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Everything to Know About ExposFest

March 24, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel 2 Comments

Exposfest memorabilia

Some of Exposfest organizer Perry Giannias’ personal Expos memorabilia collection

What Is ExposFest?

ExposFest is a charity fundraiser geared towards kids and fans of the Montreal Expos.

The event is organized by Perry Giannias, an avid Expos memorabilia collector. Several former Expos players and other baseball personalities will be present at the event.

Activities will include batting cages for kids, face-painting, live music and much more.

There will be opportunities to get autographs from former players and there will be a silent auction for many pieces of memorabilia.

All proceeds go to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the Kat D DIPG Foundation. The money is being raised to fight DIPG.

What Is DIPG?

DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma) affects children between the ages of 5 and 9. It is an aggressive form of brain tumour.

There is a zero survival rate among children affected. The median survival rate is under 12 months. Surgery to remove the tumour is not an option since it would cause a quicker death.

Who Is Kat D?

Catherine “Kat D” Demes was a five-year-old girl affected by DIPG. Her death inspired Perry Giannias (her uncle) and his family to create the Exposfest fundraiser event.

L'esprit derrière tous nos efforts #expos fest.
Catherine "Kat"Demes.
The spirit and CEO behind everything we do @ExposFest.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/KjxKdiOysH

— Expos Fest (@ExposFest) March 24, 2017

Who Will Be at ExposFest?

The following players will be at the event:

  • Andre Dawson
  • Rondell White
  • Cliff Floyd
  • Jeff Reardon
  • Bob Bailey
  • Dennis Martinez
  • Al Oliver
  • Éric Gagné
  • Bill Lee
  • Dave Palmer

Other guests include:

  • Jacques Doucet (the former voice of the Expos)
  • Matthew Ross of ExposNation
  • Jeremy Filosa of 98.5 Sports Radio
  • Jonah Keri (Sportwriter and author of Up, Up and Away)
  • Mayor Denis Coderre
  • Marc Griffin
  • Annakin Slayd Farrar
  • Youppi!

Why Should Anyone Go To ExposFest?

Let the man himself, Perry Giannias, tell you.

How Much are Tickets and Where Do I Buy Them?

Children under 12 years old get in for free accompanied by an adult (one per adult). General admission tickets are $7. $10 gets you entry and an autograph from Bob Bailey or Rondell White. Access to the VIP lounge with all of the players between 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM costs $150 and there are limited tickets left.

You can buy tickets here.

Where is ExposFest Happening?

ExposFest is at Plaza Centre-Ville / Evo Centre at 777 Blvd. Robert-Bourassa near Bonaventure Metro station.

L'@ExposFest c'est le 2 avril! Y serez-vous? pic.twitter.com/yx8KfiwVCY

— Baseball Québec (@baseballquebec) March 14, 2017

Find out more about the event on the official website.

Read MTL Baseball‘s profile on Perry Giannias here.

Filed Under: Culture, Events

Perry Giannias Pays Tribute to Family and Baseball at ExposFest

March 24, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel 6 Comments

Perry Giannias Expos Memorabilia

Perry Giannias is an avid Expos memorabilia collector and the founder of Exposfest.

Perry Giannias is one of the biggest Expos fans you’ll ever meet. Over the years, he has built an impressive and possibly unmatched collection of Expos memorabilia. His basement is a shrine to the team and its players.

He has a story for every piece in his collection. He loves to reminisce about the different eras of the team. Just don’t bring up the bad times like the player’s strike of 1994 or the dreaded “Blue Monday”.

But, as much as Giannias loves the Expos, he cares even more about his family.

“The only thing I know, there’s two things I love in my life, my family and the Montreal Expos,” Giannias proclaimed.

On April 2, Giannias will proudly pay tribute to both of those loves at ExposFest, a charity fundraiser he started with his family last year. The event is a joyous occasion for families who love baseball. It’s a day to celebrate the Expos’ history and to provide kid-friendly entertainment at an affordable price.

