Expos/Nationals

[JLB]

I'm interested in others views on the continuing soap opera being played out now in Washington. Still no new stadium deal. Estimates now are that instead of $400 million a new stadium will cost $700 million. And MLB is taking the dispute to arbitration and not turning over the team to an ownership group until there's a stadium deal in place.

I miss the Expos and baseball is a great game, but I'm pleased the city didn't bend over for the extorters running MLB.

 

[sybaritic]

I'm still broken up about it...

I miss the Expos and baseball is a great game, but I'm pleased the city didn't bend over for the extorters running MLB.

All I know is that I lost my best excuse to visit to Montreal!

 

[HonestAbe]

All I know is that I lost my best excuse to visit to Montreal!

Hear, Hear!

It was also VERY nice to be able to get excellent seats for any team which visited at the best prices in the league. Scalpers weren't even part of the equation. Try getting good seats to Fenway for yourself and two kids for less than $300, and were not even TALKING about a Yankees' series in Fenway! I had always dreamed that the Expos would somehow return to their glory days and make it to the World Series so I could see a Fall Classic and not have to take out a mortgage to afford the tickets. Montreal got screwed by MLB no doubt but while I respect Canadian government for not caving in to MLB for free money in the long run that is ONE of the major reasons why the Expos' are gone.

 

[mtlman2005]

I completly agree with you!! Except for the fact that I was for the Expos... And personnaly, I think the real reason why the Expos are gone is becuz they didnt want to see an Expos/Blue Jay World series!

 

[John Legend]

Expos VS Blue Jays Canadian Domination??? Both teams and all of Baseball are loaded with Dominican's and Puerto Ricans. It's not even an American sport anymore. I don't see how Canada is dominant in a sport when the only Canadian I ever knew that played for the Expos during that time was Larry Walker.

 

[Techman]

Hey! Don't forget Quebec's Claude Raymond!!

 

[sybaritic]

Interesting

I've never heard anyone in the US vocalize such a thought! Who thinks this way? I think it is fair to say that we in the US too often forget our friends to the north, but we have always thought of you as our friends! We are more likely to be guilty of forgetting that we are different countries. It's only when I listen on boards like this that I hear this kind of rhetoric. Hey, it's just baseball!

Remember that virtually nobody attended the Expos games. Most minor league teams draw better crowds in the US. I remember crowds there of under 2000 people--for SF when Barry Bonds was in the midst of his record setting season! That was great for us visitors, but pretty impractical for a major league franchise. I should make a trip over to Toronto for a game this summer. How is attendance there? Harder to get tickets?

I completly agree with you!! Except for the fact that I was for the Expos... And personnaly, I think the real reason why the Expos are gone is becuz they didnt want to see an Expos/Blue Jay World series!

 

[StripperLover]

sybaritic,

These were the Expos attendance figures from the time they entered the Olympic Stadium until 1989 incl.

1977 1,433,757
1978 1,427,007
1979 2,102,173
1980 2,208,175
1981 1,534,564
1982 2,318,292
1983 2,320,651
1984 1,606,531
1985 1,502,494
1986 1,128,981
1987 1,850,324
1988 1,478,659
1989 1,783,533

Yes they were bad for the last several yrs as the locals deemed that they were conspired against by MLB. These attendance figures are far from bad except for a couple.

Frankly I don't know for sure if they were or not but no way MLB would have liked to EVER see an Expos/Blue Jays World Series as this would have less than a disaster for the American baseball viewing public.

 

[sybaritic]

1989 was quite a while ago, man.

Substitute the networks for MLB and you might be right; they wouldn't have liked such a series because they would never sell enough advertising to cover their financial commitment! But remember, they weren't happy when KC played St. Louis either....

sybaritic,

Yes they were bad for the last several yrs as the locals deemed that they were conspired against by MLB. These attendance figures are far from bad except for a couple.

Frankly I don't know for sure if they were or not but no way MLB would have liked to EVER see an Expos/Blue Jays World Series as this would have less than a disaster for the American baseball viewing public.

