1997 Toronto Blue Jays season

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.

Transactions
Transactions by the Toronto Blue Jays during the off-season before the 1997 season.

Opening-day starters

 * Joe Carter
 * Carlos Delgado
 * Carlos García
 * Alex Gonzalez
 * Shawn Green
 * Pat Hentgen
 * Orlando Merced
 * Otis Nixon
 * Benito Santiago
 * Ed Sprague Jr.

Interleague play

 * June 30 – The first interleague game between the Montreal Expos and the Toronto Blue Jays took place at the SkyDome. The Expos won the game by a score of 2-1.

Expos vs. Jays
June 30, SkyDome, Toronto, Ontario

Canada Day game
The Blue Jays and Expos played to a sold-out Skydome crowd on Canada Day. Legendary Roger Clemens would get the start as the Blue Jays donned red uniforms for the second time. Montreal pitcher Jeff Juden would have a no-hitter through the first six innings until Shawn Green would hit a dramatic home run to break Juden's bid for a no-hitter.

Transactions
Transactions for the Toronto Blue Jays during the 1997 regular season.

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

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

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

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games; 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

Award winners

 * Roger Clemens, Pitcher of the Month Award, May
 * Roger Clemens, Pitcher of the Month Award, August
 * Roger Clemens, Cy Young Award
 * Roger Clemens, MLB Leader, 21 Wins
 * Roger Clemens, AL Strikeout Crown, 292 Strikeouts
 * Roger Clemens, AL ERA Crown, 2.05
 * Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Complete Games (9)
 * Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Shutouts (3)
 * Roger Clemens, American League Leader, Innings Pitched (264)

All-Star Game
 * Roger Clemens, P
 * Pat Hentgen, P