It’s also an opportunity to raise money for a good cause. All proceeds go to the Kat D DIPG Foundation at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. DIPG is an aggressive form of brain tumour that affects small children and took the life of Giannias’ five-year-old niece Catherine.

ExposFest is a very personal labour of love that allows Giannias to deal with two important losses in his life. It’s also the culmination of Giannias’ journey from Expos fan and memorabilia collector to crusader against a rare form of cancer.

Collecting Memorabilia to Preserve the History of the Expos

Giannias grew up watching the Expos and collecting baseball cards like so many other kids in Montreal. As he grew older, he became more interested in collecting.

In 2004, his hobby turned into a full-blown obsession when the Expos left the city. Like so many baseball fans in this city, the loss of the Expos was hard for Perry Giannias to swallow.

“My game-used collection really took off after 2004, when I really, like everybody else, thought the Expos were ‘done-zo’ with and we’re never going to see them again,” Giannias remembered. “It really hit me like a ton of bricks. I just wanted to be surrounded by my heroes of the past and stuff that I could see every day and still remember what it was like to have a baseball team.”

Perry Giannias Extensive Collection

A sampling of Perry Giannias’ extensive collection.

Giannias has filled his basement with rare items spanning the history of the Expos and Montreal Royals. Jerseys, jackets and autographed baseballs cover every corner of the space.

He even has Andre Dawson’s Gold Glove award and the helmet Gary Carter wore when he got his last hit at the Olympic Stadium. Giannias also shares pieces from his collection on the Facebook page “Montreal Expos Museum”.

Eventually, Giannias would like to display his collection for all to see if a Major League Baseball team returns to Montreal.

“My dream would be, once we get a ballpark, maybe we could find a spot somewhere near. It could even  be like a restaurant, museum kind of setting. It would be really cool to have that near the ballpark, or maybe a spot at the ballpark,” Giannias said. “Something like that to remember how amazing we were.”

Getting Involved in the Fight Against DIPG

Whatever Giannias may have felt following the loss of his childhood baseball team surely paled in comparison to the heartbreak he and his family would experience in 2015.

Personal tragedy struck Giannias’ family when his five-year-old niece Catherine “Kat” Demes was diagnosed with a DIPG brain tumour. Doctors gave her nine to twelve months to live. She passed away nine months later, six months before her sixth birthday.

Struck by grief and searching for answers, Giannias and his family decided to take action.

Using the connections he had established with former Expos players over the years through his memorabilia purchases, Giannias came up with the fundraiser idea that would become ExposFest.

“That’s the best way, we thought, to honour my niece Catherine,” Giannias explained. “It’s better than just crying every day and stuff like that, because there’s nothing worse than losing a child.”

“You always think it happens to somebody else, but when it happens to your family, it’s just devastating. So, we want to turn, you know like the old saying, lemons into lemonade,” Giannias said.

So far, the foundation his family set up has raised almost $140,000 in over a year and a half. For a disease that gets little coverage in the press and even less funding for research to find a cure, that is a significant amount. Giannias hopes this year’s event will help the foundation surpass $200,000.

Perry Giannias Prized Piece

Perry Giannias shows off one of his prized pieces.

Keeping It in the Family and About the Kids

One of the biggest draws to ExposFest has been the participation of former players. Giannias has attracted players like Ellis Valentine, Jose Vidro, Vladimir Guerrero and many more to the event. This year, he has attracted nine former Expos players (including Hall of Famer Andre Dawson) as well as local star Éric Gagné.

Back in November, Giannias also held a sports celebrity gala to raise funds for the foundation. His focus remains on keeping ExposFest geared to kids even though he admits the gala was much less work. Exposfest is free for children under 12 years old, which surely cuts into the amount of money Giannias and his family could raise. Giannias is steadfast that the event is not just about raising money.

“ExposFest is a celebration of the family, my niece and baseball,” Giannias explained. “We want it to be a family event, because (Catherine) was a little girl. She was five years old. We want to honour her memory by having as many families and kids there because that’s what baseball was.”

Giannias and his family have been working on the event since November. Giannias is proud to call ExposFest a small family-led venture.