 

[HonestAbe]

Hey! Don't forget Quebec's Claude Raymond!!

Forget him? I never heard of him, who did he play for and what position?

Kevin Gagnes' name probably rings a bell around here however, no?

There certainly are a lot of Dominican players in the league but there are still a good number of white guys and non Dominican hispanics and blacks as well. As far as the game, it is native to the US and will always be an American game because of that, doesn't matter what nationality plays it. If Jamaica wins the Olympic gold in Hockey they still can't lay claim to it as "their game."

Heres an interesting question as to who owns what. James Naismith was from Canada correct? He attended McGill if I am not mistaken. He later moved to the states where he invented Basketball. Is Basketball then native to the US or is it a Canadian sport?

 

[Techman]

Claude Raymond was a pitcher for the Expos in the 70's. And I think you meant Eric Gagne, not Kevin.

 

[voyageur11]

Claude Raymond was a pitcher for the Expos in the 70's. And I think you meant Eric Gagne, not Kevin.

Claude Raymond firdt played for the Milwaukee Brave Here another name Ferguson Jenkins

 

[HonestAbe]

Claude Raymond was a pitcher for the Expos in the 70's. And I think you meant Eric Gagne, not Kevin.

Your right Techman, I mistakenly stated Kevin(an old college buddy).
Is baseball a big sport in high school in Quebec? Must be popular to some degree to have produced Gagne (and Raymond, any others?).

 

[Techman]

HS and college sports are nowhere near what they are in the US. When I was in school, which was a long time ago, we had few school sports teams and little inter-school competition. We did have a bowling team Most kids played in privately run sports leagues. Even today, my friends who have kids have them playing in non-school related teams. But I would say that the main sports here, for kids, are hockey followed closely by soccer, then baseball, football and basketball. Of course I could be worng as I do not have kids.

 

[StripperLover]

How about Larry Walker from BC ?

