View source for 1997 World Series

{{pp-protect|small=yes}}
{{Short description|93rd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox World Series Expanded
| image = 1997 World Series logo.svg
| country = World
| year = 1997
| champion = [[1997 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] (4)
| champion_manager = [[Jim Leyland]]
| champion_games = 92–70, {{winpct|92|70}}, GB: 9
| runnerup = [[1997 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] (3)
| runnerup_manager = [[Mike Hargrove]]
| runnerup_games = 86–75, {{winpct|86|75}}, GA: 6
| date = October 18–26
| venue = [[Hard Rock Stadium|Pro Player Stadium]] (Florida)<br />[[Progressive Field|Jacobs Field]] (Cleveland)
| MVP = [[Liván Hernández]] (Florida)
| television = {{ubl|[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]] ([[United States]])|[[MLB International]] (International)}}
| announcers = {{ubl|[[Bob Costas]], [[Joe Morgan]] and [[Bob Uecker]] (NBC)|[[Gary Thorne]] and [[Ken Singleton]] (MLB International)}}
| radio_network = {{ubl|[[Major League Baseball on CBS Radio|CBS]]|[[WQAM]] (FLA)|[[WHKW#WKNR (1220 AM)|WKNR]] (CLE)}}
| radio_announcers = {{ubl|[[Vin Scully]] and [[Jeff Torborg]] (CBS)|[[Joe Angel]] and [[Dave O'Brien (sportscaster)|Dave O'Brien]] (WQAM)|[[Herb Score]] and [[Tom Hamilton (sportscaster)|Tom Hamilton]] (WKNR)}}
| umpires = [[Ed Montague (umpire)|Ed Montague]] (NL, crew chief), [[Dale Ford]] (AL), [[Joe West (umpire)|Joe West]] (NL), [[Greg Kosc]] (AL), [[Randy Marsh (umpire)|Randy Marsh]] (NL), [[Ken Kaiser]] (AL)
| HOFers = {{ubl|'''Marlins:''' [[Jim Leyland]] (manager)|'''Indians:''' [[Jim Thome]]}}
| ALCS = [[1997 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] over [[1997 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] (4–2)
| NLCS = [[1997 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]] over [[1997 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]] (4–2)
| image2 = 1997 World Series program.jpg
}}
The '''1997 World Series''' was the [[World Series|championship series]] of [[Major League Baseball]]'s (MLB) [[1997 Major League Baseball season|1997 season]]. The 93rd edition of the World Series, it was a [[best-of-seven playoff]] between the [[American League]] (AL) champion [[1997 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] and the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) champion [[1997 Florida Marlins season|Florida Marlins]]. The Marlins, who were [[Underdog (competition)|underdogs]], defeated the Indians, four games to three, to win their first World Series championship. Game 7 was decided in [[extra innings]] on a [[Walk-off home run#Other types of "walk-off" wins|walk-off]] single hit by [[Édgar Rentería]]. The series began on October 18 and ended on October 26 (though Game 7 ended just after midnight local time October 27). Marlins pitcher [[Liván Hernández]] was named the [[World Series Most Valuable Player Award|World Series Most Valuable Player]].

The Indians advanced to the World Series by defeating the [[New York Yankees]] in the [[1997 American League Division Series|AL Division Series]], three games to two, and then the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1997 American League Championship Series|AL Championship Series]], four games to two; it was Cleveland's second World Series appearance in three years. The Marlins advanced to the World Series by defeating the [[San Francisco Giants]] in the [[1997 National League Division Series|NL Division Series]], three games to none, and then the [[Atlanta Braves]] in the [[1997 National League Championship Series|NL Championship Series]], four games to two; the Marlins set an MLB record by reaching a World Series in just their fifth season of existence. This was the fourth time in World Series history a Game 7 went into extra innings, and was the most recent occasion until the [[2016 World Series]], in which the [[2016 Cleveland Indians season|Indians]] also lost in extra innings. The Marlins' championship made them the first [[wild card (sports)|wild card]] team to ever win the World Series.

This was the only World Series that [[Paul Beeston]] would preside over as CEO of MLB. The previous four World Series had been presided over jointly by the league presidents (first [[Dr. Bobby Brown]] and then [[Gene Budig]] for the AL, [[Leonard Coleman (Baseball National League President)|Leonard Coleman]] for the NL).

