WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONTREAL EXPOS? // DEFUNCT TEAMS: HISTORY OF THE MONTREAL EXPOS DOCUMENTARY

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the Montreal Expos when MLB almost folded the team completely, before they ended up moving to Washington D.C. for good.
Here's what this "Montreal Expos History" video covers:
The Montreal Expos were the first major league baseball team in Canada, and were a huge part of the sports scene in the Quebec area. So what exactly led to the team leaving the city they called home for 35 years? In today’s video we’ll take a look back at how MLB came close to folding the team, before they ended up moving away for good.
We'll also look back at some Montreal Expos highlights throughout their history, like the Expos first game and how the team name came to be and the design of their unique & modern forward looking Expos logo. We'll cover the opening of Olympic Stadium for the 1976 Summer Olympics and how it became the Expos stadium the next year. Then we'll go through their playoff run during the split 1981 season, featuring matchups like the Montreal Expos vs Toronto Blue Jays, Montreal Expos vs Atlanta Braves, and the Montreal Expos vs LA Dodgers. Next we'll head to the 1990s, when the Expos 1994 season started off promising but was cut short due to the MLB strike.By the early 2000's, the team split time between Montreal and the Expos Puerto Rico home stadium. Finally, we'll see the impact of the Montreal Expos last game and how the team's legacy continues on to this day with the Washington Nationals donning Montreal Expos throwback jerseys.
What did you guys think of when the Montreal Expos move to Washington, and becoming the Washington Nationals? Do you think that baseball could return to Montreal in the future? Let me know in the comments below!
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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONTREAL EXPOS? // DEFUNCT TEAMS: HISTORY OF THE MONTREAL EXPOS DOCUMENTARY

[@AllSportsHistory]

Hey Sports Historians! What do you guys think about the Expos moving to Washington D.C.? And do you think that baseball could return to Montreal in the future? Let me know!

[@rockvilleraven]

The Nationals TV rights are owned by another team, their network MASN is owned by the Angelos family who own the Os. Because the Nats invaded the O's territory, Peter Angelos wanted some financial kickback, the Nats do get some money, and both teams are on the same network

[@joshuatrotter25]

Hope so. don't mind the Washington DC baseball team but major league baseball needs the Montreal Expos back 💯‼️

[@remember_the_alamo1022]

Only if they can have Andre Dawson back.

[@chefalefadingdong]

Probably zero chance of mlb returning to Montreal

[@Bobbybabybobbybubbie]

@@chefalefadingdong I wish they would sell their intellectual property rights over the old logo to the Jays. It would be awesome to see a few games in the throwback uniforms (esp their annual exhibition games at theBig O).

[@thenotoriousmm4433]

The Expos still have some of the best uniforms I've ever seen. Those royal blue road jerseys combined with the iconic pinwheel cap will always be what I remember most about Montreal

[@AllSportsHistory]

Agreed!

[@secondguess3128]

Knowing the colour explosion that followed, it's easy to forget that NO ONE was wearing powder blue before the Expos (and the ill-fated Seattle Pilots). Until 1969, the gold-clad Oakland Athletics were the only team not sporting grey or the lightest of blue on its road unis. Combined with the tri-coloured caps and a numbering font considered radical for the day, the Expos drew some comment from south of the border that even their appearance suggested they "came from another country."

[@donaldmackerer9032]

I always thought that the Expos uniforms were ugly.

[@josecolon2201]

The expos uniforms one of the best

[@allinfun829]

​@@donaldmackerer9032you're not bright.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

If there had been no strike and lost season in 1994, The Expos would probably still be playing in Montreal.

[@michaelleroy9281]

But they still might have had a stadium issue

[@michaelsala5165]

Shut up boy

[@TheLastOilersFan]

NO...

[@jaysilva5854]

Nah not really Canadians mainly care about hockey. That's like saying Grizzlies would still be in Vancouver. These cities have little interests in other than hockey. It's sad because it will be 20 years since expos has been gone.

[@pls2028]

Not in that monstrosity of a stadium they wouldn’t…

[@starfighter1043]

Whoever came up w the expos logo, is making millions right now guarantee! That shit was low key pretty dope and very talented

[@crackerlackingproductions6746]

If Montreal gets an MLB team I'll start watching baseball again. I was a huge fan as a kid.

[@ironclad8093]

I know what you mean. I still follow mlb casually but it went downhill after they moved the Expos. If Montreal gets a team again I'll probably become more interested again in MLB.

[@imfamoustran]

@@ironclad8093 that would be awesome to have more fans from Canada. I wholeheartedly believe if there was never a strike in 94 you guys would still have a team.

[@ironclad8093]

@@imfamoustran actually I'm from the u.s.! I just think the Expos got a raw deal and they made mlb interesting.

[@stephaniegormley9982]

I miss them and I wasn't even a fan of their's. I'm a Tiger fan but baseball isn't the same without them.

[@ironclad8093]

@@stephaniegormley9982 so many people feel the same.

[@markhenry1239]

Being a Pirate fan my whole life, as a kid, I couldn't stand the Expos. They were a division rival and always a pain in our backsides. But, it was a good rivalry. Until seeing this video, I had no idea how badly and deliberately Bud Selig had screwed the organization and its fans. Now, knowing this, and having been to Montreal several times, that city needs to have a team again through expansion or relocation it doesn't matter . Baseball needs the Expos back!