Alexander, B -played 1955-57 - Robert Somerville Alexander Born August 7, 1922 - Vancouver British Columbia
Atkinson, B - played 1976-79 - William Cecil Glenn Atkinson Born October 4, 1954 - Chatham, Ontario
Aucoin, D - played 1996 - Derek Alfred Aucoin Born March 27, 1970 - Lachine, Quebec
Bahr, E - played 1946-47 - Edson Garfield Bahr Born October 16, 1919 - Rouleau, Saskatchewan
Balaz, J - played 1974-75 - John Lawrence Balaz Born November 24, 1950 - Toronto, Ontario
Barton, V - played 1931-32 - Vince David Barton Born February 01, 1908 - Edmonton, Alberta
Bay, J - played 2003 - Present - Jason Bay Born September 30, 1978 - Trail British Columbia
Bedard, E played 2002 - present - Eric Bedard Born Mar 6, 1979 Navab Ontario
Boucher, D - played 1991-94 - Denis Boucher Born March 7, 1968 - Montreal, Quebec
Bowsfield, T - played 1958-64 - Edward Oliver Bowsfield Born January 10, 1935 - Vernon, British Columbia
Burgess, T - played 1954-62 - Thomas Roland Burgess Born September 1, 1927 - London, Ontario
Butler, Ri - played 1997-98 - Rich Butler Born May 1, 1973 - Toronto, Ontario
Butler, Ro - played 1993-97 - Rob Butler Born April 10, 1970 - Toronto, Ontario
Buxton, R - played 1938-49 - Ralph Stanley Buxton Born June 7, 1911 - Wyburn, Saskatchewan
Calvert, P - played 1942-51- Paul Leo Emile Calvert Born October 6, 1917 - Montreal, Quebec
Clapp, R - played 2001- Richard K ( Stubby) Clapp Born February 24, 1973 - Windsor Ontario
Clarke, N - played 1905-20 - ( Nig ) Jay Justin Clarke Born December 15, 1882 - Amherstburgh, Ontario
Cleveland, R - played 1969-81 - Reginald Leslie Cleveland Born May 23, 1948 - Swift Current, Saskatchewan
Coleman, F - played 1942-47 - Frank Lloyd Coleman Born March 2, 1918 - London, Ontario
Congalton, B - played 1902-07 - ( Bunk ) William Millar Congalton Born January 24, 1875 - Guelph, Ontario
Cook, E - played 1941 - Earl Davis Cook Born December 10, 1908 - Stouffville, Ontario
Cormier, R - played 1991-2000 - Rheal Paul Cormier Born April 23, 1967 - Moncton, New Bruswick
Craig, P - played 1964-66 - Peter Joel Craig Born July 10, 1940 - LaSalle, Ontario
Currie, Clarence - played 1902-03 - Clarence Franklin Currie Born December 30, 1878 - Glencoe, Ontario
Daly, Tom - played 1913-21 - Tom Daly Born December 12, 1891 - New Brunswick
Daviault, R - played 1962 - Raymond Joseph Robert Daviault Born May 27, 1934 - Montreal, Quebec
Dempster, R - played 1998-2000 - Ryan Dempster Born May, 3, 1977 - Sachelt, British Columbia
Dickson, J - played 1996-2000 - Jason Royce Dickson Born March 30, 1973 - London, Ontario
Ducey, R - played 1987-2000 - Robert Thomas Ducey Born May 24, 1965 - Toronto, Ontario
Dugas, G - played 1930-34 - Augustin Joseph Dugas Born March 24, 1907 - St Jean de Matha, Quebec
Emslie, B - played 1883-85 - Roberts Daniel Emslie Born January 27, 1859 - Guelph, Ontario
Erautt, J - played 1950-51 - Joseph Michael Erautt Born September 1, 1921 - Vibank, Saskatchewan
Fisher, H - played 1951-52 - Harry Fisher Born January 3,1926 - Newbury, Ontario
Ford, G - played 1905 - Eugene, Wyman Ford Born April 16, 1881 - Milton, Nova Scoria
Ford, R - played 1909-15 - Russell William Ford Born April 25, 1883 - Brandon, Manitoba
