1997 Kissimmee Cobras Roster
Team Record: 71-66
Finished 1st in the FSL's East Division
Manager: John Tamargo (71-66)
Affiliation: Houston Astros
Location: Kissimmee, Florida
Ballpark: Osceola County Stadium
Attendance: 37,989, Avg. 594 in 64 home dates
Playoffs - Vero Beach Dodgers 2 games, Kissimmee Cobras 1
The Kissimmee Cobras of the Florida State League ended the 1997 season with a record of 71 wins and 66 losses, finishing first in the league's East Division.
The Cobras paced the league with just 562 runs allowed. Kissimmee scored 615 runs. Lance Berkman powered the squad with 12 home runs Ramón Castro drove in 65 runs. Billy Owens led batters with significant playing time by hitting .283. Freddy García and Wade Miller topped the squad with 10 wins each, while Freddy García registered a 2.56 earned run average, tops among qualifying pitchers.
Members of the 1997 Kissimmee Cobras who played in Major League Baseball during their careers were Óscar Robles, Brian Dallimore, Donaldo Méndez, Ramón Castro, Chris Truby, Lance Berkman, Félix Escalona, Julio Lugo, Wade Miller, Freddy García, Jason Green, Brian Sikorski and Mark Johnson.
John Tamargo served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason Adams | R | R | November 3, 1973 | 5'11" | 195 | Wichita, KS US |
| Chad Alexander | R | R | May 22, 1974 | 6'1" | 190 | Norfolk, VA US |
| Adan Amezcua | R | R | March 9, 1974 | 6'3" | 200 | Mazatlan, Sinaloa MX |
| Shane Barksdale | L | R | September 6, 1976 | 6'4" | 195 | Oneonta, AL US |
| Lance Berkman | S | L | February 10, 1976 | 6'1" | 220 | Waco, TX US |
| Alberto Blanco | L | L | June 27, 1976 | 6'1" | 200 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Andy Bovender | R | R | April 10, 1973 | 6'3" | 190 | Charlotte, NC US |
| R. J. Bowers | R | R | February 10, 1974 | 6'1" | 210 | Honolulu, HI US |
| Ramón Castro | R | R | March 1, 1976 | 6'3" | 240 | Vega Baja, PR |
| Scott Chapman | R | R | January 30, 1978 | 6'2" | 200 | Athens, OH US |
| Ryan Coe | R | R | January 16, 1973 | 5'10" | 200 | Mansfield, OH US |
| Brian Dallimore | R | R | November 15, 1973 | 6'1" | 180 | Las Vegas, NV US |
| Jon DeClue | R | L | September 17, 1970 | 6'2" | 198 | Indianapolis, IN US |
| Jeremy DeShazer | S | R | August 18, 1976 | 5'10" | 175 | Flagstaff, AZ US |
| Mike Diorio | R | R | March 1, 1973 | 6'2" | 215 | Canon City, CO US |
| Jim Duffy | R | R | July 18, 1974 | 6'2" | 195 | Dover, NJ US |
| Félix Escalona | R | R | March 12, 1979 | 6'0" | 185 | Puerto Cabello, Carabobo VE |
| Freddy García | R | R | October 6, 1976 | 6'4" | 250 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Jimmy Gonzalez | R | R | March 8, 1973 | 6'3" | 235 | Hartford, CT US |
| Jason Green | R | R | June 5, 1975 | 6'1" | 205 | Port Hope, ON CA |
| Chad Hale | R | L | August 3, 1971 | 6'6" | 245 | Newark, OH US |
| Billy Hall | R | R | September 4, 1973 | 6'0" | 200 | Tulsa, OK US |
| Mark Johnson | R | R | May 2, 1975 | 6'3" | 226 | Dayton, OH US |
| Ric Johnson | R | R | March 18, 1974 | 6'2" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Dan Lock | R | L | March 27, 1973 | 6'5" | 210 | Ann Arbor, MI US |
| Niuman Loiz | R | R | December 12, 1973 | 6'5" | 230 | Caracas, Distrito Federal VE |
| Pedro Lopez | R | R | March 29, 1969 | 6'1" | 200 | Vega Baja, PR |
| Julio Lugo | R | R | November 16, 1975 | 6'1" | 175 | Barahona, Barahona DO |
| Jay Mansavage | S | R | July 11, 1975 | 6'1" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Donaldo Méndez | R | R | June 7, 1978 | 6'1" | 155 | Barquisimeto, Lara VE |
| Ryan Miller | R | R | October 22, 1972 | 6'0" | 175 | Tulare, CA US |
| Wade Miller | R | R | September 13, 1976 | 6'2" | 185 | Reading, PA US |
| Doug Mlicki | R | R | April 12, 1971 | 6'3" | 175 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Paul O'Malley | R | R | December 20, 1972 | 6'2" | 190 | Chicago, IL US |
| Billy Owens | S | R | April 12, 1971 | 6'1" | 210 | San Jose, CA US |
| Jhonny Perez | R | R | October 23, 1976 | 5'10" | 180 | Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional DO |
| Hassan Robinson | R | R | September 22, 1972 | 6'3" | 180 | Glen Cove, NY US |
| Óscar Robles | L | R | April 9, 1976 | 5'10" | 190 | Tijuana, Baja California MX |
| Noel Rodriguez | R | R | December 5, 1973 | 6'3" | 180 | Yabucoa, PR |
| Derek Root | L | L | May 26, 1975 | 6'5" | 215 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Tony Ross | R | R | September 17, 1973 | 5'11" | 175 | Kansas City, MO US |
| Nelson Samboy | R | R | September 4, 1976 | 5'10" | 165 | Pedernales, DO |
| Brian Sikorski | R | R | July 27, 1974 | 6'1" | 190 | Detroit, MI US |
| Eric Smith | R | R | May 17, 1974 | 6'0" | 185 | Worthington, MN US |
| Eric Stachler | R | R | April 18, 1973 | 6'3" | 215 | Coldwater, OH US |
| Earl Steinmetz | R | R | May 17, 1971 | 6'3" | 175 | Limestone, ME US |
| Chris Truby | R | R | December 9, 1973 | 6'2" | 190 | Palm Springs, CA US |
| Julien Tucker | L | R | April 19, 1973 | 6'7" | 200 | Montreal, QC CA |
| Mike Wheeler | R | R | October 25, 1977 | 6'1" | 175 | Cincinnati, OH 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.