==Summary==
{{See also|1997 Major League Baseball postseason}}
{{MLB Playoff Summary
| summary = NL [[Florida Marlins]] (4) vs. AL [[Cleveland Indians]] (3)
| winner =
| score =
| score1 = Cleveland Indians – 4, '''Florida Marlins''' – 7
| date1 = October 18
| loc1 = [[Pro Player Stadium]]
| time1 = 3:19
| att1 = 67,245
| ref1 = <ref name="Game1">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10180FLO1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 1 – Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score2 = '''Cleveland Indians''' – 6, Florida Marlins – 1
| date2 = October 19
| loc2 = Pro Player Stadium
| time2 = 2:48
| att2 = 67,025
| ref2 = <ref name="Game2">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10190FLO1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 2 – Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score3 = '''Florida Marlins''' – 14, Cleveland Indians – 11
| date3 = October 21
| loc3 = [[Jacobs Field]]
| time3 = 4:12
| att3 = 44,880
| ref3 = <ref name="Game3">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10210CLE1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 3 – Florida Marlins vs. Cleveland Indians|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score4 = Florida Marlins – 3, '''Cleveland Indians''' – 10
| date4 = October 22
| loc4 = Jacobs Field
| time4 = 3:15
| att4 = 44,887
| ref4 = <ref name="Game4">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10220CLE1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 4 – Florida Marlins vs. Cleveland Indians|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score5 = '''Florida Marlins''' – 8, Cleveland Indians – 7
| date5 = October 23
| loc5 = Jacobs Field
| time5 = 3:39
| att5 = 44,888
| ref5 = <ref name="Game5">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10230CLE1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 5 – Florida Marlins vs. Cleveland Indians|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score6 = '''Cleveland Indians''' – 4, Florida Marlins – 1
| date6 = October 25
| loc6 = Pro Player Stadium
| time6 = 3:15
| att6 = 67,498
| ref6 = <ref name="Game6">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10250FLO1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 6 – Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
| score7 = Cleveland Indians – 2, '''Florida Marlins''' – 3 <small>(11)</small>
| date7 = October 26
| loc7 = Pro Player Stadium
| time7 = 4:10
| att7 = 67,204
| ref7 = <ref name="Game7">{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B10260FLO1997.htm|title=1997 World Series Game 7 – Cleveland Indians vs. Florida Marlins|access-date=September 13, 2009|publisher=Retrosheet}}</ref>
}}

==Matchups==
[[File:Moises Alou standing.jpg|thumb|The Marlins' [[Moisés Alou]] hit a three-run home run in Game 1.]]

===Game 1===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Saturday, October 18, 1997
|Time=8:05{{nbsp}}pm ([[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]])
|Location=[[Pro Player Stadium]] in [[Miami Gardens, Florida|Miami Gardens]], [[Florida]]
|Road=Cleveland|RoadAbr=CLE
|R1=1|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=1|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|RR=4|RH=11|RE=0
|Home='''Florida'''|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=1|H4=4|H5=2|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=7|HH=7|HE=1
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Liván Hernández]] (1–0)|LP=[[Orel Hershiser]] (0–1)|SV=[[Robb Nen]] (1)
|RoadHR=[[Manny Ramírez]] (1), [[Jim Thome]] (1)|HomeHR=[[Moisés Alou]] (1), [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] (1)
||Other={{convert|74|F|C}}, cloudy}}

The first World Series game in the state of [[Florida]], Game 1 featured a youngster and a veteran facing each other on the mound. Fresh off his [[1997 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] [[Glossary of baseball terms#MVP|MVP]] performance, [[Liván Hernández]] [[Glossary of baseball terms#mound|took the mound]] for the Marlins and quickly gave up a run in the first thanks to a double by leadoff man [[Bip Roberts]] and an RBI single by [[David Justice]]. Indian starter [[Orel Hershiser]] got by the first two innings unscathed. However, after the Marlins tied the game in the third on [[Edgar Renteria]]'s [[Run batted in|RBI]] groundout with two on, they scored four runs in the fourth. [[Moisés Alou]]'s three-run [[home run]] off the left field [[Baseball field#Foul poles|foul pole]] put the Marlins up 4–1 and [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] followed with a home run to make it 5–1. After [[Manny Ramírez]]'s home run in the fifth cut the lead to 5–2, Hershiser allowed a one-out walk and single in the bottom of the inning before [[Jeff Conine]]'s RBI single made it 6–2 Marlins. [[Jeff Juden]] relieved Hershiser and after a force-out at second, threw a ball four wild pitch that let [[Bobby Bonilla]] score from third. [[Jim Thome]]'s home run cut the lead to 7–3 in the sixth, then the Indians got another run in the eighth off [[Jay Powell (baseball player)|Jay Powell]] when [[Marquis Grissom]] [[Walk (baseball)|walked]] with two outs and scored on [[Brian Giles]]'s double, but Florida closer [[Robb Nen]] came in the ninth and got out of a [[Glossary of baseball terms#jam|jam]] by striking out [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] and Thome with two men aboard.
[[File:Sandy Alomar, Jr. on June 29, 2012.jpg|thumb|[[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] hit a two-run home run for the Indians in Game 2.]]

