The Expos

First attempt at a story in BB2K8, will probably not be updated regularly.
The Expos intrigue me due to the various subplots in their franchise history...the 1994 season, the apathy towards the end from the city, the unwillingness from the MLB to try to keep the Expos afloat, etc.

Many good stories online here, including the excellent 'Even The Braves', which is my inspiration for getting up and writing, even though there is no way I could match Petrel's excellent efforts.

To set the scene:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Expos:

Quote:

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In 1960 Montreal lost its International League team, the Montreal Royals (an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers). The move to get a new team for the city was the result of the seven-year-long effort of councilman Jerry Snyder of Snowdon. On December 2, 1967 he presented a bid for a Montreal franchise to Major League Baseball's team owners that was accepted on May 27, 1968.

As is the case with every expansion franchise, the Expos had to find a suitable place to play. Delormier Stadium, the former home of the Royals, was rejected as too small, even for temporary use. Team officials initially settled on the Autostade, but city officials balked at the cost of adding a dome (thought necessary because of Montreal's frigid temperatures in April and September) and 12,000 seats. By August 1968, the league was threatening to yank the franchise. Then, National League president Warren Giles and Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau visited Jarry Park, a 3,000-seat ballfield in the city's northwest corner. They finally decided that it could be a suitable temporary facility. Within six months, the park was turned into a 28,500-seat makeshift facility, saving National League ball in Montreal.

Montreal was on a solid winning streak in the late 1960's. The World's Fair, called Expo '67 was a success, the city opened a new subway system and it won the bid for the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. To top it off, they also won one of the four expansion franchises awarded by Major League Baseball for 1969.

The Montreal Expos were the first non-NHL major league team awarded to a Canadian city. It was a huge step for the city of Montreal, the province of Quebec, the country of Canada, and the league of Major League Baseball. Montreal hosted the World's Fair the previous year and with their own Major League Baseball team the city really put itself on the map.

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http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nl/...s/Mjonemtl.jpg
Mack Jones

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Rusty Staub

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Carl Morton

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Parc Jarry

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The 1969 Montreal Expos

Line-up
CF - Mack Jones (79)
RF - Jose Herrera (69/78)
LF - Manny Mota (78)
1B - Rusty Staub (83)
3B - Bob Bailey (82/90)
C - John Bateman (71)
2B - Gary Sutherland (75)
SS - Bobby Wine (73)

Bench
C - Ron Brand (70)
3B - Maury Wills (78)
LF - Ty Cline (67)
1B - Donn Clendenon (76)
2B - Marv Staehle (65/71)
CF - Don Bosch (65/70)

Rotation
1. Carl Morton (78/85)
2. Larry Jaster (77)
3. James 'Mudcat' Grant (87)
4. Steve Renko (79/94)
5. Bill Stoneman (77/93)

Bullpen
Closer - Roy Face (77)
Setup - Don Shaw (79/87)
Short - Carroll Sembera (72/78)
Short - Dan McGinn (73/77)
Middle - Bob Reynolds (74/79)
Long - Steve Shea (70/76)

Notable Prospects
AAA - New Orleans Zephyrs
C John Boccabella (72/74)
AA - Harrisburg Senators
SP Jerry Robertson (67/82)
A - Potomac Cannons
IF Garry Jestadt (70/79)
IF Remy Hermoso (71/80)
SP Steve Rogers (77/83)

National League East Projected Standings
1. Chicago 96-66
2. St Louis 90-72
3. New York 87-75
4. Pittsburgh 86-76
5. Philadelphia 74-88
6. Montreal 63-99

Difficulty setting is Manager, and the Expos will start with $368,184 in the bank....Although IRL Montreal opened their franchise history with a series against the Mets, the game has instead scheduled home series against Los Angeles and Houston to start the 1969 season

April 1969

Carl Morton took the mound for the Expos in their first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers would win in extra innings after Montreal did well to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Mack Jones scored the franchise's first run and home run after taking Don Sutton over the left field fence. Earlier in the day he also recored the first hit and steal in franchise history in the first inning.

