–2 || Clark (2–1) || Morgan (0–2) || — || Shea Stadium || 26,492 || 8–12 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 21 || April 25 || @ Expos || 1–4 || Pérez (3–1) || B. Jones (3–2) || — || Olympic Stadium || 17,776 || 8–13 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 22 || April 26 || @ Expos || 1–8 || Martínez (3–0) || Mlicki (0–2) || — || Olympic Stadium || 42,888 || 8–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 23 || April 27 || @ Expos || 5–3 || McMichael (1–2) || Smith (0–1) || Franco (4) || Olympic Stadium || 15,925 || 9–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 24 || April 28 || @ Reds || 15–2 || Reed (2–1) || Smiley (1–5) || — || Cinergy Field || 15,572 || 10–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 25 || April 29 || @ Reds || 3–1 || Clark (3–1) || Morgan (0–3) || Franco (5) || Cinergy Field || 17,699 || 11–14 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 26 || April 30 || Padres || 6–2 || B. Jones (4–2) || Hitchcock (2–2) || Franco (6) || Shea Stadium || 12,429 || 12–14

|- bgcolor="#fcc" | 27 || May 1 || Padres || 3–7 || Ashby || Mlicki || — || Shea Stadium || 12,344 || 12–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 28 || May 2 || Cardinals || 7–4 || McMichael || Mathews || Franco || Shea Stadium || 14,877 || 13–15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 29 || May 3 || Cardinals || 5–1 || Reed || Benes || — || Shea Stadium || 16,248 || 14–15 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 30 || May 4 || Cardinals || 2–8 || Stottlemyre || Clark || — || Shea Stadium || 17,652 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 31 || May 5 || @ Rockies || 6–1 || B. Jones || Ritz || — || Coors Field || 48,036 || 15–16 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 32 || May 6 || @ Rockies || 11–12 || Swift || Borland || Reed || Coors Field || 48,020 || 15–17 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 33 || May 7 || @ Astros || 4–1 || Reynoso || Martin || Franco || Astrodome || 12,574 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 34 || May 8 || @ Astros || 2–4 || Hampton || Reed || Wagner || Astrodome || 12,842 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 35 || May 9 || @ Cardinals || 10–3 || Clark || Stottlemyre || — || Busch Stadium || 32,054 || 17–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 36 || May 10 || @ Cardinals || 2–0 || B. Jones || Benes || Franco || Busch Stadium || 43,747 || 18–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 37 || May 11 || @ Cardinals || 6–4 || Lidle || Eckersley || Franco || Busch Stadium || 30,852 || 19–18 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 38 || May 13 || Astros || 4–3 || McMichael || Springer || Franco || Shea Stadium || 13,997 || 20–18 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 39 || May 14 || Astros || 0–1 || Kile || McMichael || Wagner || Shea Stadium || 13,051 || 20–19 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 40 || May 16 || Rockies || 1–2 || Munoz || McMichael || Ruffin || Shea Stadium || 15,261 || 20–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 41 || May 17 || Rockies || 3–1 || B. Jones || Thomson || Franco || Shea Stadium || 23,987 || 21–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 42 || May 18 || Rockies || 10–4 || Kashiwada || Ruffin || — || Shea Stadium || 22,845 || 22–20 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 43 || May 19 || Rockies || 4–3 || Lidle || McCurry || — || Shea Stadium || 14,248 || 23–20 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 44 || May 20 || @ Marlins || 5–6 || Nen || Franco || — || Pro Player Stadium || 25,165 || 23–21 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 45 || May 21 || @ Marlins || 2–1 || Clark || Leiter || McMichael || Pro Player Stadium || 27,058 || 24–21 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 46 || May 22 || @ Phillies || 10–3 || B. Jones || Schilling || — || Veterans Stadium || 18,486 || 25–21 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 47 || May 23 || @ Phillies || 1–2 || Stephenson || Mlicki || Bottalico || Veterans Stadium || 15,501 || 25–22 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 48 || May 24 || @ Phillies || 8–4 || Reynoso || Maduro || Franco || Veterans Stadium || 19,090 || 26–22 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || May 25 || @ Phillies || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for September 15 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 49 || May 26 || @ Expos || 4–3 || Lidle || Urbina || Franco || Olympic Stadium || 11,774 || 27–22 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 50 || May 27 || @ Expos || 4–5 || Valdes || Clark || Smith || Olympic Stadium || 11,703 || 27–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 51 || May 28 || @ Expos || 7–0 || B. Jones || Martínez || — || Olympic Stadium || 14,932 || 28–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 52 || May 30 || Phillies || 7–3 || Mlicki || Ramos || — || Shea Stadium || 17,401 || 29–23 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 53 || May 31 || Phillies || 10–3 || Reynoso || Leiter || — || Shea Stadium || 28,526 || 30–23