===Game 2===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Sunday, October 19, 1997
|Time=7:35{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
|Road='''Cleveland'''|RoadAbr=CLE
|R1=1|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=3|R6=2|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=6|RH=14|RE=0
|Home=Florida|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=1|HH=8|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Chad Ogea]] (1–0)|LP=[[Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)|Kevin Brown]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=[[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] (1)|HomeHR=
||Other={{convert|74|F|C}}, mostly cloudy}}

Game 2 matched up Florida [[Glossary of baseball terms#ace|ace]] [[Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)|Kevin Brown]] against [[Chad Ogea]], who had lost two games in the [[1997 American League Championship Series|ALCS]]. Both teams scored in the first, thanks to [[Run batted in|RBI]] singles by [[David Justice]] for the Indians after [[Omar Vizquel]] doubled with one out and [[Jeff Conine]] for the Marlins with two on. Ogea barely escaped further damage when [[Moisés Alou]] got under a hanging [[curveball]], but merely flied out to the [[warning track]], missing his second three-run homer in as many nights by inches. After that, Ogea settled in and did not allow any more runs in {{frac|6|2|3}} innings. Brown pitched well until the fifth when the Indians took the lead by stringing together three singles by [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]], [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]], and [[Marquis Grissom]]. Later in the inning, with runners on second and third, [[Bip Roberts]] drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle giving the Tribe a 4–1 lead. The three-run lead ballooned to five when Alomar hit a laser into the left field stands for a two-run home run in the sixth. The Indians' 6–1 win tied the series heading to Cleveland.
[[File:Bobby Bonilla Pirates.jpg|thumb|[[Bobby Bonilla]] scored the winning run for the Marlins in a wild back-and-forth Game 3.]]

===Game 3===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Tuesday, October 21, 1997
|Time=8:20{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=[[Jacobs Field]] in [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]
|Road='''Florida'''|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=1|R2=0|R3=1|R4=1|R5=0|R6=2|R7=2|R8=0|R9=7|RR=14|RH=16|RE=3
|Home=Cleveland|HomeAbr=CLE
|H1=2|H2=0|H3=0|H4=3|H5=2|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=4|HR=11|HH=10|HE=3
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Dennis Cook]] (1–0)|LP=[[Eric Plunk]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=[[Gary Sheffield]] (1), [[Darren Daulton]] (1), [[Jim Eisenreich]] (1)|HomeHR=[[Jim Thome]] (2)
||Other={{convert|46|F|C}}, mostly clear}}

Game 3 was a wild affair that ended with the Marlins grabbing a 2–1 series lead. [[Charles Nagy]] of the Indians faced [[Al Leiter]] of the Marlins. Both pitchers fared poorly, with Leiter giving up seven runs (four earned) in {{frac|4|2|3}} innings and Nagy gave up five in six innings. In the top of the first, [[Gary Sheffield]] started the scoring with a home run to left. In the bottom half, the Indians retaliated with two runs thanks to two broken bat RBI singles by [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]] and [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] Nagy's bases loaded walk to Sheffield tied the game in the third, before Florida took a 3–2 lead in the fourth on [[Darren Daulton]]'s home run. However, the Indians got a gift in the bottom of the fourth, when they drew four [[Glossary of baseball terms#free pass|free passes]], then a throwing [[Error (baseball)|error]] by [[third baseman]] [[Bobby Bonilla]] on [[Manny Ramírez]]'s single allowed two more runs to score. The Tribe went up 7–3 on [[Jim Thome]]'s two-run home run to right in the fifth inning, which also knocked Leiter out of the game. His home run was nullified in the sixth by [[Jim Eisenreich]]'s two-run home run that cut the lead to 7–5. In the seventh, [[Craig Counsell]] hit a leadoff single off [[Brian Anderson (pitcher)|Brian Anderson]] and moved to second on a groundout, then [[Édgar Rentería]]'s single and [[Gary Sheffield]]'s double off [[Mike Jackson (right-handed pitcher)|Mike Jackson]] (who was charged with a blown save) each drove in a run, making the score 7–7. In the ninth, Bonilla drew a leadoff walk off reliever [[Eric Plunk]] and scored on Daulton's single aided by an error that let Daulton go to third. After a strikeout to Alou (his third of the night) and [[intentional walk]] to pinch-hitter [[Cliff Floyd]], an error by first baseman Thome on Plunk's [[pickoff]] attempt allowed Daulton to score. After [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] singled, [[Alvin Morman]] relieved Plunk and an error by second baseman [[Tony Fernández]] on Counsell's ground ball allowed Floyd to score. After Morman retired [[Devon White (baseball)|Devon White]], a walk to Rentería loaded the bases before [[José Mesa]] relieved Morman and allowed two-run singles to Sheffield and Bonilla aided by a wild pitch that gave the Marlins at 14–7 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Indians loaded the bases on a walk and two singles with one out off [[Robb Nen]] before [[Tony Fernández]]'s [[sacrifice fly]] and [[Marquis Grissom]]'s single scored a run each, then [[Bip Roberts]]' two-run double cut the lead to 14–11, but [[Omar Vizquel]] grounded out to end the game. [[Dennis Cook]] got the win in relief by tossing a scoreless eighth and Plunk got the loss. This was the highest scoring game for 20 years until the fifth game of the [[2017 World Series]] between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers; it was also the fourth time a team had scored seven runs in the ninth inning of a postseason game and the first since the [[1990 American League Championship Series#Game 1|1990 ALCS]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-seven-run-9th-inning-in-2021-alcs-game-4/| title = Astros' seven run 9th inning in 2021 ALCS Game 4| website = [[MLB.com]]}}</ref> Marlins batter Gary Sheffield had five RBIs in the game to lead all batters.
[[File:Manny Ramirez with Red Sox June 2007.jpg|thumb|350x350px|[[Manny Ramirez]] hit the go-ahead two-run home run for the Indians in Game 4.]]