Fowler, D - played 1941-52 - Richard John Fowler Born March 30, 1921 - Toronto, Ontario
Francis, J played 2005 present - Jeff Francis Born January 8, 1981 Vancouver British Columbia
Frobel, D - played 1982-87 - Douglas Steven Frobel Born June 6, 1959 - Ottawa, Ontario
Gagne, E - played 1999- Eric Gagne Born January 7, 1976 - Montreal, Quebec
Gardiner, M - played 1990-95 - Michael James Gardiner Born October 19, 1965 - Sarnia, Ontario
Gibson, G - played 1905-18 - George C Gibson Born July 22, 1880 - London, Ontario
Gladu, R - played 1944 - Roland Edouard Gladu Born May 10, 1911 - Montreal, Quebec
Gorbous, G - played 1955-57 - Glen Edward Gorbous Born July 8, 1930 - Drumheller, Alberta
Graney, J - played 1908-22 - Jack Graney Born June 10, 1886 - St. Thomas, Ontario
Green, J - played 2000 - David Jason Green Born June 05, 1975 - Port Hope, Ontario
Green, S - played 2001 - Steve Green Born January 01, 1978 - Longueil, Quebec
Harden Rich - played 2003 - Rich Harden Born Born November 30, 1981 Victoria, British Columbia
Handrahan, V - played 1964-66 - James Vernon Handrahan Born November 27, 1938 - Charlottetown P.E.I.
Harkness, T - played 1961-64 - Thomas William Harkness Born December 23, 1937 - Lachine, Quebec
Harris, B - played 1957-59 - William Thomas Harris Born December 31, 1931 - Duguaville, New Brunswick
Harrison, T - played 1965 - Thomas James Harrison Born January 18, 1945 - Trail, British Columbia
Heath, J - played 1936-49 - John Geoffrey Heath Born April 1, 1915 - Ft. Williams, Ontario
Hiller, J - played 1965-80 - John Frederick Hiller Born April 8, 1943 - Toronto, Ontario
Hodgson, P - played 1980 - Paul Joseph Denis Hodgson Born April 14, 1960 - Montreal, Quebec
Hooper, B - played 1950-55 - Robert Nelson Hooper Born May 30, 1922 - Leamington, Ontario
Horsman, V - played 1991-95 - Vincent Stanley Joseph Horsman Born March 9, 1967 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
Irwin, A - played 1880-94 - Arthur Irwin Born February 14, 1858 - Toronto, Ontario
Jenkins, F - played 1965-83 - Ferguson Arthur Jenkins Born December 13, 1943 - Chatham, Ontario
Johnson, M - played 1997-2000 - Michael Keith Johnson Born October 3, 1975 - Edmonton, Alberta
Jones, M - played 1890 - Michael Jones Born July 6, 1865 Hartland, New Brunswick
Jones, W - played 1911-12 - William Dennis "Midget" Born April 8, 1887 Hartland, New Brunswick
Judd, O - played 1941-48 - Thomas William Oscar Judd Born February 14, 1908 - London, Ontario
Kellum, W - played 1901-05 - Winford Ansley Kellum Born April 11, 1876 - Waterford, Ontario
Kerr, M - played 1925 - John Melville Kerr Born May 22, 1903 - Souris, Manitoba
Kilkenny, M - played 1969-73 -Michael David Kilkenny Born April 11, 1945 - Branford, Ontario
Klassen, D - played 1998-2000 - Danny Klassen Born September 22, 1975 - Leamington, Ontario
Korince, G - played 1966-67 - George Eugene Korince Born January 10, 1946 - Ottawa, Ontario
Koskie, C - played 1998-2000 - Corey Koskie Born June 28, 1973 - Anola, Manitoba
Krakauska, J - played 1937-46 - Joseph Victor Krakauska Born March 28, 1915 - Montreal, Quebec
Laforest, P - Played 2003 - Pete Laforest Born Jan 27, 1978 - Hull Quebec
LaForest, P - played 2003 - present - Pete LaForest Born Jan 17,1978 - Hull Quebec