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 54 || June 1 || Phillies || 8–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 42,058 || 31–23 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 55 || June 2 || Expos || 0–10 || || || || Shea Stadium || 12,675 || 31–24 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 56 || June 3 || Expos || 2–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || 14,492 || 32–24 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 57 || June 4 || Marlins || 2–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 17,083 || 32–25 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 58 || June 5 || Marlins || 6–0 || || || || Shea Stadium || 19,410 || 33–25 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 59 || June 6 || @ Reds || 2–5 || || || || Cinergy Field || 21,339 || 33–26 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 60 || June 7 || @ Reds || 5–10 || || || || Cinergy Field || 23,830 || 33–27 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || June 8 || @ Reds || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for June 9 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 61 || June 9 || @ Reds || 4–2 || || || || Cinergy Field || 23,079 || 34–27 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 62 || June 10 || @ Cubs || 10–6 || || || || Wrigley Field || 28,742 || 35–27 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 63 || June 11 || @ Cubs || 4–5 || || || || Wrigley Field || 24,703 || 35–28 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 64 || June 13 || Red Sox || 4–8 || || || || Shea Stadium || 44,443 || 35–29 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 65 || June 14 || Red Sox || 5–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 35,456 || 36–29 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 66 || June 15 || Red Sox || 1–10 || || || || Shea Stadium || 23,557 || 36–30 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 67 || June 16 || @ Yankees || 6–0 || || || || Yankee Stadium || 56,188 || 37–30 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 68 || June 17 || @ Yankees || 3–6 || || || || Yankee Stadium || 56,253 || 37–31 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 69 || June 18 || @ Yankees || 2–3 || || || || Yankee Stadium || 56,278 || 37–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 70 || June 19 || Pirates || 7–6 || || || || Shea Stadium || 15,492 || 38–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 71 || June 20 || Pirates || 1–0 || || || || Shea Stadium || 18,737 || 39–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 72 || June 21 || Pirates || 3–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 32,908 || 40–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 73 || June 22 || Pirates || 12–9 || || || || Shea Stadium || 23,247 || 41–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 74 || June 23 || Braves || 3–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 22,193 || 42–32 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 75 || June 24 || Braves || 6–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 26,663 || 43–32 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 76 || June 25 || Braves || 7–14 || || || || Shea Stadium || 27,980 || 43–33 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 77 || June 27 || @ Pirates || 1–6 || || || || Three Rivers Stadium || 18,103 || 43–34 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 78 || June 28 || @ Pirates || 8–3 || || || || Three Rivers Stadium || 23,711 || 44–34 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 79 || June 29 || @ Pirates || 10–8 || || || || Three Rivers Stadium || 26,499 || 45–34 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 80 || June 30 || @ Tigers || 0–14 || || || || Tiger Stadium || 15,009 || 45–35