===Game 4===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Wednesday, October 22, 1997
|Time=8:20{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio
|Road=Florida|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=2|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=6|RE=2
|Home='''Cleveland'''|HomeAbr=CLE
|H1=3|H2=0|H3=3|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=1|H8=2|H9=X|HR=10|HH=15|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Jaret Wright]] (1–0)|LP=[[Tony Saunders]] (0–1)|SV=[[Brian Anderson (pitcher)|Brian Anderson]] (1)
|RoadHR=[[Moisés Alou]] (2)|HomeHR=[[Manny Ramírez]] (2), [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]] (1)
||Other={{convert|35|F|C}}, snow flurries}}

This back-and-forth World Series continued that way in Game 4. Both teams were greeted by snow during [[batting practice]] and freezing temperatures throughout this contest. The official gametime temperature of 35&nbsp;°F (3.3&nbsp;°C) remains {{As of|2024|lc=on}} the coldest recorded in World Series history. As the game progressed, media outlets reported [[wind chill]] readings as low as 18&nbsp;°F (−7.8&nbsp;°C).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/looking-back-at-the-coldest-wo/423058|title= Looking Back at the Coldest World Series of All Time|work= Accuweather.com|access-date= July 24, 2013|archive-date= October 6, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113126/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/looking-back-at-the-coldest-wo/423058|url-status= dead}}</ref> Two rookies opposed each other on the mound, [[Jaret Wright]] for the Indians and [[Tony Saunders]] for the Marlins. In the bottom of the first, [[Omar Vizquel]] singled with one out before [[Manny Ramírez]]'s two-run home run put the Indians up 2–0. [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]] then singled with two outs and scored on [[Sandy Alomar Jr.|Sandy Alomar]]'s double. In the third, Ramírez drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on an error and scored on [[David Justice]]'s single. After another walk, Alomar's single scored Justice. After a third walk loaded the bases, [[Antonio Alfonseca]] relived Saunders and allowed an RBI single to [[Tony Fernández]]. The Marlins got on the board in the fourth on [[Jim Eisenreich]]'s RBI single with two on, then [[Moisés Alou]]'s two-run home run after a walk in the sixth cut the Indians' lead to 6–3, but that was as close as the Marlins got. In the bottom of the inning, Alomar's bases-loaded groundout off [[Ed Vosberg]] made it 7–3 Indians. Next inning, Fernández hit a leadoff single, moved to second on a ground out and scored on [[Brian Giles]]'s single. In the eighth, Williams' two-run home run after a walk capped the game's scoring at 10–3 as the Indians tied the series at two games apiece which guaranteed a return to Florida. Wright allowed three runs in six sharp innings and [[Brian Anderson (pitcher)|Brian Anderson]] wrapped up Wright's win with a three-inning save.
[[File:MG 9159 Liván Hernández.jpg|thumb|[[Liván Hernández]] was the starting and winning pitcher in Game 5.]]

===Game 5===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Thursday, October 23, 1997
|Time=8:20{{nbsp}}pm (EDT)
|Location=Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio
|Road='''Florida'''|RoadAbr=FLA
|R1=0|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=4|R7=0|R8=1|R9=1|RR=8|RH=15|RE=2
|Home=Cleveland|HomeAbr=CLE
|H1=0|H2=1|H3=3|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=3|HR=7|HH=9|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Liván Hernández]] (2–0)|LP=[[Orel Hershiser]] (0–2)|SV=[[Robb Nen]] (2)
|RoadHR=[[Moisés Alou]] (3)|HomeHR=[[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] (2)
||Other={{convert|43|F|C}}, overcast}}

Game 5 was a rematch of Game 1's starting pitchers [[Liván Hernández]] and [[Orel Hershiser]]. The Marlins struck first when [[Darren Daulton]] hit a ground-rule double and scored on [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]]'s single. After a walk to [[Craig Counsell]], [[Devon White (baseball)|Devon White]]'s RBI double made it 2–0 Marlins. The Indians cut it to 2–1 in the bottom of the inning when [[Jim Thome]] tripled and scored on [[Sandy Alomar Jr.|Sandy Alomar]]'s single. Next inning, Alomar launched a towering three-run [[home run]] after two walks to Thome and [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]] to put the Indians up 4–2. In the sixth, [[Moisés Alou]] hit his second three-run home run off Hershiser in as many games and his third home run of the Series to put the Marlins up 5–4. [[Eric Plunk]] then walked [[Craig Counsell]] with the bases loaded to force in [[Jeff Conine]], with the run charged to Hershiser. The Marlins added to their lead in the seventh when Alou hit a leadoff single off [[Jeff Juden]], stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on Johnson's single. Next inning, Alou's single scored pinch-runner [[Alex Arias]] (running for Bonilla) with two on off [[José Mesa]] extended the lead to 8–4. Livan pitched terrifically in the middle innings, not allowing any runs until the ninth. An [[Error (baseball)|error]] and single put two on with no outs for the Indians. [[Robb Nen]] in relief allowed a two-run single to [[David Justice]] (both of the runs charged to Hernández), then a two-out RBI single to Thome before Alomar flew out to right to end the game and give the Marlins a 3–2 series lead heading back to [[Florida]].
[[File:Omar Vizquel on April 26, 2012.jpg|thumb|346x346px|[[Omar Vizquel]] logged the game-sealing putout on [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] in the sixth inning.]]

