Montreal Expos
The first MLB franchise outside the United States.
The Montreal Expos were a professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (NL) East division from 1969 to 2004.
Quick Facts
- Division
- National League East
- Active years overlap
- 1969–2004
- Famous expos star
- Andre Dawson
- Famous mets star
- Dwight Gooden
- Memorable venue
- Jarry Park; Olympic Stadium
- Status
- Defunct (Expos moved to Washington in 2005)
Lore & Background
Immediately after the minor league Triple-A Montreal Royals folded in 1960, political leaders in Montreal sought an MLB franchise, and when the National League evaluated expansion candidates for the 1969 season, it awarded a team to Montreal. Named after the Expo 67 World's Fair, the Expos originally played at Jarry Park Stadium before moving to Olympic Stadium in 1977. The Expos failed to post a winning record in any of the franchise’s first 10 seasons. The team won its only division title in the strike-shortened 1981 season, but lost the 1981 National League Championship Series (NLCS) to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team was sold in 1991 by its majority, founding owner, Charles Bronfman, to a consortium headed by Claude Brochu. Felipe Alou was promoted to the team's field manager in 1992, becoming MLB's first Dominican-born manager. He led the team to four winning seasons, including 1994, where the Expos had the best record in baseball before a players' strike ended the season. Alou became the Expos leader in games managed (1,409). After the 1994 strike, the Expos chose to sell off their best players, and attendance and interest in the team declined. Efforts to secure funding for a new ballpark were unsuccessful, and after a failed attempt to disband the team, Major League Baseball bought the Expos ahead of the 2002 season. In their final two seasons, the team played 22 home games each year at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On September 29, 2004, MLB announced the franchise would move to Washington, D.C., for the 2005 season, and the Expos played their final home game in Montreal before relocating and being renamed the Washington Nationals. The Expos posted an overall win–loss record of 2,753–2,943 during their years in Montreal. Vladimir Guerrero leads the franchise in both home runs and batting average, and Steve Rogers in wins and strikeouts. Three pitchers threw four no-hitters: Bill Stoneman (twice), Charlie Lea, and Dennis Martínez, who pitched the 13th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. The Expos retired four numbers in Montreal, and nine former members have been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, with Gary Carter, Andre Dawson and Tim Raines' plaques depicting them with Expos caps.
Reader's Guide
On September 29, 2004, MLB announced the franchise would move to Washington, D.C., for the 2005 season, and the Expos played their final home game in Montreal before relocating. The exact date and location of the final game are unclear from the source.
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