[@eyeofhorus99]

I used to love going to Three Rivers watching the Bucs play Montreal.

[@briancalifornia1]

I couldn’t really blame them for moving A lot of fans stopped attending games in a lot of seats were empty they weren’t drawing any revenue to stay in Montreal

[@jean-francoiscaron1211]

"Hey ! Les Pirates, c'est nous autres qui est au bâton !" "Shoot les donc ton petit ballon !" "BOOOOOMM Elle est partie !!" -François Pérusse, Batboy. One of the most iconic part of the song about the Expos. I miss that time. and if I remember well, the Pirates was better before us and beat us a lot, so, it was a good feeling to beat the strong Pirates. Good memories, thanks. Great rivalry.

[@jean-francoiscaron1211]

EVERY Expos fan know that line up exactly. "Captain, I see a ship that seems to come from Pittsburgh - That's Pirates, give me the megaphone (that in - thank you - nothing) - Hey Pirates it's us who are at bat - Shoot it so your little balloon - She left ! - That'll teach you ! Yeah! In in ! Yeah En in! ... Go Expos go! Go Expos go! Go Expos go! ... So good memories.

[@wmw3629]

Selig totally screwed Seattle and Montreal. He’s a no good SOB!

[@ryankatz7707]

Without the 1994 strike, the expos would have still been here

[@rockvilleraven]

And DC fans who wanted to see Major League Baseball would have still been forced to drive to Baltimore.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah you might be right, had they won in ‘94 the fan support alone would have been huge for at least a few years after that. It might be even bought them public support to get a new stadium built, but we’ll never know…

[@harryballs8953]

all they needed to do is build a brand new downtown ballpark similar to what the Twins built and they'd still be in Montreal. However Montreal the city was in major debt due to their 1976 summer Olympic games and the Quebec government said no to a new ballpark being funded buy the taxpayers. Believe they finally paid off the Olympics in 2010! SMH!

[@rockvilleraven]

@@harryballs8953 They were going to build Labatt Park, but then owner Jeffrey Loria hated the location and sold the team to MLB which is the worst kind of ownership for a team

[@acchaladka]

"all you need to do is build is a free stadium which will be a tax loss for the city for decades, and we'll stay for years making money. We promise.". Kind of proud of my city, as incompetent as it is, telling MLB to fuck off.

[@jameslavelle5428]

I am a Washington Nationals fan, and they had a rough couple of years when they first moved here, but they have grown into a good strong team. Thanks for the video, very good. I hope Montreal gets another shot at a team. You never appreciate something till it's gone.

[@RB01.10]

When they finally won in 2019, I felt it in a way out the tragedy of 1994 to sleep in a way even if they weren’t technically the same team But Montreal is just not a baseball city. 1 playoff appearance in their 35 year history was very pathetic and they never really drew a lot of crowds The 1976 Olympics being held there planted the seeds for the Expos to never get the right tools either. From what I heard, Olympic stadium was not ideal either

[@rockvilleraven]

@@RB01.10 If Montreal wants baseball back they will have to build a new stadium, the Big Owe would only be used until a new facility is finished.

[@susanfraser1920]

we the fans were screwed ownership like charles bronfman who acted like he wanted to win turned out to be a terrible owner of george steinbrenner was the owner montreal would have won at least 2 world series steinbrenner is a winner montreal needs a steinbrenner

[@notchjohnson4713]

Crazy how many hall of famers Montreal had on their teams.

[@dynad00d15]

Rusty Stubb, Pedro Martinez, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero, Larry Walker, Gary Carter, Dick Williams, Tony Perez, Randy Johnson, Frank Robinson, Lee Smith... Of all those names, 3 were inducted as an Expos : Raines, Dawson and Carter.

[@Falardoww]

They even drafted Tom Brady.

[@bigal1024]

The Expos logo was really good. Iconic. One of the best logos in history

[@AllSportsHistory]

Agreed!

[@ShadowWizard123]

Bud Selig was the absolute worst. Making them play all those "home" games in Puerto Rico, not letting them spend $100,000 on September call ups. He was bound and determined to send that team to D.C. by any means necessary.

[@donaldmackerer9032]

Sounds like it to me. I never was a big fan of Bud Selig. I think DC needed to have a baseball team but I think it's sad that Montreal no longer has one. I would like to see MLB expand to Montreal. Maybe this time in the American League where they can have a natural rivalry with the blue jays and play them often. I think that would draw fans to both cities to games.

[@elc1960]

Did Selig have designs on becoming the second Walter O'Malley? I mean, he was the de facto commissioner before he was actually appointed to the post, and for a long time O'Malley held sway in much the same manner. And while he was commissioner he had his daughter Jennifer owning his former ball club, the Milwaukee Brewers. They talk about Marge Scott being bad for baseball, but was she really that much worse than Bud Selig?

[@donaldmackerer9032]

@@elc1960 I too thought that Bud Selig was an awful commissioner, but this new one I think is even worse. I didn't think that was possible but it looks like it is.

