1997 Akron Aeros Roster
Team Record: 51-90
Finished 5th in the EL's South Division
Manager: Jeff Datz (51-90)
Affiliation: Cleveland Indians
Location: Akron, Ohio
Ballpark: Canal Park
Attendance: 473,232, Avg. 7,063 in 67 home dates
The Akron Aeros of the Eastern League ended the 1997 season with a record of 51 wins and 90 losses, finishing fifth in the league's South Division.
The Aeros plated 758 runs and allowed 841 runs, most in the league. Chan Perry and Todd Betts paced Akron with 20 home runs apiece., while Mike Neal, Jim Betzsold and Mike Moyle each walloped 15 or more as well. Chan Perry drove in 96 runs and topped batters with significant playing time with a .315 average. Daron Kirkreit led the team with 8 wins, and Mike Matthews recorded a 3.82 ERA, leading pitchers with enough qualifying appearances.
Paul Shuey, Bill Wertz, Jason Rakers, Albie Lopez, Marcus Moore, Scott Baker, Russell Branyan, Chan Perry, John Briscoe, Chad Curtis, Jim Crowell, Sean Mulligan, Jaret Wright, Sean Casey, Mike Matthews, Scott Winchester and Erik Bennett were all players from the 1997 Akron Aeros who played in the Majors during their careers.
Jeff Datz served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Badorek | R | R | May 15, 1969 | 6'5" | 230 | Mount Zion, IL US |
| Scott Baker | L | L | May 18, 1970 | 6'2" | 175 | San Jose, CA US |
| Erik Bennett | R | R | September 13, 1968 | 6'2" | 205 | Yreka, CA US |
| Todd Betts | L | R | June 24, 1973 | 6'0" | 185 | East York, ON CA |
| Jim Betzsold | R | R | August 7, 1972 | 6'3" | 210 | Orange, CA US |
| Russell Branyan | L | R | December 19, 1975 | 6'4" | 235 | Warner Robins, GA US |
| John Briscoe | R | R | September 22, 1967 | 6'3" | 185 | La Grange, IL US |
| Lance Calmus | R | R | January 19, 1973 | 6'5" | 225 | Tulsa, OK US |
| Jared Camp | R | R | May 4, 1975 | 6'2" | 195 | Huntington, WV US |
| John Carter | R | R | February 16, 1972 | 6'1" | 195 | Chicago, IL US |
| Sean Casey | L | R | July 2, 1974 | 6'4" | 215 | Willingboro, NJ US |
| Patricio Claudio | R | R | April 12, 1972 | 6'0" | 173 | Santiago, Santiago DO |
| Jim Crowell | L | L | May 14, 1974 | 6'4" | 220 | Minneapolis, MN US |
| Chad Curtis | R | R | November 6, 1968 | 5'10" | 175 | Marion, IN US |
| Randy Curtis | L | L | January 16, 1971 | 5'10" | 195 | Orange, CA US |
| Maximo De La Rosa | R | R | July 12, 1971 | 5'11" | 218 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Tony Dougherty | R | R | April 12, 1973 | 6'2" | 200 | Beaver Falls, PA US |
| Chip Glass | L | L | June 24, 1971 | 5'11" | 180 | Ukiah, CA US |
| Mike Gordon | L | R | November 30, 1972 | 6'2" | 210 | Quincy, FL US |
| Chris Granata | R | R | February 26, 1972 | 6'0" | 205 | Toledo, OH US |
| Dennis Gray | L | L | December 24, 1969 | 6'6" | 225 | Riverside, CA US |
| Rafael Gross | R | R | August 8, 1974 | 5'10" | 155 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Robin Harriss | R | R | August 7, 1971 | 6'1" | 205 | Abilene, TX US |
| Daron Kirkreit | R | R | August 7, 1972 | 6'6" | 225 | Anaheim, CA US |
| Albie Lopez | R | R | August 18, 1971 | 6'2" | 240 | Mesa, AZ US |
| Johnny Martinez | R | R | November 25, 1972 | 6'3" | 168 | Monte Cristi, Monte Cristi DO |
| Mike Matthews | L | L | October 24, 1973 | 6'2" | 175 | Fredericksburg, VA US |
| Guillermo Mercedes | S | R | January 17, 1974 | 5'11" | 155 | La Romana, La Romana DO |
| Rafael Mesa | R | R | October 9, 1973 | 6'4" | 175 | Azua, Azua DO |
| David Miller | L | L | December 9, 1973 | 6'3" | 180 | Philadelphia, PA US |
| Wilmer Montoya | R | R | March 15, 1974 | 5'10" | 165 | , Carabobo VE |
| Marcus Moore | S | R | November 2, 1970 | 6'5" | 195 | Oakland, CA US |
| Scott Morgan | R | R | July 19, 1973 | 6'7" | 230 | Westlake Village, CA US |
| Bobby Morris | L | R | November 22, 1972 | 6'0" | 175 | Hammond, IN US |
| Mike Moyle | R | R | September 8, 1971 | 6'2" | 200 | Perth, Western Australia AU |
| Sean Mulligan | R | R | April 25, 1970 | 6'2" | 210 | Lynwood, CA US |
| Noe Najera | L | L | December 9, 1970 | 6'2" | 190 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Mike Neal | R | R | November 5, 1971 | 6'1" | 180 | Fayetteville, AR US |
| Julio Perez | R | R | May 18, 1974 | 6'1" | 163 | San Cristobal, San Cristobal DO |
| Chan Perry | R | R | September 13, 1972 | 6'2" | 200 | Live Oak, FL US |
| Jason Rakers | R | R | June 29, 1973 | 6'2" | 197 | Pittsburgh, PA US |
| Kevin Riggs | L | R | February 3, 1969 | 5'11" | 190 | Hartford, CT US |
| Jeff Sexton | R | R | October 4, 1971 | 6'2" | 190 | Westminster, CA US |
| Paul Shuey | R | R | September 16, 1970 | 6'3" | 215 | Lima, OH US |
| Greg Thomas | L | L | July 19, 1972 | 6'3" | 200 | Miami, FL US |
| Jay Vaught | L | R | December 21, 1971 | 6'1" | 185 | Pasadena, TX US |
| Teddy Warrecker | L | R | October 1, 1972 | 6'6" | 215 | Santa Barbara, CA US |
| Lenny Weber | R | R | August 6, 1972 | 6'1" | 185 | New Iberia, LA US |
| Bill Wertz | R | R | January 15, 1967 | 6'6" | 220 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Casey Whitten | L | L | May 23, 1972 | 6'0" | 180 | Evansville, IN US |
| Scott Winchester | R | R | April 20, 1973 | 6'2" | 210 | Midland, MI US |
| Jaret Wright | R | R | December 29, 1975 | 6'2" | 220 | Anaheim, CA 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.