Two days later, John Bateman hit a walk-off home run to secure Montreal's first win, 3-2 against the Dodgers, in front of 28,382 very happy Expos fans.

v Los Angeles Dodgers
April 1 - LOST 4-6
April 2 - LOST 2-6
April 3 - WON 3-2

v Houston Astros
April 4 - LOST 5-9
April 5 - LOST 3-11
April 6 - WON 9-3

@ Cincinnati Reds
April 7 - LOST 4-5
April 8 - LOST 3-15
April 9 - WON 8-4

@ Atlanta Braves
April 11 - LOST 1-10
April 12 - WON 6-3
April 13 - LOST 3-5

v Atlanta Braves
April 16 - LOST 3-9
April 17 - LOST 4-7
April 18 - WON 5-4

v San Diego Padres
April 19 - WON 5-2
April 20 - LOST 4-5
April 21 - WON 8-1

v San Francisco Giants
April 22 - LOST 6-15
April 23 - LOST 5-12
April 24 - LOST 7-9

v Philadelphia Phillies
April 28 - WON 12-3
April 29 - WON 5-2
April 30 - LOST 4-10

Already after just one month, we are mired to the bottom of the division.

National League East
1. St Louis (19-11)
2. Pittsburgh (16-10)
3. New York (14-10)
4. Chicago (15-12)
5. Philadelphia (14-13)
6. Montreal (9-15)

Of concern already is our ERA - a ridiculous 6.38. It's the worst in the National League, and only better than Oakland (6.61) and Kansas City (7.77), who also have the worst record of the expansion teams - 5-22. Seattle, by comparision, is tied for first in the American League West!

May 1969

The month got off on a good note with Carl Morton allowing just four hits inside San Diego Stadium.

@ San Diego Padres
May 1 - WON 12-2
May 2 - WON 9-3
May 3 - WON 3-1

@ Houston Astros
May 4 - WON 4-3
May 5 - LOST 0-5
May 6 - LOST 1-7

The club now sits at a very respectable 13-17, although that would go downhill after dropping the next series against fellow expansion team San Diego.

San Diego Padres
May 7 - WON 5-4
May 8 - LOST 2-3
May 9 - LOST 2-6

Philadelphia Phillies
May 10 - WON 7-4
May 11 - WON 4-0
May 12 - LOST 0-6

Pittsburgh Pirates
May 13 - LOST 0-6
May 14 - WON 4-2
May 15 - LOST 3-8

Off now to start a 12-game roadtrip against four NL West opponents.

@ Los Angeles Dodgers
May 16 - LOST 1-2
May 17 - LOST 0-2
May 18 - LOST 3-7

Mack Jones is ruled out for two weeks after spraining his knee.

@ Cincinnati Reds
May 19 - LOST 2-5
May 20 - WON 6-4
May 21 - LOST 1-3

@ San Diego Padres
May 22 - WON 1-0
May 23 - WON 5-2
May 24 - LOST 1-8

@ San Francisco Giants
May 25 - LOST 2-7
May 26 - LOST 1-8
May 27 - LOST 0-10

We return to the sanctuary of frosty Montreal with a 3-9 record from the road. Two more home series would see us through to the start of the 1969 Draft.

Pittsburgh Pirates
May 28 - LOST 0-7
May 29 - WON 5-4
May 30 - LOST 3-9

Cincinnati Reds
May 31 - WON 6-5
June 1 - LOST 2-3
June 2 - WON 2-0

National League East
1. St Louis (35-25)
2. Pittsburgh (31-23)
3. Chicago (31-26)
4. New York (29-28)
5. Philadelphia (27-28)
6. Montreal (23-34)

Expos Leaders
ERA - Mudcat Grant (4.40)
Wins - Larry Jaster (5)
Saves - Don Shaw (40)
Average - Rusty Staub (.312)
Home Runs - Mack Jones (9)
Stolen Bases - Maury Wills (5)

The Draft
Montreal received the second overall pick in each round.