===Game 6===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Saturday, October 25, 1997
|Time=8:00{{nbsp}}pm
|Location=Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
|Road='''Cleveland'''|RoadAbr=CLE
|R1=0|R2=2|R3=1|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=4|RH=7|RE=0
|Home=Florida|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=1|HH=8|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Chad Ogea]] (2–0)|LP=[[Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)|Kevin Brown]] (0–2)|SV=[[José Mesa]] (1)
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=
||Other={{convert|79|F|C}}, mostly cloudy}}

Game 6's attendance of 67,498 was the highest single-game attendance for the World Series since Game 5 of the [[1959 World Series]], when 92,706 people filled the football-oriented [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]. The Series returned to the warmer climate of [[Miami]] for Game 6. [[Kevin Brown (right-handed pitcher)|Kevin Brown]] opposed [[Chad Ogea]] again and again Brown inexplicably struggled while Ogea flourished. Chad himself drove in the first two runs with a bases-loaded single in the second, and [[Manny Ramírez]] hit a sacrifice fly in the third (after [[Omar Vizquel]] hit a leadoff double and stole third) and the fifth (after a leadoff double and subsequent single). [[Darren Daulton]]'s [[sacrifice fly]] with two on in the fifth that scored [[Moisés Alou]] from third gave the Marlins their only run of the game. With the Tribe leading 4–1 in the sixth, Ogea ran into serious trouble. The Marlins put runners on second and third with two out as reliever [[Mike Jackson (right-handed pitcher)|Mike Jackson]] replaced Ogea. Marlins catcher [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] stepped to the plate and proceeded to hit a sharp grounder that was headed for left field and looked like a base hit. Indians shortstop Omar Vizquel, who won the Gold Glove that year, dove for the ball, grabbed it, sprung to his feet, and hurled a perfect strike to first base just before Johnson arrived. The play ended the threat and broke the Marlins' spirits. In the ninth, closer [[José Mesa]] wrapped up the win despite allowing a triple to [[Devon White (baseball)|Devon White]] to tie the Series at 3–3. This was the last playoff game won by Cleveland when facing elimination until Game 4 of the [[2024 American League Division Series]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/guardians-losing-streak-in-elimination-games | title=How has Cleveland fared in recent elimination games? Well | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref>
[[File:6TH Edgar Rentería.jpg|thumb|[[Édgar Rentería]] hit the game and series-winning single for the Marlins in the eleventh inning of Game 7.]]

===Game 7===
{{Linescore|
|Date=Sunday, October 26, 1997
|Time=7:35{{nbsp}}pm (EST)
|Location=Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida
|Road=Cleveland|RoadAbr=CLE
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=2|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|R10=0|R11=0|RR=2|RH=6|RE=2
|Home='''Florida'''|HomeAbr=FLA
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=1|H8=0|H9=1|H10=0|H11=1|HR=3|HH=8|HE=0
|RSP=|HSP=
|WP=[[Jay Powell (baseball player)|Jay Powell]] (1–0)|LP=[[Charles Nagy]] (0–1)|SV=
|RoadHR=|HomeHR=[[Bobby Bonilla]] (1)
||Other={{convert|80|F|C}}, partly cloudy}}

For the decisive final matchup of the World Series, the first time since 1991 that a Game 7 would be played, the Marlins sent [[Al Leiter]] to the mound to start. Leiter had been the starter for the Marlins in the high-scoring Game 3 in Cleveland, where he gave up a total of seven runs and did not make it out of the fifth inning, but was spared a potential loss when the Marlins rallied to win. 

For the Indians, former All-Star [[Charles Nagy]] was next up in the rotation. He had also started Game 3, pitching six innings, but he had given up five runs, three on home runs. Meanwhile, rookie standout [[Jaret Wright]] was available on short rest if manager [[Mike Hargrove]] so desired to use him. He had already pitched in and won Game 3, giving up three runs in six innings, and had also yet to lose a decision in the postseason. Hargrove ultimately chose the prospect over the veteran and Wright got the start. 

The Marlins managed one hit in the 1st inning, a double off the bat of [[Édgar Rentería]]. That was the only hit Wright gave up through six innings, and the Indians staked him to a 2–0 lead in the third. With nobody out, [[Jim Thome]] walked and [[Marquis Grissom]] singled him to second. After Wright bunted the runners into scoring position, Leiter struck out [[Omar Vizquel]] for the second out. The next batter, [[Tony Fernández]], singled to drive both runners in. 