|- bgcolor="#fcc" | 81 || July 1 || @ Tigers || 6–8 || || || || Tiger Stadium || 14,849 || 45–36 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 82 || July 2 || @ Tigers || 7–9 || || || || Tiger Stadium || 16,211 || 45–37 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 83 || July 3 || Marlins || 4–10 || || || || Shea Stadium || 18,134 || 45–38 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 84 || July 4 || Marlins || 6–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 38,076 || 46–38 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 85 || July 5 || Marlins || 5–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 23,681 || 47–38 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 86 || July 6 || Marlins || 3–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 29,438 || 48–38 |-style=background:#bff |colspan="10"|68th All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 87 || July 10 || @ Braves || 10–7 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 47,685 || 49–38 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 88 || July 11 || @ Braves || 9–7 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 40,094 || 50–38 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 89 || July 12 || @ Braves || 4–7 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 48,091 || 50–39 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 90 || July 13 || @ Braves || 7–6 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 42,111 || 51–39 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 91 || July 14 || @ Pirates || 4–5 || || || || Three Rivers Stadium || 12,794 || 51–40 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 92 || July 15 || @ Pirates || 3–4 || || || || Three Rivers Stadium || 12,244 || 51–41 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 93 || July 16 || Cubs || 5–6 || || || || Shea Stadium || 20,282 || 51–42 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 94 || July 17 || Cubs || 4–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 26,021 || 52–42 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 95 || July 18 || Reds || 4–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 22,901 || 53–42 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 96 || July 19 || Reds || 5–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 26,675 || 54–42 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 97 || July 20 || Reds || 10–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || 36,259 || 55–42 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 98 || July 21 || Reds || 5–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 22,172 || 56–42 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 99 || July 22 || @ Dodgers || 3–8 || || || || Dodger Stadium || 33,358 || 56–43 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 100 || July 23 || @ Dodgers || 2–1 || || || || Dodger Stadium || 39,610 || 57–43 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 101 || July 24 || @ Dodgers || 3–1 || || || || Dodger Stadium || 53,655 || 58–43 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 102 || July 25 || @ Padres || 4–2 || || || || Qualcomm Stadium|| 25,167 || 59–43 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 103 || July 26 || @ Padres || 3–5 || || || || Qualcomm Stadium|| 53,871 || 59–44 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 104 || July 27 || @ Padres || 3–5 || || || || Qualcomm Stadium|| 25,380 || 59–45 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 105 || July 29 || @ Giants || 2–5 || || || || 3Com Park || 14,949 || 59–46 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 106 || July 30 || @ Giants || 5–2 || || || || 3Com Park || 15,234 || 60–46

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 107 || August 1 || @ Astros || 8–5 || || || || Astrodome || 33,589 || 61–46 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 108 || August 2 || @ Astros || 0–6 || || || || Astrodome || 31,929 || 61–47 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 109 || August 3 || @ Astros || 2–3 || || || || Astrodome || 35,788 || 61–48 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 110 || August 4 || Cardinals || 4–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 17,944 || 62–48 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 111 || August 5 || Cardinals || 5–4 || || || || Shea Stadium || 22,777 || 63–48 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 112 || August 6 || Rockies || 0–4 || || || || Shea Stadium || 26,633 || 63–49 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 113 || August 7 || Rockies || 12–4 || || || || Shea Stadium || 29,536 || 64–49 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 114 || August 8 || Astros || 6–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || 23,818 || 65–49 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 115 || August 9 || Astros || 3–8 || || || || Shea Stadium || 34,352 || 65–50 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 116 || August 10 || Astros || 8–11 || || || || Shea Stadium || 32,914 || 65–51 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 117 || August 11 || Astros || 3–8 || || || || Shea Stadium || 20,452 || 65–52 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 118 || August 12 || @ Cardinals || 2–5 || || || || Busch Stadium || 32,547 || 65–53 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 119 || August 13 || @ Cardinals || 5–4 || || || || Busch Stadium || 27,171 || 66–53 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 120 || August 14 || @ Cardinals || 6–2 || || || || Busch Stadium || 28,411 || 67–53 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 121 || August 15 || @ Rockies || 2–6 || || || || Coors Field || 48,308 || 67–54 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 122 || August 16 || @ Rockies || 5–7 || || || || Coors Field || 48,311 || 67–55 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 123 || August 17 || @ Rockies || 4–6 || || || || Coors Field || 48,440 || 67–56 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 124 || August 19 || Dodgers || 2–4 || || || || Shea Stadium || 25,971 || 67–57 |- bgcolor="#ccc" | – || August 20 || Dodgers || colspan=8|Postponed (rain); rescheduled for August 21 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 125 || August 21 || Dodgers || 3–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || N/A || 68–57 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 126 || August 21 || Dodgers || 3–4 || || || || Shea Stadium || 43,500 || 68–58 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 127 || August 22 || Padres || 9–8 || || || || Shea Stadium || 20,229 || 69–58 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 128 || August 23 || Padres || 9–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 34,823 || 70–58 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 129 || August 24 || Padres || 2–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 28,798 || 70–59 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 130 || August 25 || Giants || 1–7 || || || || Shea Stadium || 17,947 || 70–60 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 131 || August 26 || Giants || 2–6 || || || || Shea Stadium || 20,113 || 70–61 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 132 || August 27 || Giants || 15–6 || || || || Shea Stadium || 23,373 || 71–61 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 133 || August 29 || @ Orioles || 3–4 || || || || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 48,022 || 71–62 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 134 || August 30 || @ Orioles || 13–6 || || || || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 48,068 || 72–62 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 135 || August 31 || @ Orioles || 4–1 || || || || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 48,075 || 73–62