Round 1 - RF Dwight Evans (62/90) - 17 years old
Round 2 - SP Dick Ruthven (47/89) - 18 years old
Round 3 - SP Jackson Todd (47/85) - 17 years old
Round 4 - CF Tony Scott (47/79) - 17 years old
Round 5 - RP Randy Wiles (47/85) - 17 years old
Round 6 - 2B Steve Staggs (47/65) - 18 years old

The Royals chose pitcher Randy Ramsey with the first overall pick. Rumour is that he will immediately start for Kansas City, as soon as June 6 against the Indians.

Straight after the draft, we worked our first trade, primarily to ease the pressure on our team payroll.

Expos get - RF Graig Nettles (75/82), CF Paul Powell (61/78) and $30,000
Twins get - 1B Donn Clendenon (75), LF Stan Swanson (59/80), LF Jim Fairey (57/64) and SP Jerry Robertson (68/83)

Nettles, who was batting .300 for Minnesota this year, will slot straight into our line-up, displacing Jose Herrera who finds himself in AAA.

June 1969

Pittsburgh Pirates
June 3 - LOST 4-8
June 4 - WON 3-2
June 5 - LOST 2-5

@ Los Angeles Dodgers
June 6 - LOST 1-5
June 7 - LOST 0-1
June 8 - LOST 0-4

Second overall draft pick Dwight Evans was called up to make his MLB debut off the bench against the Reds on June 10.

Cincinnati Reds
June 9 - LOST 3-7
June 10 - LOST 0-1
June 11 - WON 2-1

@ Pittsburgh Pirates
June 12 - LOST 5-6
June 13 - LOST 2-3
June 14 - LOST 7-8

Atlanta Braves
June 16 - LOST 0-3
June 17 - WON 2-1
June 18 - LOST 5-7

@ Atlanta Braves
June 20 - LOST 5-6 - Bob Bailey hit for the cycle
June 21 - LOST 0-1
June 22 - LOST 5-8

Houston Astros
June 24 - LOST 6-8
June 25 - LOST 4-8
June 26 - WON 9-2

A fairly rotten run of games, with a record of 4-16. However, we are probably doing as much as we can as an expansion team.

One positive note for the club is the state of our books. At this stage of the season we have recorded a profit of $314,000, larger than all NL clubs bar Atlanta and St Louis. Our attendance figures of 25,513 per game also compare favourably as the largest of the four expansion teams.

National League East
1. St Louis (52-29)
2. Pittsburgh (46-32)
3. Chicago (44-31)
4. New York (38-40)
5. Philadelphia (32-43)
6. Montreal (27-51)

Expos Leaders
ERA - Mudcat Grant (3.31)
Wins - Larry Jaster (7)
Saves - Don Shaw (7)
Average - Rusty Staub (.311)
Home Runs - John Bateman (11)
Stolen Bases - Maury Wills (7)

July 1969

Los Angeles Dodgers
June 30 - WON 8-5
July 1 - LOST 1-4
July 2 - LOST 4-7

@ San Francisco Giants
July 3 - LOST 0-6
July 4 - WON 3-0
July 5 - LOST 4-7

Mack Jones was the Expos' sole representative at the All-Star Game, won 5-3 by the National League. Jones struck out in his only at-bat.

St Louis Cardinals
July 12 - LOST 4-12
July 13 - WON 3-1
July 14 - WON 2-1

Another long roadtrip, this time travelling back and forward between Chicago and Pennsylvania.

@ Philadelphia Phillies
July 15 - WON 2-1
July 16 - LOST 5-8
July 17 - WON 5-1

@Chicago Cubs
July 18 - LOST 0-8
July 19 - WON 3-1
July 20 - LOST 3-5

On the same night Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Montreal worked out two trades to shake up the team and inject new life into its season. The disappointing Manny Mota was headed off to Atlanta, while the veteran Bob Allison moved over from Minnesota to bolster the faltering line-up.