The Indians threatened again in the fifth inning, as Vizquel singled with one out. He stole second while Fernandez batted, putting himself in scoring position. Leiter struck Fernandez out, then gave an intentional walk to [[Manny Ramirez]] to put two runners on. Vizquel then managed to steal third base, but Leiter struck out [[David Justice]] to end the inning. He would leave the game after retiring the Indians in order in the sixth.

Meanwhile, not only had Wright allowed a single hit through six innings, but he had also managed to keep the Marlins off of the bases. Entering the seventh inning, he had only allowed a total of four baserunners; in addition to the Rentería double, he had walked [[Gary Sheffield]] in the first and Leiter in the fifth, and [[Darren Daulton]] had reached on a three-base error when Ramirez misplayed a line drive. 

The Marlins finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh as [[Bobby Bonilla]] hit Wright's first pitch over the right-center field wall for a home run to cut the lead to 2–1. After striking out [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] and walking [[Craig Counsell]], Wright was removed from the game in favor of [[Paul Assenmacher]] who was scheduled to pitch to [[Cliff Floyd]]. Marlins manager Jim Leyland elected to send [[Kurt Abbott]] to the plate after the pitching change; Assenmacher retired him on a fly ball, then got [[Devon White (baseball)|Devon White]] swinging to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, Cleveland again threatened. After [[Antonio Alfonseca]] walked [[Matt Williams (third baseman)|Matt Williams]] to lead off the inning and [[Sandy Alomar Jr.]] reached on a fielder's choice to take Williams off the bases, [[Félix Heredia]] gave up a single to Thome which advanced Alomar to third. He was then pulled in favor of closer [[Robb Nen]]. Nen induced a groundball from Grissom to Rentería at shortstop, who elected to throw Alomar out at home, thanks in part to a great pick and tag by Johnson. He then got [[Brian Giles]] to fly out to end the inning.

The Indians sent closer [[José Mesa]] to the mound to try to win the series in the bottom of the ninth inning. [[Moisés Alou]] led off with a single, and Bonilla struck out swinging on a 3–2 pitch. Johnson then followed with a single to advance Alou to third, bringing Counsell to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, Counsell hit a deep fly ball to right that nearly went over the wall, which would have won the series for the Marlins. Although Ramirez was able to catch the ball on the warning track for the second out, Alou was able to score from third without a throw and the score was tied at 2. Mesa managed to get out of the inning by retiring [[Jim Eisenreich]]. 

Nen struck out the side in the top of the 10th inning. In the bottom of the frame, Mesa gave up back-to-back one-out singles, and after striking out [[John Cangelosi]] looking on a 3-2 pitch, Hargrove elected to finally use his ace starter and brought Nagy into the game to face Alou, who flied out to end the inning. After walking Williams, leading off the top of the 11th inning, [[Jay Powell (baseball player)|Jay Powell]] retired Cleveland in order thanks to an alert fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt by Alomar, which Powell fielded and threw out the lead runner at 2nd, followed by a Jim Thome inning-ending double play.

Bonilla led off the bottom off the eleventh by singling to center. [[Gregg Zaun]], who replaced Johnson after pinch running for him in the bottom the ninth, stepped in for his first at bat and was asked to bunt Bonilla over. Zaun popped the ball up on the bunt attempt, however, and Bonilla barely beat Nagy’s throw back to first to try to double him off. 

Counsell followed with a slow ground ball to the second base side. Bonilla momentarily stopped running as the ball rolled toward him, so as not to be called out for interference if the ball touched him. In doing so, Bonilla briefly screened Fernandez from seeing the grounder and the second baseman could not field the ball cleanly resulting in an error. The winning run was now in scoring position with one out. 

Hargrove then called for an intentional walk to Eisenreich to load the bases for White. He then pulled the infield in instead of playing for an inning-ending double play; White was one of the faster baserunners in the league at the time and could beat a relay throw to first, and with the bases loaded the Indians could simply force the slower Bonilla out at the plate. This is indeed what happened, as White grounded to second and Fernandez threw home to get the second out. 

While the bases were still loaded, as White reached on the fielder’s choice, there were now two outs and Nagy faced Rentería with a chance to get out of the jam and extend the game. Rentería, behind 0-1, hit a hard line drive back up the middle. Nagy tried to field the ball, but it hit off of his glove and went into center field. Counsell scored the series winning run, then leaped into the air in celebration.

After Game 7, the trophy presentation, usually taking place in the winning team's locker room regardless of venue, took place on the field for the first time ever before the crowd of 67,204. It was presided over by then-Chairman of the Executive Committee [[Bud Selig]], who first did the honors in [[1995 World Series|1995]] and would officially become [[Commissioner of Baseball]] in 1998. This is now a standard procedure whenever the champions are the home team of the deciding game (the only exception being [[1999 World Series|1999]], when the [[1999 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] chose to celebrate in their locker room, likely due to the controversy involving Yankees outfielder [[Chad Curtis]] and [[NBC Sports]] reporter [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]] during an interview following Game 3). However, this would not become a regular practice until 2001 as the next three World Series (1998, 1999, and 2000) had the trophy presentation in the winning teams clubhouse.