|- bgcolor="#cfc" | 136 || September 1 || Blue Jays || 3–0 || || || || Shea Stadium || 19,196 || 74–62 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 137 || September 2 || Blue Jays || 8–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 17,635 || 75–62 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 138 || September 3 || Blue Jays || 4–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 14,513 || 76–62 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 139 || September 5 || @ Cubs || 3–8 || || || || Wrigley Field || 21,176 || 76–63 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 140 || September 6 || @ Cubs || 5–7 || || || || Wrigley Field || 38,849 || 76–64 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 141 || September 7 || @ Cubs || 9–2 || || || || Wrigley Field || 25,523 || 77–64 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 142 || September 8 || Phillies || 4–13 || || || || Shea Stadium || 13,321 || 77–65 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 143 || September 9 || Phillies || 0–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || 13,871 || 77–66 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 144 || September 10 || Phillies || 10–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 13,257 || 78–66 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 145 || September 11 || Expos || 9–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 13,271 || 79–66 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 146 || September 12 || Expos || 2–3 || || || || Shea Stadium || 17,450 || 79–67 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 147 || September 13 || Expos || 9–6 || || || || Shea Stadium || 24,208 || 80–67 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 148 || September 14 || Expos || 1–0 || || || || Shea Stadium || 43,575 || 81–67 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 149 || September 15 || @ Phillies || 10–5 || || || || Veterans Stadium || N/A || 82–67 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 150 || September 15 || @ Phillies || 1–2 || || || || Veterans Stadium || 14,416 || 82–68 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 151 || September 16 || @ Phillies || 2–3 || || || || Veterans Stadium || 16,585 || 82–69 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 152 || September 17 || @ Braves || 2–10 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 40,974 || 82–70 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 153 || September 18 || @ Braves || 4–11 || || || || Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium || 41,373 || 82–71 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 154 || September 19 || @ Marlins || 2–5 || || || || Pro Player Stadium || 30,082 || 82–72 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 155 || September 20 || @ Marlins || 7–3 || || || || Pro Player Stadium || 40,882 || 83–72 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 156 || September 21 || @ Marlins || 2–1 || || || || Pro Player Stadium || 44,176 || 84–72 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 157 || September 22 || @ Marlins || 10–3 || || || || Pro Player Stadium || 29,234 || 85–72 |- style="background:#933;color:#fff;" | 158 || September 23 || <span style="color:#fff;">Pirates</span> || 4–5 || || || || <span style="color:#fff;">Shea Stadium</span> || 14,670 || 85–73 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 159 || September 24 || Pirates || 7–5 || || || || Shea Stadium || 13,195 || 86–73 |- bgcolor="#fcc" | 160 || September 26 || Braves || 6–7 || || || || Shea Stadium || 21,864 || 86–74 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 161 || September 27 || Braves || 2–1 || || || || Shea Stadium || 31,472 || 87–74 |- bgcolor="#cfc" | 162 || September 28 || Braves || 8–2 || || || || Shea Stadium || 27,176 || 88–74

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

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note; G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note; G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

All-Star Game

• Bobby Jones, Pitcher, Reserve
• Todd Hundley, Catcher, Reserve

Farm system

<small>League champions: Pittsfield, GCL Mets</small>

References

External links

• 1997 New York Mets at Baseball Reference
• 1997 New York Mets team page at www.baseball-almanac.com