[@alonenjersey]

Can't say I'm surprised. I was never impressed with Dud Selig as the so-called commish of MLB.

[@scotttild]

He was dreadful let the drug issue persist and even embraced it. The strike was the end of the Expos, but it be fair they played in a horrible building and really didn’t have the fan support. I know lots of people saying they should get another team, I just don’t see the support for a team long term. They had some of the worst attendance figures out of any of the teams.

[@spacerazer]

The Washington Nationals played some games (one in 2019) wearing the Montreal Expos uniform and hat. Since the Expos left Montreal the Quebec City Capitales up the road have won SEVEN Can Am championships and have an annual game wearing the Expo uniform. They were Frontier League champions in2022 and 2023.

[@secondguess3128]

I'd be more impressed if the Nationals hadn't pretended for 15 years that the Expos never existed, and didn't continue to use uniform numbers that were retired in Montreal.

[@luiscurse]

I just realized the Nationals embracing their Expos past in 2019 might have led to them finally ending their post-season woes.

[@rockvilleraven]

I went to an Expos throwback day where the Nationals wore old Montreal unis. The scoreboard looked like the Big Owe’s and Expos gear sold out there by the 3rd inning.

[@ScottCleve33]

The Montreal Expos were like the modern day Cleveland Indians. They knew how to draft talent and develop talent but unfortunately they had a hard time retaining talent. They were the minor league system for the rest of the league.

[@RB01.10]

But it's just plain sad they only made the playoffs 1 time, and that was the strike shortened 1981 season. That's a massive failure if you ask me. Yes, we wonder what 1994 could've been but the fact is that the expos didn't draw a lot of people

[@Matt-ng4tj]

The Yankees and Dodgers say, "Hold my beer" .. just kidding!

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Cleveland Indians were damn good in 1995 and the seasons following

[@FigureFarter]

2010s A's were like that too

[@birdzilla106]

My younger brother sill has a baseball that Pirates slugger Willie Stargell gave to him at an Expos game at Jarry Park back in 1972.

[@jwbogacki]

It was sad to see the expos go. It was like a part of my childhood ripped from me. I'd love to see them come back sometime soon. Their logo i always thought the middle letter between "e" and "b" was an "l", but i didn't realize the outside design was a "m". Thanks for clearing that up.

[@MrAce-lm8es]

The Expos have the best uniform. The "Fleur De Lis" on the jersey really stood out.

[@Mitch-wi3ec]

I'm from Montreal I was 13 when they moved to Washington I was feeling bitter about the move but as is for now I'll love too see again the expos back in Montreal congrats to Washington world series win too! Good video you did 👍

[@marcalarie4756]

Makes me so sad. Drove from Ottawa often to see them play. I watch the Jays now but not the same, passion is gone.

[@WhyEll23]

I live in Montreal and grew up watching the Expos... and, in my eyes, as a kid, selling all the big names we had, Grissom, Martinez, Walker, Carter, killed the enthusiasm we had to go see the Expos games. They started selling their players, and we started to lose and lose games... Even with tickets at 5$ and hotdog at 1$, they couldn'T get the crowd in the stadium anymore. That's what I was livingas a kid, as a fan. MY players were no longuer part of MYU team. And for real realz, the strike hit us hard too in Montreal. It was our year and never got it back. Good ol'dayz! :)

[@r.edward5701]

Damn shame. What a team they had that strike year

[@donaldmackerer9032]

They probably would have won the East with Atlanta coming in second.

[@babyswheels54]

Just found your channel. Great job on the Expos and remembering all of their great players. I’d like to see baseball return to Montreal.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! I’m hoping MLB comes back to Montreal as well.

[@TudorOwen50s]

Excellent summary of the Expos history in my humble opinion! Although not an Expos fans, I loved watching televised games from Olympic Stadium. Often times, I tuned into other team broadcasts just to see the Expos!.... I really do miss that team....Again, I loved this video. Will be subscribing to this channel.....NOW! 😁

[@fredklein3829]

''Why not contract the Yankees and Red Sox instead since *they* are the problem?'' -- Bill Lee

[@supbrahimhammer.421]

That’d cause a strike by itself

[@andrejg4136]

I mean he's not wrong in spirit, but it's a business venture in the end. That's why no one ever said contract the Cubs while they were absolute trash in the middle of the 20th Century.

[@michaelleroy9281]

That's hilarious 🤣😆

[@rogregg29445]

No mention of marquis being traded to the Braves that’s the move that really hurt them IMO but as a Braves fan it was fitting for a native son of Atlanta to catch the final out of the World Series. I wish they’d move the Marlins to Montreal that stadium is never full down there and would be a great bit of irony

[@Jimbo700]

Striker 92->And Olympic Stadium sat mostly empty during the entire run of the Expos. Montreal had their chance and chose not to support a Major League Baseball team.