“One hundred per cent of what we make goes straight to the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the Kat D DIPG Foundation. We don’t have a CEO. We don’t have a treasurer,” Giannias assured. “Whatever is done is our time and we don’t want it any other way.”

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Giannias is a certified daycare provider who runs two daycares in the Laval area with his wife. He obviously cares deeply about children.

Having an Impact on Local Baseball Culture

Perry Giannias Unique Piece

One of Perry Giannias’ more unique pieces from his collection of Expos memorabilia.

It’s that genuine desire to give back to the community that has allowed Giannias to forge deep connections with the former players who make ExposFest a popular event among the city’s die-hard baseball fans.

Giannias insists that making connections with former players has been easy since most are happy to join his fight against DIPG.

“I think they can feel my passion for the team and I don’t ask anything of them. The only thing I ask of my Expos is to do our fundraiser so we can raise money for the Montreal Children’s Hospital,” Giannias said. “There’s no ulterior motive that I have with them.”

Giannias hopes that his event helps in the quest to bring a team back to Montreal.

“ExposFest makes you remember how great the Montreal Expos were and our heroes of old and how much they loved the city,” Giannias said with enthusiasm. “I think it’s a great weekend to celebrate baseball and the Montreal Expos.”

Perry Giannias is making a lasting impression on his community by honouring his family and his beloved Expos.

So, if you want to support a great cause and relive the glory days of the Expos, pay Giannias a visit at Plaza Centre-Ville between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM for ExposFest.

Filed Under: Community, Individuals

Everything to Know About the Montreal Baseball Hack Day

March 20, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Montreal Baseball Hack Day

The Third Annual Montreal Baseball Hack Day is on March 25

Last year, I had the privilege of attending the Montreal Baseball Hack Day. The third annual instalment of the event is coming up next weekend, so here is everything you need to know leading up to the event.

What is the Montreal Baseball Hack Day?

According to the event’s website, the Montreal Baseball Hack Day is a day for creative minds to collaborate on baseball-related projects to create better ties between the local technology and sports communities.

Participants have one day to design and code a functional project that could be (but is not limited to) a website, an app, a tool, a simple web app or a data visualization.

At the end of the day, the work is presented to the judges and winner and runner-up will receive prizes (and bragging rights).

When and Where Does It Take Place?

The Montreal Baseball Hack Day takes place March 25, from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the Belgo Building Breather Space.

The address is 372 Saint-Catherine Street West, Suite 105, Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A2.

Not sure what to expect from MTL Baseball Hack Day? Here's a great recap of last year's event. https://t.co/iM7xXkX2Gn pic.twitter.com/UqPovpk5oW

— MTLBaseball HackDay (@mtlbbhackday) February 21, 2017

Who Can Participate?

Anyone who is a baseball enthusiast!

While the event will surely appeal to digital developers and coders, Warren Wilansky, the event organizer, hopes that those who don’t have a coding background also register.

“Even if you aren’t a developer or a designer, if you are a baseball fan, you would have a lot to add,” Wilansky assures. “You can help to shape a project from a baseball perspective or even as an end user. Look at it as an opportunity to learn from and collaborate with new people.”

Who Are the Judges?

This year’s judges are:

  • Sonali Karnick, CBC Radio One host.
  • David Foscato, Webmaster and Administrator for Expos Nation.
  • David McGimpsey, Author, Poet and Concordia University Professor.

“We wanted judges that covered different and diverse members of the sports and baseball community. (They represent) media, fans & the arts,” Wilansky explains. “We also thought it would be interesting to have people who are not necessarily from technical backgrounds so that they would judge the value of the projects from their unique perspectives.”

Thanks to @evenko we have tix to the Toronto vs Pittsburgh game at the Olympic Stadium for our Hack Day winners. https://t.co/9fozT8YNmY pic.twitter.com/vIfD7DRaIR

— MTLBaseball HackDay (@mtlbbhackday) March 1, 2017

What Are the Prizes?

The winning team will take home an annual MLB.TV premium subscription for up to four team members. They will also receive four tickets to the upcoming Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates exhibition games at Olympic Stadium.