Expos get - RP Jim Britton (72/77)
Braves get - CF Don Bosh (69), LF Manny Mota (76)

Expos get - LF Bob Allison (81)
Twins get - 2B Steve Staggs (47/72) and $20,000

@Philadelphia Phillies
July 21 - LOST 6-8
July 22 - LOST 0-3
July 23 - LOST 3-10

Baltimore kindly made an offer for several of our fringe players, all of whom would have been looking for new clubs in 1970.

Expos get - RP Dave Leonhard (76) and $10,000
Orioles get - RP John Montague (53/71), LF Ty Cline (66), RP Howie Reed (68) and RP Leo Marentette (65)

@Chicago Cubs
July 24 - LOST 1-7
July 25 - LOST 2-3
July 26 - LOST 4-5

@Pittsburgh Pirates
July 27 - LOST 4-5
July 28 - LOST 1-8
July 29 - WON 8-3

Another trade saw two new players packed off to San Francisco without setting a foot in Canada. In return, the Giants offloaded a promising second baseman in Tito Fuentes. The Cuban native has been batting .242 in 33 at-bats in 1969.

Expos get - 2B Tito Fuentes (80/83) and $50,000
Giants get - RP Jim Britton (72/77), LF Bob Allison (81), C Terry Humphrey (55/66), RP Carroll Sembera (73)

St Louis Cardinals
July 30 - WON 6-3
July 31 - WON 4-1
August 1 - LOST 0-4

National League East
1. St Louis (69-37)
2. Chicago (66-40)
3. Pittsburgh (55-48)
4. New York (50-53)
5. Philadelphia (44-60)
6. Montreal (37-68)

National League West
San Francisco lead by 7.5 games from Los Angeles

American League East
Baltimore lead the defending World Series champion Detroit Tigers by 8 games

American League West
Chicago and Minnesota are tied for the lead with the expansion Pilots 6 games behind.

Expos leaders
ERA - Mudcat Grant (3.13)
Wins - Larry Jaster (11)
Saves - Don Shaw (10)
Average - Rusty Staub (.303)
Home Runs - Mack Jones (15)
Stolen Bases - Maury Wills (11)

August 1969

Larry Jaster is ruled out for two weeks with a foot stress fracture

@Houston Astros
August 5 - LOST 4-12
August 6 - WON 5-2
August 7 - WON 4-2

St Louis Cardinals
August 8 - WON 3-1
August 9 - LOST 2-7
August 10 - LOST 1-7

@New York Mets
August 11 - WON 5-4
August 12 - LOST 1-3
August 13 - LOST 2-3

@St Louis Cardinals
August 14 - WON 8-7
August 15 - LOST 0-2
August 16 - LOST 4-5

Philadelphia Phillies
August 17 - LOST 5-11
August 18 - WON 4-2
August 19 - LOST 3-4

@New York Mets
August 20 - LOST 2-7
August 21 - LOST 1-2
August 22 - LOST 0-4

San Francisco Giants
August 23 - LOST 4-9
August 24 - LOST 2-13
August 25 - WON 7-6

A sweep of the defending National League champions at their home ground!

@St Louis Cardinals
August 26 - WON 2-1
August 27 - WON 2-1
August 28 - WON 6-4

National League East
1. Chicago (82-44)
2. St Louis (79-53)
3. Pittsburgh (65-64)
4. New York (63-63)
5. Philadelphia (55-74)
6. Montreal (47-82)

National League West
San Francisco lead Atlanta by 10 games

American League East
Baltimore lead Boston by 7 games

American League West
Minnesota lead Oakland by 9 games

Expos Leaders
ERA - Mudcat Grant (3.32)
Wins - Larry Jaster (12)
Saves - Don Shaw (16)
Average - Rusty Staub (.302)
Home Runs - Mack Jones (18)
Stolen Bases - Maury Wills (12)

September 1969

@St Louis Cardinals
September 1 - LOST 0-4
September 2 - LOST 0-5
September 3 - WON 8-7

@Pittsburgh Pirates
September 4 - WON 8-7
September 5 - WON 6-5
September 6 - LOST 1-6