[@QBAN2010]

No stadium is full anymore

[@OldHead71]

For my entire childhood …and most of my adult life …I thought the Expos hat had an “elb” on it …in red, white, and blue …just thought it was a Canadian thing for “Expos” …only a few years back I learned it was an “M” for Montreal 🤦🏻

[@JahBronee]

I thought it was an "elb" as an "M" with elb standing for Exposition Le Baseball

[@OldHead71]

@@JahBronee I’ve since learned it’s an “M” for Montreal with a little “e” for Expos (amongst other theories) 😄

[@secondguess3128]

In fact, it was a red E and blue B, for "Expos baseball" -- coming together to form a stylized M. There was a story around town that the E was intentionally designed to also pass for a C, as a small vanity exercise by original team owner Charles Bronfman.

[@fredklein3829]

You can read the initials C.B. for Charles Bronfman while still seeing ''e b'' for Expos baseball. It's a dynamic logo in movement that has a colourful personality, like Montreal, the big M shown if you stand back and look at the outlying shape of the whole thing, regardless of the colours.

[@jameslavelle5428]

I know about the "M" for Montreal, and see the "e" & "b" for Expos Baseball, did not know about "c" & "b" for Charles Bronfman, I can see that now also. I am a Washington Nationals fan, and have a number of Nationals gear t-shirts and a few different Nationals hats among those I have an Expos hat to honor where my team came from originally.

[@robj2027]

2:18 Ironically, the Padres were all set to pack up and move to Washington in '74, before the city of San Diego sued MLB.

[@AllSportsHistory]

That’s right, they were going to be the “Washington Stars” I believe, had the uniforms and logo already designed and everything!

[@rockvilleraven]

@@AllSportsHistory The proposed uniform is on the club level of Nats Park from Phil Wood’s Washington baseball collection, he even had a Washington Giants pennant. One other attempt to get baseball in DC was with a proposed 3rd Major League, the United Baseball League, similar to the Continental League, with teams in Long Island, LA, San Juan. Even the MLB players union endorsed it, because there would be more jobs for players and personnel

[@secondguess3128]

A year later, the Giants reached a deal to sell to a Toronto group -- but MLB (led by the Dodgers, who were aghast at the prospect of their main rival being almost 3,000 miles away) turned it down, and found another buyer. Would have been a curious alignment for the NL, no -- 12 teams with only 1 on the west coast? And how might a Montreal-Toronto divisional rivalry have played out?

[@astrostar49]

Thanks for doing this video. I'm admittedly not the biggest baseball fan, but for a while now I've been really invested in the story, and legacy of the Montreal Expos just like I've always been with the Houston Oilers of the NFL. I'll have to go back and watch some of their notable games on KZbin if I have the time.

[@trevmac8362]

I was brought up in the Bay area and of course the Giants and A's were my favorite teams but I loved the Expo's as a kid (even though i didn't have a clue where Montreal even was) i pictured them as some exotic team from Paris, France with beautiful uniforms.. Years later they had the best team in baseball and they got robbed by the strike.. I was very sad when they left Montreal

[@astrostar49]

I'm from the bay area as well. Not the biggest baseball fan, but I've supported the Giants over the years. Recently, I've really been fascinated by the Expos, and their story. You're right in that they just had this exotic aura about them even looking back retroactively. And those uniforms were great. It's a shame, that it all went up in smoke due to incompetent ownership, and league turmoil. Hopefully Montreal gets an MLB team back one day.

[@gospos1]

Top notch documentary!…Thanks so much!’

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yeah no problem, glad you enjoyed it!

[@adamking6645]

I recently read Jonah Keri's excellent book "Up, Up & Away", and it shows how Montreal itself was just as much to blame for the Expos' failure.

[@jasondoe6079]

I hadnt even noticed Expos had left. Was out of the loop for long time. But thanks to the youtube algorithm and your awesome analysis now Im all caught up. Nice work. Especially love the comments like "no not that Buck Rogers" lol

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@principalmcvicker6530]

Love your choices for Bud Selig photos

[@mastermindfilmproduc]

Montreal deserves a MLB team!

[@michaelleroy9281]

They had one and couldn't keep it even after 36 seasons

[@freeguy3751]

@@michaelleroy9281 Thanks Buzz Killington. Sheesh. Nothing wrong with trying again in life

[@randallheather3077]

I was 14 when the Expos first opened at Jarry Park and at the final game at Shea Stadium. We used to sit in the bleachers in left field (Jonesville) for 50 cents on Wednesday nights as part of the Young Expos Club. A seat behind the dugout. was $5.00 cdn. Those were the days. We need a downtown stadium (a la Camden Yard) and make baseball work in Montreal.

[@dynad00d15]

Thank you for this documentary. We miss baseball in Montreal.

[@alainrodrigue3465]

I'm from Montreal and I Miss my Expos. Would love to see them back in Montréal..

[@robertramirez1261]

They should absolutely return a team to Montreal it’s a baseball rich city with lots of baseball meaning

[@dopefisher9338]

i just woke up this morning wondering what happened to the expos, and this was in my feed! thank you!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Nice, serendipitous! Or just the Google algorithm knows us all to well haha.

[@francislewis9542]

Just found your channel I like your content.a great listen

[@AllSportsHistory]

Glad you found my channel!

[@michaelf6327]

GREAT video kid. Really well done!!!!