LaForest, T - played 1945 - (Ty) Byron Joseph LaForest Born April 18, 1917 - Edmundston, New Brunswick
Lake, F - played 1891-1910 -Frederick Lovett Lake Born October 16, 1866 - --Nova, Scotia
Landreth, L - played 1976-77 - Larry Robert Landreth Born March 11, 1955 - Stanford, Ontario
Law, R - played 1969 - Ronald David Law Born March 14, 1946 - Hamilton, Ontario
Lawrence, J - played 1963 - James Ross Lawrence Born February 12, 1939 - Hamilton, Ontario
Lines, D - played 1966-67 - Richard George Lines Born August 17, 1938 - Montreal, Quebec
Lisi, R - played 1981 - Ricardo Patrick Lisi Born March 17, 1956 - Halifax, Nova Scotia
MacKenzie, E - played 1955 - Eric Mackenzie Born August 29, 1932 - Glendon, Alberta
MacKenzie, K - played 1960-65 - Ken Mackenzie Born March 10, 1934 - Gore Bay, Ontario
Maranda, G - played 1960-62 - George Henri Maranda Born January 15, 1932 - Levis, Quebec
Marchildon, P - played 1940-50 - Phillip Joseph Marchildon Born October 25, 1913 - Penetanguishene, Ontario
Maysey, M - played 1992-93 - Matthew Samuel Maysey Born January 8, 1967 - Hamilton, Ontario
McCaskill, K - played 1985-96 - Kirk McCaskill Born April 9, 1961 - Kapuskasing, Ontario
McCabe, R - played 1946 - Ralph Herbert McCabe Born October 21, 1918 - Napanee, Ontario
McGovern, A - played 1905 - Arthur John McGovern Born February 27, 1882 - Saint John, New Brunswick
McKay, D - played 1975-82 - Dave McKay Born March 14, 1950 - Vancouver, British Columbia
McKeever, J - played 1884 - Jim McKeever Born April 19, 1861 - New Brunswick
Mead, C - played 1943-45 - Charles Richard Mead Born April 9, 1921 - Vermilion, Alberta
Miller, D - played 1910-14 - ( Doc ) Roy Oscar Miller Born February 4, 1883 - Chatham, Ontario
Morneau, J - played 2003 - present - Justin Morneau Born May 15, 1981 - New Westminster British Columbia
Mountroy, B - played 1883-85 - William R Mountjoy Born 1857 - London, Ontario
Myette, A - played 1999 - 2000 - Aaron Myette Born September 26, 1977 - New Westminster, British Columbia
Nicholson, K - played 2000 - Kevin Nicholson Born March 29, 1976 - Surrey, British Columbia
O'Halloran, G - played 1994 - Gregory Joseph O'Halloran Born May 21, 1968 - Toronto, Ontario
O'Hara, B - played 1909-10 - William Alexander O'Hara Born August 14, 1883 - Toronto, Ontario
O'Neill, H - played 1922-23 - Joseph Henry O'Neil Born February 20, 1897 - Ridgetown, Ontario
O'Neill, T - played 1883-92 - ( Tip ) James O'Neill Born May 25, 1858 - Woodstock, Ontario
O'Rourke, F - played 1912-31 - James Francis O'Rourke Born November 28, 1894 - Hamilton, Ontario
Oxley, H - played 1884 - Henry Havelock Oxley Born January 4, 1858 - Covehead, Prince Edward Island
Pagan, D - played 1973-77 - David Percy Pagan Born September 15, 1949 - Nipawin, Saskatchewan
Phillips, B - played 1879-88 - William Phillips Born May 01, 1857 - St Johns, New Brunswick
Piche, R - played 1960-66 - Ronald Jacques Piche Born May 22, 1935 - Verdun, Quebec
Pladson, G - played 1979-82 - Gordon Cecil Pladson Born July 31, 1956 - New Westminster, British Columbia
Puhl, T - played 1977-91 - Terry Stephen Puhl Born July 8, 1956 - Melville, Saskatchewan
Quantrill, P - played 1992-2000 - Paul John Quantrill Born November 3, 1968 - London, Ontario