@New York Mets
September 7 - LOST 1-3
September 8 - LOST 6-10
September 9 - LOST 2-3

@Chicago Cubs
September 10 - LOST 2-4
September 11 - LOST 4-10
September 12 - LOST 4-7

New York Mets (last NL team to visit Parc Jarry)
September 15 - LOST 1-4
September 16 - WON 6-5
September 17 - WON 3-2

Chicago Cubs
September 18 - LOST 0-4
September 19 - LOST 2-4
September 20 - WON 5-4

New York Mets
September 21 - LOST 3-8
September 22 - WON 2-0
September 23 - LOST 0-3

Carl Morton suffered a hairline break of the wrist and will most likely miss the rest of the season, finishing with a 5-24 record and a 5.88 ERA.

New York Mets
September 24 - LOST 2-4
September 25 - LOST 2-4
September 26 - LOST 2-3

National League East
1. Chicago (93-58)
2. St Louis (91-63)
3. New York (80-70)
4. Pittsburgh (75-75)
5. Philadelphia (68-86)
6. Montreal (54-99)

National League West
San Francisco have clinched the division

American League East
Baltimore have clinched the division

American League West
Minnesota lead Oakland by 4 games

Expos Leaders
ERA - Mudcat Grant (3.29)
Wins - Larry Jaster (14)
Saves - Don Shaw (16)
Average - Rusty Staub (.296)
Home Runs - Mack Jones (23)
Stolen Bases -Maury Wills (13)

October - End of Regular Season

Chicago Cubs
September 29 - LOST 1-3
September 30 - LOST 1-2
October 1 - LOST 5-6 - Chicago wins the NL East

@Philadelphia Phillies
October 3 - WON 7-2
October 4 - WON 4-2
October 5 - WON 4-0

Chicago Cubs
October 6 - WON 3-2
October 7 - LOST 0-12
October 8 - LOST 5-6

National League East
1. Chicago (99-63)
2. St Louis (95-67)
3. New York (86-76)
4. Pittsburgh (81-81)
5. Philadelphia (70-92)
6. Montreal (58-104)

National League West
1. San Francisco (109-53)
2. Atlanta (96-66)
3. Los Angeles (89-73)
4. Houston (82-80)
5. Cincinnati (65-97)
6. San Diego (42-120)

American League East
1. Baltimore (107-55)
2. Boston (96-66)
3. Detroit (84-78)
4. Washington (78-84)
5. New York (73-89)
6. Cleveland (72-90)

American League West
1. Minnesota (91-71)
2. Oakland (88-74)
3. Chicago (80-82)
4. California (73-89)
5. Seattle (71-91)
6. Kansas City (59-103)

League Championships
NATIONAL - San Francisco beat Chicago 3-0
AMERICAN - Baltimore beat Minnesota 3-0

1969 World Series
San Francisco Giants d. Baltimore Orioles 4-0
MVP - SP Gaylord Perry

It is the Giants' first World Series win in fifteen years, and their first since their move to San Francisco. It is the Orioles' second trip to the World Series, having previously won it in 1966.

Montreal Expos 1969 Short Statistics
Statistics listed are for Montreal Expos games only
Players no longer with team are marked *

Bob Allison* - .176, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Bob Bailey - .190, 19 HR, 66 RBI
John Bateman - .187, 15 HR, 23 RBI
Ron Brand - .196, 5 RBI
Donn Clendenon* - .297, 1 HR, 10 RBI
Ty Cline* - .238, 6 RBI
Tito Fuentes - .250, 2 HR, 12 RBI
Jose Herrera - .264, 5 HR, 35 RBI
Mack Jones - .227, 24 HR, 68 RBI
Manny Mota* - .208, 2 HR, 31 RBI
Graig Nettles - .243, 12 HR, 35 RBI
Rusty Staub - .301, 22 HR, 99 RBI
Gary Sutherland - .202, 2 HR, 27 RBI
Floyd Wicker - .228, 3 HR, 20 RBI
Maury Wills - .325, 1 HR, 14 RBI
Bobby Wine - .207, 23 RBI