[@nexuseagles6279]

I honesty think the Expos were screwed from the start and Montreal deserves another chance. Tampa Bay isn't moving but they should expand the league to Montreal and Nashville. What happened to the Expos was borderline bullying by the bigger markets. Am a Mets fan and I think one biggest reasons I hate the Nationals is the move from Montreal.

[@BigDogCountry]

pushing 20 years now and I always call them the Expos before correcting myself.

[@tony6666]

Montreal and Nashville expansion, but possibly with Oakland moving to Vegas, Portland, San Antonio(possibly too many AL teams in Texas though) or OKC is something I could really see. I have a hard time seeing Oakland lasting there unfortunately

[@TheDCGuitar13]

You hate the nationals because they’re better than the Mets

[@nexuseagles6279]

@@TheDCGuitar13 That's not the case at all I honestly don't think DC deserves a team over Montreal a city with rich baseball history and a loyal fanbase. The nationals shouldn't exist in the first place and Montreal should have sued the ownership over the move. Oh, and the 2019 Astros weren't the only cheater in the WS that year. The Mets are always better than the Nationals and cleaner.

[@dvferyance]

@@tony6666 Charlotte would be better than Nashville.

[@timyaiser]

As a kid growing up in upstate New York, and with family on my mother’s side in Montreal, we vacationed there quite a few summers in the 70’s. I remember one game I went to against the Pirates had a pitching matchup of Steve Rogers and John Candalaria. Good times!

[@jamesbohannon5506]

I've always thought it was funny that the alter ego of comic book hero Captain America was also an all-star pitcher playing for a team outside of the U.S.

[@chuckinhouston9952]

Excellent presentation! ⚾️⚾️⚾️

[@AllSportsHistory]

Much appreciated! Thank you!

[@johnedinger8343]

I would love to see Montreal and Buffalo get teams.

[@BryanChance]

Yes!!

[@greatkolzaz548]

Buffalo needs an MLB team

[@Reif19994]

Cal has 3 teams! Why not NY?

[@Reif19994]

Or is it 4? Idk, teams keep moving!

[@Reif19994]

Wait is it 5?!? Athletics, Giants, Padres, Dodgers, Angels?

[@LeighMet]

When Montreal had the Expos I say move to another city in America A few years after they did I said where the Expos? We need the Expos

[@Ibhenriksen]

No idea Pete Rose was an Expo. *Mind Blown*

[@ryankatz7707]

This was a very good video on the good and bad history of the expos

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@jamesd2128]

The grotesque disaster that was Olympic Stadium doomed the Expos. Without that concrete money pit ruining player's careers with it's rock hard turf, and draining civic, provincial, and federal coffers, Montreal might've been an MLB city forever.

[@fon9365]

jamesd2128, you certainly have a good point. That stadium was never meant for baseball (or football, that's why Alouettes play at McGill Stadium ). And the most ludicrous ridiculous hilarious is the fact that the owner of the soccer team (Saputo family) built a stadium right beside Olympic Stadium for their Montreal soccer team. Incredible😵

[@Dept246]

That stadium was simply not a baseball fan friendly stadium. You want to go to a stadium to enjoy a game outdoors.

[@michaelleroy9281]

That's all they could do they couldn't play in Jarry Park ( 1969-1976) forever the plan was for them to be out of there sooner

[@donaldmackerer9032]

Yeah that was a horrible stadium that always had a leaking roof. Montreal needs a dome stadium with a retractable roof.

[@TheShag944]

A lesson as to why the Mafia building a stadium is bad

[@freeguy3751]

Wow. Amazing doc. This is the definitive Documentary I will show anyone who wants to know everything about the Expos franchise. Incredible job!!! I have childhood nostalgia being at the Olympic Stadium for Expos games enjoying the best pizza slice. I want a team back for Montreal so bad. Does anyone know that place in the Stade Olympic that served pizza slices? So good!! lol

[@jmmusic9297]

Great video.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks!!

[@crush42mash6]

They had so much talent it was sick, sad they left.

[@ManitobaMike]

In the early 1970s, Winnipeg was the AAA affiliate of Expos. They were known as the Winnipeg Whips. The team would up having to relocate due to the travel costs. The Whips played at old Winnipeg Stadium and averaged about 5,000 fans a game which was considered pretty good in those days.

[@larryloveless2967]

Things seemed to be going so well for the EXPOS until the 1994 baseball strike occurred with the season being cancelled while they were having their best team in the national league at the time of the strike. My only visit to Montreal was in 1967 to see the worlds fair. They always played my Cardinals team hard. Even in St. Louis the baseball strike caused a big hit in attendance until Mark Mc Guire started hitting his mammoth home runs. You need an owner who wants to be in your city. St. Louis approved a new football stadium to be built on its riverfront but owner Stan Kroenke rejected it and moved to L.A. anyway to build the greatest stadium ever known to mankind now known as SOFI. I liked hearing your summary of EXPOS history.

[@williamf.buckleyjr3227]

In 1994, the Blue Jays, most likely, would have "THREE'peated". The Expos just may have been the National League opponent. THUS, the stike. There was NO WAY the World Series could ever be allowed to be "all Canada". And now it never will.