 

[StripperLover]

cont'd>

Radmanovich, R - played 1998 - Ryan Radmanovich Born August 9, 1971 - Calgary, Alberta
Raymond, C - played 1959-71 - Joseph Claude Marc Raymond Born May 7, 1937 - St Jean, Quebec
Reimer, K - played 1988-93 - Kevin Michael Reimer Born June 28, 1964 - Macon GA - Father on military assignment
Riley, J - played 1921-23 - James Norman Riley Born May 25, 1895 - Bayfield, New Brunswick
Robertson, S - played 1940-52 - Sherrard Alexander Robertson Born January 1, 1919 - Montreal, Quebec
Rosen, G - played 1937-46 - ( Goody ) Goodwin George Rosen August 28, 1912 - Toronto, Ontario
Roy, JP - played 1946 - Jean-Pierre Roy June 26, 1920 - Montreal, Ontario
Rutherford, J - played 1952 - John William Rutherford May 5, 1925 - Belleville, Ontario
Selkirk, G - played 1934-42 - George Alexander Selkirk January 4, 1908 - Huntsville, Ontario
Shank, H - played 1970 - Harvey Tillman Shank July 29, 1946 - Toronto, Ontario
Sheilds, V - played 1924 - Vincent William Shields November 18, 1900 - Fredricton, New Brunswick
Shipanoff, D - played 1985 - David Noel Shipanoff November 13, 1959 - Edmonton, Alberta
Siddall, J - played 1993-98 - Joseph Todd Siddall October 25, 1967 - Windsor, Ontario
Sinclair, S - played 1998-99 - Stephen Sinclair August 2, 1971- Vistoria, British Columbia
Sketchley, B - played 1942 - ( Bud ) Harry Clement Sketchley March 30, 1919 - Virden, Manitoba
Smith, P - played 1880-91 - ( Pop )Charles Marvin Smith October 12, 1856 - Digby, Nova Scotia
Spencer, S - played 1999 - Stanley Spencer August 7, 1969 - Vancouver, British Columbia
Spoljaric, P - played 1994-2000 - Paul Nikola Spoljaric September 24, 1970 - Kelowna British Columbia
Stairs, M - played 1992- Matthew Wade Stairs February 27, 1968 - St John New Brunswick
Stewart, A - played 1997 - Andy Stewart December 5, 1970 - Oshawa, Ontario
Steele, B - played 1916-19 - Robert Wesley Steele January 5, 1894 - Cassbum, Ontario
Taylor, R - played 1962-72 - Ronald Wesley Taylor December 13, 1937 - Toronto, Ontario
Upham, J - played 1967-68 - John Leslie Upham December 29, 1941 - Windsor, Ontario
VanBrabant, O - played 1954-55 - ( Ozzie ) Oscar Camille VanBrabant September 28, 1926 - Kingston, Ontario
Wainhouse, D - played 1991-99 - David Paul Wainhouse November 7, 1967 - Toronto, Ontario
Walker, L - played 1989- Larry Kenneth, Robert Walker December 1, 1966 - Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Ward, P - played 1962-70 - Peter Thomas Ward July 26, 1939 - Montreal, Quebec
Watkins, B - played 1884 - William Henry Watkins May 5, 1858 - Brantford, Ontario
Wilkie, L - played 1941-46 - ( Lefty ) Alson Jay Wilkie October 30, 1914 - Zealandia, Saskatchewan
Wilson, N - played 1993-96 - Nigel Edward Wilson January 12, 1970 - Oshawa, Ontario
Wilson, S - played 1988-93 - Stephen Douglas Wilson December 13, 1964 - Victoria, British Columbia
Wingo, E - played 1920 - Edmund Armand Wingo October 8, 1895 - St Ann de Bellevue, Quebec
Zimmerman, Je - played 1999 - 2000 Jeff Zimmerman August 9, 1972 - Kelowna, British Columbia
Zimmerman, Jo - played 1999 - Jordan Zimmerman April 28, 1975 - Kelowna, British Columbia

 

[HonestAbe]

All ML baseball players SL? I recognized a few of the more recent names, Quantrill, Bedard, Bay, Cormier, Gagne, Morneau, and the infamous (Richard) Dick Clapp

Almost forgot Matt Stairs and Larry Walker

Didn't Larry have a relative in the league as well, Todd Walker? Canadian as well?

 

[StripperLover]

HA,

Baseball diamonds aren't playable (way too soggy as there still might be snow on them 2 weeks prior) in Quebec until end of May at the earliest & but most probably June.

In past yrs gone by, you'll find that there was a high % of pitchers as opposed to position players coming out of Canada, as they can still pitch indoors but obviously not in game situations.

 

[Darcy]

For us long time Expos fans and nostalgic types, a book titled "Remembering the Montreal Expos" was recently released. The authors are Danny Gallagher and Bill Young.

It's not so much a history of the team, but more a collection of stories and anecdotes of players and events in team history. Interesting reading!

As for cheering for the Washington Nationals, I have to agree with a previous post. I can't understand why anyone from here would cheer for the Nationals. Nor do I understand why Washington even deserves a Major League team. Look at that stadium mess there now. You'd think that after already losing two MBL teams, the city would take the ball and run with it on the third try.

Remember the Expos.....Rusty Staub, Mack Jones, Bill Stoneman, Steve Renko, Coco Laboy, Bob Baily, Ron Fairly, Gary Carter, Larry Parrish, Steve Rogers, Ellis Valentine, Andre Dawson, Mike Marshall, Tim Raines, Rodney Scott, Dave Cash, Ray Burris, Scott Sanderson, Larry Lintz, Tim Wallach, Ken Singleton, Tim Foley, Chris Speier, Ron Hunt, Tony Perez, Tim Burke, Woody Fryman, Gene Mauch, Buck Rogers, Felipe Alou, Dennis Martinez, John Boccabella, Ron Leflore, and hundreds more over the years.......many great memories!