The runner-up will receive a 12-month Super Premium subscription to Baseball Prospectus for up to four team members.

What’s the Schedule of the Event?

  • 9:30 – 10:00 AM Registration, Meet and Greet, and Coffee
  • 10:00 – 10:30 AM Welcome, Introductions, and Pitch
  • 10:30 – 12:30 PM Design and Code
  • 12:30 – 1:30 PM Lunch
  • 1:30 – 5:30 PM More Design and Code
  • 5:30 – 6:00 PM Presentation, Judging and Awards
  • 6:30 PM Let’s go for a beer!

Where Do I Sign Up?

You can sign up here!

You can check out the article I wrote about last year’s event on the Plank site. Also, check out MTL Baseball‘s profile on Warren Wilansky here.

I hope to see you at the Montreal Baseball Hack Day!

Filed Under: Culture, Events

Hacking into Montreal Baseball Culture Through Digital Design

March 19, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel 1 Comment

Warren Wilansky is hacking into baseball culture

Warren Wilansky, President and Founder of Plank.

Some Montrealers have an impact on the local baseball culture and community through their contributions on the field or in the dugout. One local business owner is hacking into Montreal baseball culture in a most unexpected way.

Warren Wilansky is the President and Founder of Montreal-based digital design agency Plank. He’s also a huge baseball fan.

Over the last few years, Wilansky has combined his passion for baseball with his work as a digital design entrepreneur.

He has embarked on a number of passion projects that mix his business with baseball. He hopes those projects help to build a lasting baseball culture in Montreal.

Rediscovering an Old Love

Wilansky developed his love for baseball at an early age. Like so many other kids in Montreal, he played Little League and watched the Expos at Olympic Stadium.

“My earliest baseball memory was going to the Olympic Stadium in the late 1970’s with my father and sitting in the bleachers,” Wilansky recalled. “I vividly remember seeing the names Cromartie, Dawson and Valentine staring at me from the backs of their jerseys.”

Over time, Wilansky’s interest in the game waned as his beloved Expos became a mismanaged mess before moving to Washington. Like so many other Montrealers, he distanced himself from baseball. It took him years to rediscover his love of the game.

“In 2009, it was rekindled with the passion of a million white hot suns after visiting Wrigley Field for the first time. It was on those hallowed grounds that I remembered what I loved about the game,” Wilansky said.

“I love that the game is slow, the season long and the pace muted until action springs out of the pitcher’s hand or a hitter’s bat,” he explained.

It would’t take Wilansky long to find creative ways to combine his work life with his rekindled passion for baseball.

Teaming up with Montreal Baseball Project

As Wilansky explains in a blog post on Plank’s website, he rediscovered his love of baseball around the same time another Warren with Montreal ties embarked on his own baseball odyssey.

Warren Cromartie, who Wilansky grew up watching at the Olympic Stadium, started the Montreal Baseball Project in 2012. For those who don’t know about Cromartie’s mission, the Montreal Baseball Project hopes to bring a Major League Baseball team back to Montreal.

Wilansky soon understood that promoting the passion for baseball in this city was an important step towards getting a team back.

He was no longer just a young fan watching Cromartie from the stands. Wilansky was now the leader of a successful digital design agency. Therefore, he felt he could help Cromartie on his quest to bring a team back to the city.

“A few years ago, I approached the Montreal Baseball Project to modernize their website and they gladly accepted our help. I felt that for Montreal Baseball Project to be taken seriously as the main lobby group to bring a team back, that they needed a world class site,” Wilansky told MTL Baseball.

Outside of Plank’s collaboration with Cromartie’s group, Wilansky has found other ways to fit baseball into his agency’s work.

Plank hacking into Montreal Baseball Culture

Warren Wilansky looks on as the judges announce the winners of the 2016 Montreal Baseball Hack Day.

Growing the Montreal Baseball Culture and Community Through Creativity

On March 25, Plank will host its third annual Montreal Baseball Hack Day. The Baseball Hack Day started in Boston in 2012. The event allows participants to collaborate on a baseball-themed digital project over the course of one day.

