1897 in baseball

The following are the baseball events of the year 1897 throughout the world.

Champions

 * National League: Boston Beaneaters

Statistical Leaders

 * Batting: Willie Keeler .424
 * Home Runs: Hugh Duffy 11
 * Wins: Kid Nichols  31
 * ERA: Amos Rusie 2.54

Births

 * March 4 - Lefty O'Doul
 * March 5 - Lu Blue
 * March 27 - Effa Manley
 * April 10 - Ross Youngs
 * May 12 - Joe Dugan
 * July 27 - Biz Mackey
 * August 31 - William Bell
 * September 13 - Eddie Rommel
 * October 20 - Jigger Statz
 * November 21 - Andy High
 * November 23 - Beans Reardon

Deaths

 * February 5 - Charles "Hoss" Radbourn, 42, pitcher who won over 300 games including a record 60 for the 1884 Providence Grays; led NL in wins, strikeouts, winning percentage and games twice each and in shutouts, innings and ERA once each; completed 489 out of 503 starts, pitched three shutouts in 1884 world championship series; held single-season records for games pitched with 76 in 1883, was 27-12 for 1890 Players League champions
 * March 5 - Dave Foutz, 40, pitcher for St. Louis and Brooklyn, and manager of Brooklyn since 1893, who compiled .690 career winning percentage, with 41 wins for 1886 champion Browns; also a first baseman and outfielder, batting .300 three times