| 1997 Toronto Blue Jays | ||
|---|---|---|
| League | American League | |
| Division | East | |
| Ballpark | SkyDome | |
| City | Toronto | |
| Record | 76–86 (.469) | |
| Divisional place | 5th | |
| Owners | Interbrew, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | |
| General managers | Gord Ash | |
| Managers | Cito Gaston, Melvin Douglas Queen | |
| Television | CBC Television (Brian Williams, John Cerutti) The Sports Network (Dan Shulman, Buck Martinez) | |
| Radio | CJCL (AM) (Jerry Howarth, Tom Cheek) | |
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The 1997 Toronto Blue Jays season was the franchise's 21st season of Major League Baseball. It resulted in the Blue Jays finishing fifth in the American League East with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses. With a massive redesign of their logos and uniforms, the Blue Jays attempted to re-establish themselves in the American League East by signing Roger Clemens via free agency and bringing All-Stars Carlos García and Orlando Merced through trade. Although Clemens rejuvenated himself with the Blue Jays (en route to one of the best-ever single seasons by a starting pitcher, winning the Cy Young Award and the pitchers' triple crown), both Garcia and Merced ended up being flops as dismal overall hitting and an inconsistent bullpen doomed the Blue Jays once again to a last-place finish. 1997 also marked the end of the road for manager Cito Gaston, being fired near the end of the season (Gaston would eventually return to the team in 2008). Longtime fan-favourite Joe Carter also played in his final season for the Blue Jays, as he was released at the end of the season.