Jim Britton - 0-0, 6.43 ERA
Mudcat Grant - 10-14, 3.14 ERA
Larry Jaster - 15-16, 4.10 ERA
Dave Leonhard - 2-2, 2.27 ERA, 2 SV
Dan McGinn - 3-7, 5.31 ERA, 1 SV
Carl Morton - 5-24, 5.88 ERA
Howie Reed* - 0-0, 4.61 ERA
Steve Renko - 8-18, 4.43 ERA
Bob Reynolds - 1-5, 4.48 ERA, 2 SV
Steve Rogers - 0-5, 6.05 ERA
Carroll Sembera* - 3-1, 9.27 ERA, 1 SV
Don Shaw - 3-3, 4.13 ERA, 17 SV
Steve Shea - 6-5, 4.68 ERA, 2 SV
Bill Stoneman - 2-4, 4.31 ERA, 1 SV
Mike Wegener - 0-1, 15.19 ERA

1969 Financials
Total Attendance - 1,973,770 (average 24,367, capacity 28,456)
Profit - $723,000
Cash - $1,160,910

Contract Time
C John Bateman (74) - 2 years; $118,000
1B Rusty Staub (85) - 4 years; $325,000
2B Tito Fuentes (80/83) - $125,000 at Arbitration
SP Larry Jaster (77) - $120,000 at Arbitration
SP Bill Stoneman (81/93) - $57,000 at Arbitration

Released
C John Boccabella (71)
2B Gary Sutherland (73)
C Ron Brand (69)

Several trades were executed to bolster the Expos line-up and get rid of deadwood

Expos get - SS Dick Schofield (67), C Sonny Ruberto (69/73) and SP Johnny Podres (67)
Padres get - 3B Maury Wills (72)

Expos get - 3B Toby Harrah (80/94) and $270,000
Senators get - RP Dale Murray (63/79), 2B Larry Lintz (58/63), RP Dave Leonhard (76) and SP Dick Ruthven (56/88)

Expos get - SP Mike Adamson (67/93)
Orioles get - RP Bob Reynolds (76/82), SP Mike Wegener (63/70) and $150,000

Your 1970 Montreal Expos

Line-up
3B - Toby Harrah (80/94)
CF - Mack Jones (81)
RF - Graig Nettles (84)
1B - Rusty Staub (88)
LF - Bob Bailey (83/86)
C - John Bateman (75)
2B - Tito Fuentes (81/83)
SS - Bobby Wine (82)

Bench
C - Sonny Ruberto (69/71)
2B - Marv Staehle (73)
RF - Jose Herrera (72/85)
LF - Floyd Wicker (LF)
IF - Dick Schofield (67)
IF - Garry Jestadt (73/81)

Rotation
1. Carl Morton (82/88)
2. Larry Jaster (77)
3. James 'Mudcat' Grant (83)
4. Steve Renko (82/93)

Bullpen
Mopup - Bill Stoneman (81/93)
Closer - Don Shaw (82/86)
Setup - Dan McGinn (77)
Short - John Strohmayer (79/89)
Short - Steve Rogers (76/81)
Middle - Ernie McAnally (69/74)
Long - Tom Walker (68/76)

Notable Prospects
AA - Harrisburg Senators
IF Remy Hermoso (75/81)
R - Savannah Sand Gnats
RF Dwight Evans (67/91)
SP Jackson Todd (52/89)

Predicted Standings - National League East
1. Chicago (93-69)
2. New York (88-74)
3. St Louis (88-74)
4. Philadelphia (82-80)
5. Pittsburgh (75-87)
6. Montreal (66-96)

Predicted Post-Season
NATIONAL - San Francisco to beat Chicago in 5 games
AMERICAN - Oakland to beat Baltimore in 7 games
WORLD SERIES - San Francisco to beat Oakland in 4 games

From now on I'm going to try and simulate a whole season at a time and then give a general round-up, as (for me anyway) giving out scores seems a bit bland and dry. Any suggestions and comments would be welcome