The 1997 Texas Rangers season involved the Rangers finishing third in the American League West with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses. Despite not making the playoffs the club would set an all-time attendance record of over 2.945 million fans, which would be the franchise's best until 2011.
On a somber note, the club would lose long-time radio broadcaster Mark Holtz to leukemia during the season; however, in his final game in May the Rangers won, allowing him to sign off one final time with his trademark "Hello Win Column!".
Offseason
December 10, 1996: Billy Ripken was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[1]
December 16, 1996: Scott Bailes was signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers.[2]
December 19, 1996: Mike Simms was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[3]
April 16, 1997: Alex Diaz was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[5]
June 20, 1997: Todd Van Poppel was signed as a free agent by the Rangers.[6]
July 29, 1997: Ken Hill was traded by the Rangers to the Anaheim Angels for Jim Leyritz and a player to be named later. The Angels completed the deal by sending Rob Sasser to the Rangers on October 31.[7]
Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN978-1-932391-17-6.