Expos First & Last Games

We kick it off & wrap it up in NYC

How It Started

The date, April 8/1969. The location, Shea Stadium, Queen’s NY. What’s happening? The official arrival of Les Expos de Montreal.

FIRST GM: Jim Fanning

FIRST MANAGER: Gene Mauch

1969 OPENING DAY LINEUPS:

FIRST HIT: Leading off for the season & franchise SS Maury Wills was not only the first batter in Expos history but the first strikeout as well. A 9-pitch at bat eventually lead to Willis being called out on strikes. Gary Sutherland, batting second, reached base on a Ken Boswell error bringing up rightfielder Rusty Staub. Staub popped out to third. Clean-up hitter Mack Jones and Mets starter Tom Seaver had an 11-pitch battle leading to the first walk in Expos history. With two runners on base, first baseman Bob Bailey jumped on the first pitch of the at bat, doubling to right bringing in Sutherland and Jones advancing to third on Boswell’s second error of the inning.

FIRST EXPOS HOMERUN:

Top of the 4th, Score: 3-3, 1 out, Dan McGinn at the dish…

FIRST WIN & SAVE: Heading into the bottom of the 9th the Expos are up 11-6 after putting up four in the 8th. Facing the middle of the Mets order, Montreal lefty Don Shaw struck out Boswell for the first out of the inning. Cleon Jones singled to left and subsequently stole second. Charles walks putting two runners on with only one out. Al Weis flied out for the 2nd out bringing up Jerry Grote to keep the NY alive. That’s exactly what happened after singling to left bringing in Jones. The Mets now down four, call on Duffy Dyer to pinch hit for pitcher Ron Taylor with runners on the corners. With the count 1-1, Dyer goes deep to left and the score is now 11-10 making things real interesting. A call to the bullpen is made tasking Carroll Sembera to close out the game. Amos Otis bunts his way to first bringing up the top of the order and Tommie Agee. The centrefielder draws a walk and the winning run now on base. Rod Gaspar up now to keep the rally going…he did not. Sembera struck them out finally locking in the Expos first victory.

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How It Finished

The date, October 3/2005. The location, Shea Stadium, Queen’s NY. What’s happening? The final game played by Les Expos de Montreal.

After 5,695 games, The ‘Spos suit it up one more time prior to being moved to Washington and becoming the Nationals.

We saw a couple “firsts” from Game 1. Let’s take a look at a couple “lasts” for their 5,696th and last game as the Montreal Expos. Here’s the last starting line-up -

Mets starter Tom Glavine gave up three hits, four walks, and an earned run while striking out five. The Expos didnt have much luck getting one hit off Heath Bell over 1.2 IP along with this last hit off John Franco…

LAST HIT: Top of the 8th started with top of the order coming up for Montreal with Heath Bell on the mound. Bell got Brad Wlikerson and Jamey Carroll to ground out. Rightfielder Val Pascucci singled to right, which ended the day for Bell. John Franco came in to face Temmel Sledge. Sledge singled to left field putting runners at first & second. Franco got Ryan Church to foul out ending the 8th for the Expos.

Top of the 9th, Mets 8 - Expos 1, pitching for NY: Bartolome Fortunato. First up was Einar Diaz, who grounded to third but reached on a Jose Reyes throwing error (E6). Brendan Harris walks and Montreal are cooking a little bit. With two on and no out, Josh Labandeira struck out swinging. One out. Maicer Izturis pinch hits and also strikes out swinging. Two outs.

LAST OUT: Endy Chavez grounded out to second and became the last out in Expos history.

2004 EXPOS RECORD: 67-95, 5th Place, 29.0 GB

LAST GM: Omar Minaya

LAST MANAGER: Frank Robinson

ALL-TIME EXPOS RECORD: 2753-2943

Thank you for checking in today. Until the next time and as always…KEEP IT 80 GRADE!!

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https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/april-8-1969-bienvenue-to-mlb-montreal-expos-win-inaugural-game/

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B04080NYN1969.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MON/1969-schedule-scores.shtml

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2004/B10030NYN2004.htm

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYN/NYN200410030.shtml