After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.

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After annually alternating the schedule of the League Championship Series between the divisions, with a 2-3 format in the best-of-five series (1969-84) and a 2-3-2 format in the best-of-seven matchups (1985-1997), the LCS home-field advantage will now be awarded to the team with the best record. In the series that features the wild-card winner, the divisional winner will receive home-field advantage, regardless of which team has the best record.

1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.

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1997 – Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies is named National League MVP, becoming the first Canadian in either league to win the honor. Walker, who hit .366 with 49 home runs and 130 RBI, caps off a big week for Canada. Earlier in the week, pitchers Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays and Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos each won the Cy Young Award.

Pedro Martinez wins the 1997 NL cy young award

Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos wins his first Cy Young

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1997 – Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos breaks the stranglehold the veteran Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves have on the National League Cy Young Award. Since 1991, either Maddux or a Braves pitcher has captured the award. Martinez posted a 17-8 record with 305 strikeouts, a 1.90 ERA, and 13 complete games, giving Canada a clean sweep of the Cy Young this year. Roger Clemens of the Toronto Blue Jays won the American League award a day earlier. It’s a bittersweet moment for Montreal, as Martinez will be traded away a week later.

Mike Kelly becomes the first major leaguer obtained in a trade by the Rays when Reds deal the 27 year-old outfielder for a player to be named later. Next week, Tampa Bay will send Dmitri Young to the Reds to complete the trade.

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Mike Kelly becomes the first major leaguer obtained in a trade by the Rays when Reds deal the 27 year-old outfielder for a player to be named later. Next week, Tampa Bay will send Dmitri Young to the Reds to complete the trade.

Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.

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Beginning to dismantle their World Champion team, the Marlins trade Moises Alou to the Astros for two pitchers, Oscar Henriquez and Manuel Barrios, and a player to be named later. The outfielder had helped lead Florida to the postseason, batting .292 with 23 home runs and 115 RBIs.

The Boston Red Sox trade pitchers Aaron Sele and Mark Brandenburg and catcher Bill Haselman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for C Jim Leyritz and outfielder Damon Buford.

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The Boston Red Sox trade pitchers Aaron Sele and Mark Brandenburg and catcher Bill Haselman to the Texas Rangers in exchange for C Jim Leyritz and outfielder Damon Buford.

In what Bud Selig says is Phase One of a realignment of the major leagues, his Milwaukee Brewers move from the American League to the National League. Phase 2 will have to wait until 2013, however.

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In what Bud Selig says is Phase One of a realignment of the major leagues, his Milwaukee Brewers move from the American League to the National League. Phase 2 will have to wait until 2013, however.

1997 – Third baseman Scott Rolen is the unanimous choice for the 1997 National League Rookie of the Year Award and becomes the first Philadelphia Phillies player to win the award since Dick Allen in 1964. Rolen led all NL rookies in batting average (.283), home runs (21), runs batted in (92), runs (93), hits (159), doubles (35), total bases (263), on-base percentage (.377) and slugging average (.469). He barely qualified as a rookie, logging exactly 130 at bats in 1996 before breaking his wrist on September 7th when he was hit by a pitch. One more at bat would have disqualified him for the award this year.

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1997 – Third baseman Scott Rolen is the unanimous choice for the 1997 National League Rookie of the Year Award and becomes the first Philadelphia Phillies player to win the award since Dick Allen in 1964. Rolen led all NL rookies in batting average (.283), home runs (21), runs batted in (92), runs (93), hits (159), doubles (35), total bases (263), on-base percentage (.377) and slugging average (.469). He barely qualified as a rookie, logging exactly 130 at bats in 1996 before breaking his wrist on September 7th when he was hit by a pitch. One more at bat would have disqualified him for the award this year.