[@larryloveless2967]

@@williamf.buckleyjr3227 I did not realize but having an all Canada world series would have been neat. My only visit to Toronto was with my own family in 1997 to see the hockey hall of fame among other sites. We had a hotel close to where the Blue Jays play along Lake Ontario with a good view. I enjoyed my visit there as well.

[@OnGod1007]

@@williamf.buckleyjr3227 The Jays were way out of contention

[@freeguy3751]

Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Vladmir Guererro, Larry Walker, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Gary Carter = 1 playoff series win in franchise history. Incredible!

[@supermarioharvey2174]

3:55 I was rolling in laughter and that 😂

[@AllSportsHistory]

Deadpool knows what’s up.

[@montrealsports29]

I'd like to compliment you on the work you did to put together this video. I've lived in Montreal my entire life and that was a very accurate account of what happened during the team's time in the city. How long did it take you to put together this video? I'd love to have baseball back in Montreal, but I'm not very optimistic about it happening in the near future, even with the rumors of the Rays playing half of their seasons in Montreal.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks!! It took me about a month and half, but that’s working on it about an hour each day. So around45-50 hours total. Yeah I hope baseball returns to Montreal, and hopefully as an NL team to balance out the Blue Jays in the AL.

[@montrealsports29]

@@AllSportsHistory You're welcome!. I think most people want a new Expos team to be in the AL East for rivalries with the Jays, Red Sox and Yankees, but a team in either league would be fine with me.

[@Watchinwheel]

I remember going to a couple of games to Olympic stadium when I was younger. Great stadium

[@ShiloStigen]

That Dodgers farm team map is crazy-28 farm teams! Plus, they show Sheboygan, Wisconsin on the border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but it's actually down near Milwaukee in the Southeast corner! Somebody did not know their Wisconsin geography when they put that map together 🙂

[@marblox9300]

The Montreal Expos hat and logo are beautiful and iconic. Among the best in baseball. This coming from a Chicago Cubs fan. Also the Minnesota North Stars Uniforms were far better than what they have there now.

[@reallifelebowski4732]

The North Stars uniforms were beautiful

[@marblox9300]

@@reallifelebowski4732 Yes, in the 1970s they were.!!!

[@ironclad8093]

People can say what they want about Olympic Stadium, but I've been to all the MLB ballparks and I had an absolute blast there. Saw Vlad steal 2nd and a hit homerun, went to Botanical Gardens before the game, got a tour of the Olympic facilities, drank Labatt and ate poutine during the game, had a blast in Montreal before and after the game. The announcements are in French! What other team can say this? I even decided to get my minor in French in university thanks to my experience at an Expos game. It's truly a crime they don't have an MLB team.

[@RB01.10]

I heard though that no one went to the games and that Montreal just isn't a baseball city. I didn’t exist for most of their history so I may be wrong.

[@ironclad8093]

@@RB01.10 the story is a lot longer and a lot more complicated than that. Montreal is a wonderful baseball city with a history dating back to Jackie Robinson.

[@michaelleroy9281]

​@@RB01.10If it was a real baseball city it would have tried harder to keep their team they had for 36 seasons

[@eldiablo3794]

I almost forget that the Expos drafted Randy Johnson and a decent amount of hall of fame players played for and came through the Expos.. Vlad Guerrero, Tim Raines, Gary Carter Andre Dawson.. manager Felipe Alou. My folks always said if the 94 lockout never happened it would've probably been Chicago White Sox vs Montreal Expos in that years world series.

[@Havoc-bc6oy]

even though I was a kid in Toronto in the 80s, I wore an expos hat because i loved the colors and design.

[@pdcrmr]

I believe my hat bears evidence as to my feelings about the return of “Les Expos!”

[@Criminalpresident45]

Bring back the expos their name and logo is iconic

[@AllSportsHistory]

💯💯💯

[@jaysilva5854]

Great video! To think it would be 20 years come 2024 since expos last season.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@adrianwalsh6751]

I also never knew that Randy Johnson played in Montreal either man I feel awful 😞

[@Rockhound6165]

What happened to the Expos? The 1994 strike. They were by far the best team in baseball that year with some great talent like Moises Alou, Larry Walker, & Marquis Grissom. They had a good pitching staff as well. Had the season played out and the Expos had gone to the World Series and even won, they more than likely would have gotten their new ballpark and would have had a pretty big fan base. However, the strike happened, fan apathy set in, the Expos started bleeding money and were forced to sell off their good players for peanuts. Throw in that Loria completely mismanaged the team and unfortunately they were forced to move and nearly were contracted.

[@brucelarrow7897]

Vermont expos were there minor league team as well I grew up watching Vermont expos

[@corbanmilano4949]

Loved the vis

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@williamford9564]

4:23: When I look at the logo, I would have thought the right side is an upside down P instead of "B". "P" is the second letter in "Expo". This ties it to the "E" in expo on the other side and adds another subtlety.

[@centrist1008]

Love the original unis

[@janellek21]

Free agency happened to the Expos. Playing in a country with a much higher tax burden than the USA and in a city where the predominant language was French made the Expos unattractive to free agents. Without the ability to sign top level free agents, the Expos were stuck having to build their team exclusively through the farm system, and that doomed the team to being non-competitive nearly every season, except for the rare occasions when the Expos got lucky and managed to develop a strong class of home-grown players (e.g. the early-mid 1990s). Without the ability to build a consistently winning team with top free agents, the fans began to lose interest and the team found itself unable to make enough money to survive. For those reasons MLB would be stupid to put another team in Montreal. It would never be competitive, it would never regularly draw more than 50% capacity, it would haemmorhage money and be forced to move somewhere else within 10 years.

[@cameronevanstheanalogueall7729]

You just need an ownership group with deep pockets ala The Blue Jays

[@stevetalley5800]

Great story!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you!

[@Albert8044]

Great video, do you plan to do what happened to the Minnesota North Stars.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thanks! And yeah I definitely want to do a Minn. North Stars video but I’ve got a few other requests to get through first.

[@tomhollis2685]

I wish the owners had won in 1994. Baseball desperately needs a salary cap, just like all other leagues have in place. Competitive balance is the most important thing in team sports.

[@craigborth8047]

100% and im a sox fan who have historically had a huge budget. However a cap would give the league so much parity and a well rounded league

[@davee.9906]

I always felt that the Expos always got treated like crap. They deserve a team with a real stadium.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep they got hosed during the ‘94 season, it’s a shame.

[@djtrankilo231]

It felt weird seeing them split games in Montreal and Puerto Rico. I didn't even know where the team represented anymore and didn't know if they represented the French culture or Boricua culture

[@yell0wberry]

A real stadium? The vast majority of these MLB teams don’t even do it right: The Cubs and the Red Sox refused to build new venues that would be technologically better than the dinosaurs buildings they play in The twins and the Tigers had the choice of retractable roofs at their facilities but thought they could play baseball games in April as well as September The Oakland A’s and the Tampa Bay rays have been screaming and shouting at their cities for new venues but those politicians look at them like they’re crazy Jeff Loria conned the entire city of Miami to build a brand new ball park for a team nobody goes to see that averages 8000 people a game with the majority of the folks rooting for the opponent Year-by-year, baseball has gone down significantly in popularity but the players keep making more and more money resulting in raising the prices for a day at the ball park, especially when the league thinks that someone is going to sit there and watch 162 games of their sport for an entire season plus the playoffs. Simplicity saved the NFL, and China saved the NBA. Cost cutting saved the NHL, but baseball will start to lose real soon due to the lack of successful promotion and being stuck on lousy traditions

[@vlada]

In late 70s and 80s the Expos had among the top attendances so the stadium wasn't a problem when baseball was popular. People didn't stop going because of stadium. That excuse came later.. But it's biggest problem with the English media was that it was in the "east end", a dark place where you need passports, malaria shots, separatist commandos roamed the streets and french is spoken. So we always heard in the English media (never french) that it was" too far from downtown" yet Pie IX metro which comes out in stadium is about 10 mins from St. Laurent Blvd metro or 13mins from McGill metro which are downtown. "It's too far" was by far the biggest bs about stadium.

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@yell0wberry The Marlins don't even get 8000 for some games

[@Crisperdad]

I remember how empty it felt when they moved to the Olympic Stadium. I had seasons tickets at the time. Was very sad to see them leave

[@Bobbybabybobbybubbie]

I've been a die-hard Expos fan since 1981, and still love watching vintage games on KZbin. But I'm aware of the facts: in 1987 they did everythig right--contended all year, played an exciting brand of baseball, had several outstanding individual performances--and still only drew 1.8 million. In 1994 they were the best team in baseball and only averaged 25,000-respectable but not for potential champs. I lived in Montreal for three years and baseball felt like a niche interest, as opposed to a place like Boston where you can eavesdrop on any conversation in the summer and there's a good chance it's about the Sox. Montreal's like that for hockey but it's just not a baseball town, numerically. The whole idea that somehow spending hundreds of millions on a stadium would solve everything is entirely magical.

[@ironclad8093]

While it's true some cities have an inherent passion for baseball, at the end of the day, baseball is essentially a business. Under proper ownership, with effective marketing, and a decent stadium it can be made to work almost anywhere there is a market. There were seasons when the Expos outdrew the Yankees.

[@VisibilityFoggy]

I actually think there is a pretty good opportunity for expansion in the next few years. After the pandemic, people are going to be looking for more activities and forms of entertainment. The problem is that the window is going to be much shorter than many believe. Where I live, it's almost a thing of the past already.

[@Briggie]

Or if there wasn’t a strike, everything would be hunky dory. I can’t even count how many times in sports there has been a team that was hot through most of season only to blow it in the playoffs. I get that things were against them, but if you don’t fill the stands, no team is going to stick around.

[@ironclad8093]

@@Briggie I'm a Mariners fan so when people say they were guaranteed champs in 1994, I refer them to the 2001 Mariners who collapsed in the playoffs. Nothing is certain. But the seats in Montreal were empty because of terrible ownership and an unattractive stadium in a poor location. They need a 2nd chance like so many teams who were ready to pack up and move got and now flourish in their original cities with a nice stadium and proper ownership.

[@RB01.10]

@@ironclad8093 I feel for you Mariner fans. You had 1995 and 2001 and still couldn't get over the hump. Haven't even made the playoffs since. The team needs to get sold because its obvious the owners don't care you contend anytime soon

[@cbfbmc]

Born and raise in DC being a Expos fan i was happy and sad to see them leave montreal and come to DC But win a WS great feeling

[@briancalifornia1]

Wouldn’t that be a good thing though that they left Montreal to the city you were born and raised in?

[@michaelleroy9281]

And now they have dismantled the 2019 World Series Champions it might not happen again

[@RB01.10]

@@michaelleroy9281 At least they got it done, especially 25 years after they got screwed

[@vinceniederman]

From a Phillies Fan I Hope Montreal Quebec Gets Another Chance With The MLB With a New Stadium in Downtown Montreal Which Didn’t Happen at All The First Time!

[@gillesjacques1022]

Still have my Youppi mascot in his Expos attire, miss them.

[@kevinmartz3082]

Oh that’s ironic, “upstart” Minnesota Twins. The Twins were the original Senators,

[@AllSportsHistory]

Haha yeah that’s true but you know what I meant!

[@rockvilleraven]

@@AllSportsHistory Calvin Griffith who moved the original Senators to Minnesota is buried in DC at Fort Lincoln Cemetery

[@elsongs]

When I was a kid I always thought the Montreal Expos logo said, "ello." I assumed it was some French thing.

[@airt698]

The early to mid 90's was my Dodger team searching for a all star at 2nd, starting with Deshields and ending with Eric Young who both never played to teams or fan's expectations.

[@themrnewfittedallstars]

The Montreal Expos were full of future hall of famers.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Indeed they were!

[@Rockhound6165]

I wouldn't say full but they had a few who started there. Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Vlad Guerrero, and Larry Walker are the only players who started their careers there and spent any significant time as an Expo.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

I like to see All Sports History do St. Louis Browns.

[@AllSportsHistory]

Yep that’s a great one, definitely on my list!

[@thomas5714]

Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Mark Langston, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero, Moises Alou, Pasqual Perez, Rusty Staub, Dennis Martinez, John Wettland, Andres Galarraga, Larry Walker, Matt Stairs - - the Expos were MLB's trading post. Yeah - bring em back.

[@hamricmike8]

The Marlins are the trading post now.

[@fredklein3829]

Andre Thornton, Tony Bernazard, Maury Wills, Donn Clendennon, Ken Singleton, Marquis Grissom, the list goes on...

[@ericday3538]

The Expos' expansion bros the Padres were in the same boat for decades until the current owners came along. Constantly trading away their best players for a bunch of dead end minor leaguers or over the hill stars with enough name recognition to fill the seats and sell jerseys.

[@sloburnjo]

@@ericday3538 but you got to the WS before the Expos way back when.

[@ericday3538]

@@sloburnjo Yeah, and got destroyed both times.

[@brycemcneil4404]

I'm a Jays fan but I have no trouble acknowledging that they wholeheartedly shivved the Expos on TV rights.

[@meanmetalmike666]

Could you do a History of the Philadelphia/Adirondack/Lehigh Valley Phantoms success on the AHL and possibly the Hershey Bears also?

[@lancevalandra6670]

I would love to see Montréal back in the MLB

[@AllSportsHistory]

Me too!

[@RB01.10]

Montreal failed to support the team, stadium was almost always empty. And they only made the playoffs once (1981) in their 35 year history

[@lordbacon4972]

Interesting history. There were some big stars on the Expos. Selling the team was a big mistake. I hope one day Montreal will have an MLB team again.

[@RB01.10]

No one came to the games though Many have said Montreal just wasn’t a baseball city

[@lordbacon4972]

@@RB01.10 Yeah that's true, but i would like to think attendance would be better now?

[@denislaferriere2693]

@@RB01.10 Montréal was a genuine baseball City....and still are....seem like u dont know that much the place. Btw I live in Québec.... The Cincinnati Reds once had a farm team here for many years. The Expos as a farm team at Quebec City in the early 70....

[@RB01.10]

@@denislaferriere2693 Then what do you think happened ?

[@disneyfan8719]

Even as someone who doesn't really watch baseball, I know for a fact that the Expos got absolutely F***ED OVER by baseball (and ownership)!

[@truckermikemct1]

Excellent video!

[@AllSportsHistory]

Thank you very much!

[@grant9061]

Do Atlanta Thrashers

[@AllSportsHistory]

Soon. Very soon :)

[@nathanielkoutsostavros2779]

Brings back the expos

[@airt698]

I never understood what that lower case B in the logo meant until I watched this video. As a kid I always pronounced it Ex Bows. It's an iconic logo and I always liked it even though I am a die hard Dodger fan.

[@AllSportsHistory]

That’s awesome, Dodgers are my team too!

[@Mcgovern124]

My favorite part of this video is the ultra high pitch ringing in the background. Ready to snap my phone in half!

[@AllSportsHistory]

You’re welcome! My mic sucks but I just got a new one so hopefully newer videos won’t have that issue.

[@darren7784]

just got an expos fitted had to check up on the back story

[@lonewolfjedi493osswfan]

The Expos had one of the most iconic jerseys and logo designs in all of professional sports, it's no wonder sales are increasing as fans get nostalgic at times