1997 Detroit Tigers season

The 1997 Detroit Tigers finished in third place in the American League East with a record of 79–83 (.488), an improvement of 26 games over the previous season. They were outscored by their opponents 790 to 784. The Tigers drew 1,365,157 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1997, ranking 13th of the 14 teams in the American League.

This was the Tigers' final year in the AL East. To make room for the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the team moved from the AL East to the AL Central. On July 27, 1997, the Detroit Tigers retired pitcher Hal Newhouser's number 16.

Offseason

 * January 9, 1997: Vince Coleman signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.

Transactions

 * April 8, 1997: Bob Hamelin was signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.
 * April 16, 1997: Vince Coleman was released by the Detroit Tigers.

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''

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; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts