1997 CDBL MVP AWARD 2nd Runner Up: Frank Thomas, 1B, Dewey Beach Lush AVG OBP SPC G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB K HBP IW SB CS .362 .477 .629 162 599 217 42 2 38 125 162 141 72 1 35 9 1 Thomas put up a statistically impressive season, leading the league in batting average and on base average. He was top 4 in slugging, RBI, and hits, and was tied for 7th in the league in runs scored. ****************************** 1st Runner Up: Ken Griffey Jr, CF, Arkham Investigators AVG OBP SPC G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB K HBP IW SB CS .291 .365 .593 162 643 187 38 6 48 141 141 72 113 8 9 13 9 Ken Griffey Jr was the centerpiece of a high octane Arkham offense that the league in runs scored and helped Arkham to the best record in the majors. Griffey was 3rd in RBI, 4th in runs scored, 3rd in extra base hits and 3rd in home runs. ****************************** 1997 CDBL MVP: Mark McGwire, 1B, Manhatten Beach Mashers AVG OBP SPC G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB K HBP IW SB CS .306 .391 .702 162 620 190 42 1 67 141 186 84 180 8 4 0 2 Mark McGwire made headlines all season long with his hitting prowress. McGwire's 67 home runs were tops in the majors, as was his 186 RBI and .706 slugging percentage. His 141 runs scored was 3rd best. McGwire's presence in the lineup helped the Mashers to 100 wins and a playoff appearance. ************************************************************************************************ 1997 CDBL CY YOUNG 2nd Runner Up: Greg Maddux, Encinitas Surfers ERA OPS OPSvL OPSvR W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP BF 2.20 .597 .612 .584 17 5 0 34 34 7 5 258.0 255 69 63 19 197 7 29 1021 Maddux put up another stellar season, leading the league in ERA with a 2.20 mark. Maddux also won 17 games and his 77.3% winning percentage was tied for 4th best in the league. Maddux's 0.7 walks per 9 innings was a new league record. Maddux led all pitchers in shutouts with 5 and in quality start percentage with 88.2%. Maddux and the staff of aces for the Surfers won 93 games and a playoff appearance in 1997. ****************************** 1st Runner Up: Curt Schilling, Springfield Isotopes ERA OPS OPSvL OPSvR W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP BF 3.06 .627 .591 .660 22 8 0 36 36 8 2 258.2 213 92 88 68 298 21 10 1046 Schilling was the definative staff ace, winning a league high 22 games to help Springfield to a share of the Paige division pennant. His 3.06 ERA was tied for 5th best, and his 298 strikeouts was 3rd best in the league. Few batters got on base when Schilling was pitching, allowing a 5th best 9.9 runners per 9 innings. ****************************** 1997 CDBL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez, Hong Kong Cavaliers ERA OPS OPSvL OPSvR W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP BF 2.23 .505 .541 .472 19 10 0 36 36 11 4 278.1 174 76 69 78 322 17 14 1091 The Cavaliers were a pretty awful team this year, losing 99 games, which makes Martinez's year that much more impressive. Martinez was 2nd in ERA with a 2.23 average, tops in strikeouts with 322, and still managed to win 19 games, 6th best in the league. Martinez led all pitchers in allowed batting average, on base average, and slugging average. Martinez was 2nd in shutouts with 4 and in quality start percentage with an 80.6% rate. ************************************************************************************************ 1997 CDBL FIREMAN OF THE YEAR 2nd Runner Up: Arthur Rhodes, Arkham Investigators ERA OPS OPSvL OPSvR W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP BF 2.46 .596 .421 .681 6 2 24 75 0 0 0 106.0 76 29 29 35 113 8 7 424 Part of Arkham's 2 headed closer team with Stan Belinda, Rhodes finished the year with a 2.46 ERA, 6 wins and 24 saves in 75 appearances and 106 innings pitched. Arkham finished the year 12-5 when tied after 7 innings, was 29-17 in 1 run games and 9-5 in extra innings, all helping Arkham to the best record in the majors. ******************************** 1st Runner Up: Billy Taylor, Madison Muckrakers ERA OPS OPSvL OPSvR W L S G GS CG SHO INN H R ER BB K HR GDP BF 3.19 .723 .807 .627 0 6 38 56 0 0 0 59.1 64 22 21 27 56 2 7 261 Taylor led all closers in saves with 38, and sported a 3.19 ERA. Taylor's efforts helped Madison capture a share of the Paige division pennant. ******************************** 1997 CDBL Fireman of the Year: Mariano Rivera, Seattle Decaf/San Diego Rude Dawgs Acquired partway through the season from the Decaf, Rivera was lights out good for the Rude Dawgs, helping them capture the Tiant division pennant. Rivera finished second in saves with 34, but even more impressive was the fact that he was a perfect 34 for 34 in save opportunities. Rivera's 1.59 ERA and 0.511 OPS against was best among all closers with at least 10 saves.