1997 Utica Blue Sox Roster
Team Record: 36-38
Finished 3rd in the NYPL's Pinckney Division
Manager: Juan Bustabad (36-38)
Affiliation: Florida Marlins
Location: Utica, New York
Ballpark: Donovan Stadium
Attendance: 52,185, Avg. 1,535 in 34 home dates
The Utica Blue Sox of the New York-Pennsylvania League ended the 1997 season with a record of 36 wins and 38 losses, finishing third in the league's Pinckney Division.
The Blue Sox scored 334 runs and gave up 359 runs. Matt Erickson drove in 44 runs. Raul Franco led batters with significant playing time by hitting .352. Reece Borges topped the team with 7 wins, while Nick Rizzo recorded a 2.38 ERA, tops among pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Players from the 1997 Utica Blue Sox who spent time in the Majors during their careers included Matt Erickson, Michael Tejera, Brandon Harper, Gary Knotts and Ross Gload.
Juan Bustabad served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Bair | L | L | January 27, 1977 | 6'5" | 255 | Baltimore, MD US |
| Jorge Bautista | R | R | July 12, 1976 | 5'9" | 185 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Reece Borges | R | R | April 4, 1976 | 6'3" | 195 | Honolulu, HI US |
| Shaw Casey | R | R | March 27, 1975 | 6'2" | 190 | Las Vegas, NV US |
| Chris Clark | R | R | November 7, 1973 | 6'3" | 195 | Fayetteville, AR US |
| Zak Doan | R | R | August 4, 1975 | 6'3" | 195 | Arlington Heights, IL US |
| Rhodney Donaldson | L | R | April 9, 1974 | 5'11" | 170 | Thomasville, GA US |
| Corey Ehlers | R | R | August 22, 1973 | 6'3" | 190 | Houston, TX US |
| Matt Erickson | L | R | July 30, 1975 | 5'11" | 190 | Appleton, WI US |
| Blair Fowler | R | R | June 25, 1975 | 6'2" | 185 | Long Beach, CA US |
| Raul Franco | R | R | March 14, 1977 | 5'11" | 170 | San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris DO |
| Steve Gagliano | R | R | August 4, 1977 | 6'4" | 200 | Chicago, IL US |
| Ross Gload | L | L | April 5, 1976 | 6'1" | 190 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Kevin Green | R | R | August 9, 1975 | 6'1" | 190 | Utica, NY US |
| Brandon Harper | R | R | April 29, 1976 | 6'4" | 200 | Odessa, TX US |
| Scott Henderson | R | R | February 27, 1975 | 6'3" | 195 | Portland, OR US |
| Travis Hunter | R | R | September 3, 1975 | 6'2" | 230 | |
| Gary Knotts | R | R | February 12, 1977 | 6'4" | 235 | Decatur, AL US |
| Matt Levan | L | L | June 24, 1975 | 6'3" | 200 | West Chester, PA US |
| Cory Lima | R | R | March 16, 1975 | 6'4" | 180 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Remy Maduro | L | R | September 18, 1976 | 5'11" | 185 | Amsterdam, NL |
| Mike Marriott | R | R | March 12, 1977 | 6'3" | 205 | Houston, TX US |
| Tim McClaskey | S | R | January 11, 1976 | 6'1" | 175 | Port Smith, OH US |
| Alex Melconian | R | R | March 18, 1975 | 5'10" | 190 | Bryn Mawr, PA US |
| Isreal Polonia | R | R | October 10, 1977 | 6'0" | 160 | San Pedro de Macoris, San Pedro de Macoris DO |
| Billy Putnicki | R | R | December 21, 1973 | 6'3" | 205 | San Antonio, TX US |
| Nate Reese | R | R | October 17, 1974 | 5'11" | 215 | Kansas City, MO US |
| Mark Richards | R | R | June 19, 1974 | 6'6" | 220 | Sterling Heights, MI US |
| Nick Rizzo | R | R | January 23, 1974 | 5'10" | 180 | Voorhees, NJ US |
| Tony Schifano | R | R | November 11, 1974 | 6'1" | 195 | Orange, CA US |
| Matt Schnabel | L | R | August 29, 1974 | 6'0" | 195 | Webster City, IA US |
| Michael Tejera | L | L | October 18, 1976 | 5'9" | 175 | La Habana, La Habana CU |
| Henry Williams | R | R | March 12, 1975 | 5'11" | 180 | Camden, NJ US |
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.