It was the first time since {{wsy|1962}} that the two teams alternated wins throughout the World Series.

In only their fifth season of existence, the Marlins were the quickest expansion team to reach (and win) the World Series until {{wsy|2001}}, when the [[2001 Arizona Diamondbacks season|Arizona Diamondbacks]] did it in their fourth year. Coincidentally, both World Series ended with a game-winning RBI single with [[Craig Counsell]] being on the basepath for each.

==Composite box==
1997 World Series '''(4–3): [[Florida Marlins]] (N.L.)''' beat [[Cleveland Indians]] (A.L.)
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|Home='''[[Cleveland Indians]]'''
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|TotalAttendance=403,627 |AveAttendance=57,661
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==Aftermath==
[[Liván Hernández]] was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1997 World Series. Chad Ogea became the first pitcher since [[Mickey Lolich]] in [[1968 World Series|1968]] to have at least two hits and two RBIs in a World Series. The Marlins won despite not having [[Alex Fernandez (baseball)|Alex Fernandez]], their number-two starter, who did not pitch due to a rotator cuff injury.

On October 31, 1997, most of the key contributors of the 1997 Marlins were traded, including [[Moisés Alou]], who was sent to the [[Houston Astros]], and [[Al Leiter]] to the [[New York Mets]], in a [[fire sale]] so infamous that it has come to synonymize the term in the baseball world. The Marlins also lost [[Jeff Conine]] to the [[Kansas City Royals]] in free agency and [[Darren Daulton]] who retired. World Series MVP hurler Liván Hernández, however, stayed with the team for two more years. The Marlins finished 54–108 in [[1998 Florida Marlins season|1998]], the worst performance ever by a defending World Series champion. As a result, these Marlins are mockingly referred to as the first "Rent-A-Team" to win the World Series. Midway through the 1998 season, the Marlins would trade [[Jim Eisenreich]], [[Bobby Bonilla]], [[Gary Sheffield]], and [[Charles Johnson (catcher)|Charles Johnson]] to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] for [[Todd Zeile]] and [[Mike Piazza]]. Piazza would be traded shortly after to the Mets in return for prospects, one of which was [[Preston Wilson]].

[[Jim Leyland]], responding to reports that he would retire if the Marlins won the World Series, told NBC during the celebration, "My wife doesn't like me that much. I can't retire." However, he resigned in the wake of their awful performance in 1998. He managed the [[Colorado Rockies]] in [[1999 Colorado Rockies season|1999]], then scouted for several years before joining the [[Detroit Tigers]] as manager in [[2006 Detroit Tigers season|2006]]. Leyland led the Tigers to World Series appearances in [[2006 World Series|2006]] and [[2012 Detroit Tigers season|2012]]. Leyland was hired as Tigers manager by [[Dave Dombrowski]], the architect of the 1997 Marlins. Dombrowski would later build another World Series-winning team, the [[2018 Boston Red Sox season|2018 Boston Red Sox]], and also oversaw a World Series appearance from the [[2022 Philadelphia Phillies season|2022 Philadelphia Phillies]].

Marlins owner [[H. Wayne Huizenga]], who dodged questions about selling the team during the on-field celebration, ultimately sold the team to [[John W. Henry]] after the 1998 season. Henry in turn sold it to former [[Montreal Expos]] owner [[Jeffrey Loria]] in 2001 as part of a deal to purchase the [[Boston Red Sox]]. Loria would return the team to a World Series victory in [[2003 World Series|2003]]. That season started with only one of the 1997 World Series players left on the roster: pitcher [[Rick Helling]]. Helling was traded mid-season to the [[2003 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]]. However, the team traded with the [[2003 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]] for [[Jeff Conine]]. Conine would be the only 1997 Marlin to participate in the 2003 World Series victory. The 1997 and 2003 seasons marked the Marlins' only trips to the postseason until [[2020 Miami Marlins season|2020]], when the Marlins lost the [[2020 National League Division Series|NLDS]] to the [[2020 Atlanta Braves season|Atlanta Braves]].

The failure of [[José Mesa]] to save Game 7 ultimately ignited a heated feud with teammate [[Omar Vizquel]]. In Vizquel's autobiography, the veteran shortstop called Mesa a "choker." The two men ended their longtime friendship. Mesa later vowed to "...hit him every time" he faced him, and also stated that he wanted to kill Vizquel. Though Mesa did not actually bean Vizquel every time he subsequently faced him, he did hit him with pitches at least twice.

The Indians would go on to win the AL Central three of the following four years, returning to the ALCS the following season. However, they were defeated in six games by the [[1998 New York Yankees season|record-setting New York Yankees]]. They would not advance to another World Series until 2016, where they 
gave up a 3-1 series lead and allowed the [[2016 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] to win their first World Series in 108 years. Coincidentally, the Indians suffered a Game 7 defeat in extra-innings, just like the 1997 team.  

