![Knoxville Smokies](https://www.statscrew.com/graphics/teams/slknosmokies.png)
1997 Knoxville Smokies Roster
Team Record: 75-63
Finished 1st in the SL's East Division
Manager: Omar Malave (75-63)
Affiliation: Toronto Blue Jays
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Ballpark: Smithson Stadium
Attendance: 138,389, Avg. 2,097 in 66 home dates
Playoffs - Greenville Braves 3 games, Knoxville Smokies 1
The Knoxville Smokies of the Southern League ended the 1997 season with a record of 75 wins and 63 losses, finishing first in the league's East Division.
The Smokies plated 727 runs and surrendered 723 runs. Kevin Witt walloped 30 home runs for Knoxville, while Andy Thompson, Anthony Sanders and Ben Candelaria each swatted 15 or more as well. Kevin Witt drove in 91 runs. Ben Candelaria paced all regular hitters by connecting at a .294 clip. Jason Stevenson topped the squad with 12 wins and a team-best 4.28 earned run average, leading pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Players from the 1997 Knoxville Smokies who spent time in the Majors during their careers included Kelvim Escobar, Rickey Cradle, Julio Mosquera, Tom Davey, Beiker Graterol, Carlos Almánzar, Brian Smith, Anthony Sanders, Mark Lukasiewicz, Andy Thompson, Ryan Freel, Jim Czajkowski, Roy Halladay, Kevin Witt and Adam Melhuse.
Omar Malave served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sharnol Adriana | R | R | November 13, 1970 | 5'10" | 205 | Willemstad, CW |
Carlos Almánzar | R | R | November 6, 1973 | 6'2" | 166 | Santiago, Santiago DO |
Kurt Bogott | L | L | September 30, 1972 | 6'4" | 195 | Stirling, IL US |
Chad Brown | L | L | December 9, 1971 | 6'0" | 185 | Gastonia, NC US |
Ben Candelaria | L | R | January 29, 1975 | 6'0" | 167 | Philadelphia, PA US |
Rickey Cradle | R | R | June 20, 1973 | 6'2" | 180 | Norfolk, VA US |
John Curl | L | R | November 10, 1972 | 6'3" | 205 | Logansport, IN US |
Jim Czajkowski | S | R | December 18, 1963 | 6'4" | 215 | Parma, OH US |
Tom Davey | R | R | September 11, 1973 | 6'7" | 215 | Garden City, MI US |
Lorenzo De La Cruz | R | R | September 5, 1971 | 6'1" | 199 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
Cesar Diaz | R | R | July 12, 1974 | 6'3" | 185 | Maracay, Aragua VE |
Roger Doman | R | R | January 26, 1973 | 6'5" | 190 | Manhattan, KS US |
Kelvim Escobar | R | R | April 11, 1976 | 6'1" | 205 | La Guaira, Vargas VE |
Ken Folkers | R | R | October 11, 1974 | 6'3" | 205 | Naperville, IL US |
Ryan Freel | R | R | March 8, 1976 | 5'10" | 185 | Jacksonville, FL US |
Chris Freeman | R | R | August 27, 1972 | 6'4" | 205 | Knoxville, TN US |
Anton French | L | R | July 25, 1975 | 5'11" | 170 | St. Louis, MO US |
Mike Gordon | L | R | November 30, 1972 | 6'2" | 210 | Quincy, FL US |
Beiker Graterol | R | R | November 9, 1974 | 6'2" | 165 | , Lara VE |
Roy Halladay | R | R | May 14, 1977 | 6'6" | 225 | Denver, CO US |
D. J. Harris | R | R | April 11, 1971 | 5'10" | 190 | Moultrie, GA US |
Santiago Henry | R | R | July 27, 1972 | 5'10" | 178 | San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris DO |
Jason Jarvis | R | R | October 27, 1973 | 6'1" | 170 | Salt Lake City, UT US |
Ryan Jones | R | R | November 5, 1974 | 6'2" | 225 | Torrance, CA US |
Benny Lowe | L | L | June 13, 1974 | 5'10" | 200 | Key West, FL US |
Mark Lukasiewicz | L | L | March 8, 1973 | 6'5" | 240 | Jersey City, NJ US |
Chris McBride | L | R | October 13, 1973 | 6'5" | 210 | Wilmington, NC US |
Doug Meiners | R | R | May 16, 1974 | 6'8" | 200 | Oak Park, IL US |
Adam Meinershagen | R | R | July 25, 1973 | 6'4" | 190 | St. Louis, MO US |
Adam Melhuse | S | R | March 27, 1972 | 6'2" | 185 | Santa Clara, CA US |
Dave Morgan | R | R | November 19, 1971 | 6'4" | 215 | Newton, MA US |
Julio Mosquera | R | R | January 29, 1972 | 6'0" | 185 | Panama, Panama PA |
Angel Ramirez | R | R | January 24, 1973 | 5'10" | 166 | Azua, Azua DO |
Kendall Rhine | R | R | November 27, 1970 | 6'7" | 215 | Houston, TX US |
Lonell Roberts | S | R | June 7, 1971 | 6'0" | 172 | San Bernardino, CA US |
Luis Rodriguez | R | R | January 3, 1974 | 5'11" | 195 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
Anthony Sanders | R | R | March 2, 1974 | 6'2" | 200 | Tucson, AZ US |
Will Skett | R | R | May 22, 1974 | 5'11" | 190 | Tarzana, CA US |
Brian Smith | R | R | July 19, 1972 | 5'11" | 185 | Salisbury, NC US |
Fausto Solano | R | R | June 19, 1974 | 5'10" | 155 | Villa Mella, Santo Domingo DO |
Fred Soriano | S | R | August 5, 1974 | 5'9" | 160 | Bani, Peravia DO |
Jason Stevenson | R | R | August 11, 1974 | 6'3" | 180 | Columbus, GA US |
Mike Strange | R | R | April 21, 1974 | 6'0" | 172 | Tampa, FL US |
Andy Thompson | R | R | October 8, 1975 | 6'3" | 210 | Oconomowoc, WI US |
Jay Veniard | L | L | August 16, 1974 | 6'4" | 215 | Syracuse, NY US |
Kevin Witt | L | R | January 5, 1976 | 6'4" | 195 | High Point, NC US |
Joe Young | R | R | April 28, 1975 | 6'4" | 210 | Fort McMurray, AB CA |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.