The core of the 1990s Indians teams would break up in the early 2000s, most notably with [[Manny Ramirez]] joining the [[Boston Red Sox]] in 2001 and [[Jim Thome]] joining the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 2003. The 1997 Indians failed to end the [[Cleveland sports curse]], which stood at 33 years since the [[1964 Cleveland Browns season|1964 Cleveland Browns]] won the city's most recent championship. The Curse would eventually end in 2016, when the [[2015-16 Cleveland Cavaliers season|Cleveland Cavaliers]] won the NBA Title, giving the city its first major sports title in 52 years.

The total attendance of 403,627 fans is the second-largest in World Series history. The high attendance is due to the fact that the series went the full seven games and the large seating capacity at Pro Player Stadium. All four games played in Miami had over 67,000 in attendance. This Series only trails the [[1959 World Series]], which drew 420,784 spectators. That Series had three of its six games played at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] and drew over 92,000 for each game played at the Coliseum.

[[Edgar Rentería]], the player who drove in the winning run to win the World Series for the Marlins, would win a [[World Series MVP]] 13 years later as a [[2010 San Francisco Giants season|San Francisco Giant]] in the [[2010 World Series|2010]].

==Radio and television coverage==
[[Major League Baseball on NBC|NBC]], as per the terms of the then-current broadcasting contract, televised the World Series nationally. It was the first World Series telecast to air exclusively on NBC since [[1988 World Series|1988]]; they were originally scheduled to air the [[1995 World Series]] alone as part of its [[joint venture]] with [[Major League Baseball on ABC|ABC]] and Major League Baseball dubbed [[The Baseball Network]], but the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|1994 strike]] cancelled that year's [[1994 World Series|World Series]] and NBC and ABC ultimately alternated coverage of the 1995 World Series. [[Bob Costas]] led the broadcast, with [[Bob Uecker]] and [[Joe Morgan]] as analysts. [[Hannah Storm]] and [[Keith Olbermann]] hosted the pregame show, with Olbermann and [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]] serving as field reporters for the respective teams. Storm and Gray presided over the on-field celebration after Game 7.

[[Major League Baseball on CBS Radio|CBS Radio]], which had covered the World Series consecutively since {{wsy|1976}}, did so for the final time in 1997. The national radio broadcasting rights would move over to [[Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio|ESPN]] the [[1998 Major League Baseball season|following season]]. [[Vin Scully]], in what would prove to be his last World Series call before he retired in [[2016 Major League Baseball season|2016]], was the lead broadcaster for the eleventh time for CBS. [[Jeff Torborg]] joined Scully as analyst, making his third and final appearance. [[John Rooney (sportscaster)|John Rooney]] hosted the studio segments for the series for the eleventh consecutive World Series.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jul-29-sp-plaschke29-story.html|title=Dodgers' tribute to Vin Scully needs to be a home run|date=July 29, 2009|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author-link=Bill Plaschke| access-date= August 27, 2010 <!--DASHBot-->}}</ref>

This was the last World Series for [[Cleveland Indians Radio Network|Indians Radio Network]] announcer [[Herb Score]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 27, 1997|title=Score broadcasts his final game for Indians|page=6A|work=Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum|agency=[[Associated Press]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83534314/score-broadcasts-his-final-game-for/|access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> as he retired at season's end.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ocker|first=Sheldon|author-link=Sheldon Ocker|date=August 9, 1997|title=Score to be a final this year|page=D5|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83592068/score-to-be-a-final-this-year/|access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Score's broadcast partner, [[Tom Hamilton (sportscaster)|Tom Hamilton]], would take over as lead announcer and he remains in that position as of the [[2024 Cleveland Guardians season|2024 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ocker|first=Sheldon|author-link=Sheldon Ocker|date=December 9, 1997|title=Tribe having trouble replacing Score in radio booth|page=C5|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83593086/tribe-having-trouble-replacing-score-in/|access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> It also marked the final game carried by Indians flagship station [[WHKW#WKNR (1220 AM)|WKNR (1220)]]<!-- Please do not confuse with the current WKNR (850) -->; the broadcast rights would be moved to [[WTAM]] for the [[1998 Cleveland Indians season|1998 season]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=April 7, 1998|title=On the radio|page=C1|work=[[Akron Beacon Journal]]|publisher=[[Knight Ridder]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83457617/on-the-radio/|access-date=August 14, 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Cleveland sports curse]]
*[[Curse of Rocky Colavito]]
*[[1997 Japan Series]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{WSExtLinks|year=1997}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040510190413/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1997marlins.stm 1997 Florida Marlins]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040510184517/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1997indians.stm 1997 Cleveland Indians]
* [http://www.snopes.com/sports/baseball/bttf2.asp Did the 1989 film Back to the Future II predict that the Florida Marlins would win the 1997 World Series?]

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[[Category:World Series]]
[[Category:1997 Major League Baseball season|World Series]]
[[Category:Florida Marlins postseason]]
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[[Category:1997 in sports in Florida|World Series]]
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[[Category:1990s in Cleveland]]
[[Category:October 1997 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Baseball competitions in Cleveland]]
[[Category:1990s in Miami]]
[[Category:Baseball competitions in Miami]]