Over the past few years, Wilansky kept in touch with the original Boston event organizer. Finally, he decided to start a Montreal chapter of the event in 2015. He believes events like the Hack Day can play a crucial role in building a stronger local baseball community.

“What I like about the event is that it extends out to a community that traditional baseball marketing and outreach would not consider,” Wilansky explained. “I think that designers and developers have a different and interesting take on how they see and interact with sports. It shows that non-traditional communities should be a part of baseball culture.”

He also thinks it’s important to connect different groups in the local community through baseball in order make baseball culture sustainable in Montreal.

“I would love to see and I think deep relationships can be generated with musicians, artists and filmmakers. Heck, one of our judges is a poet who has written a book about baseball,” Wilansky continued. “Building relationships with these groups of people is going to ensure that baseball becomes a part of the soul of our city.”

Wilansky and Plank hacking into Montreal Baseball Culture

Wilansky at the 2016 Montreal Baseball Hack Day

Developing Your Own Passion Project

Warren Wilansky has managed to integrate his passion for baseball into his work as a digital entrepreneur with Plank. But, he also believes it’s important for everyone to have a personal passion project.

In another blog post on the Plank website, Wilansky discusses the genesis of his own blog “Runners at the Corners”.

While it began as a way to track the games he and other contributors attended, he now wants to expand the scope of the site.

“What I’m working on now is making it into more than just an archive of games that I attend. It’s clear that it needs to be more than that to generate any interest or traffic,” Wilansky conceded. “So, I’m looking to get a few different people involved to shape the vision and make it a unique place for baseball fans to visit.”

Wilansky believes that investing in your interests can help you grow as a person while making an impact on your community. His passion projects allowed him to learn a lot about himself and build new relationships.

While his passion projects have helped fill the void the Expos left behind, something is still missing. Like so many Montrealers, Wilansky is still waiting for his team to come back to Montreal.

“But seriously, how could someone not be passionate about having a beer and hot dog in July, in an open air stadium in downtown Montreal while watching our Expos,” Wilansky pondered.

He may be a successful digital entrepreneur, but Warren Wilansky still wishes he could be a kid in the bleachers again.

Filed Under: Community, Individuals

Tim Raines Tribute Will Kick Off “Montreal Baseball Weekend”

March 13, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Tim Raines tribute Montreal Baseball Weekend

Tim Raines will be in Montreal for Baseball Weekend.

If you haven’t already purchased your tickets for the Toronto Blue Jays’ exhibition game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 31, the latest news should spur you into action. A Tim Raines tribute will take place before the game, meaning “Rock” will be at the Olympic Stadium to kick off “Montreal Baseball Weekend”.

According to multiple news outlets, Tim Raines will headline the festivities prior to the first of two exhibition games held in Montreal at the end of this month.

Shi Davidi of Sportsnet posted the following on Twitter:

Tim Raines will be honoured prior to #BlueJays–#Pirates exhibition game in Montreal March 31 … pic.twitter.com/jIQF1TSX8c

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) March 13, 2017

Other sources reported the same news on Twitter throughout the day:

Tim Raines sera honoré à Montréal https://t.co/e5XudZAnCl

— 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) March 13, 2017

Tim Raines sera honoré le 31 mars au Stade olympique: «Montréal, c’est toujours spécial» https://t.co/uiJWNIIWia pic.twitter.com/tNsRB9egWq

— Journal de Montréal (@JdeMontreal) March 13, 2017

Fans who make it to the game on March 31 will also get to see several former Expos. Dennis Martinez, Steve Rogers, Bill Lee, Al Oliver, David Palmer and Jeff Reardon will also be there. Five of those players will also take part in Exposfest on Sunday, April 2.

Proud to have 5 of our Expos Fest guests participating in the opening ceremony for Tim Raines on Friday March 31st.https://t.co/7Mvecp8NsM pic.twitter.com/spAOwSCyT6

— Expos Fest (@ExposFest) March 13, 2017

Raines was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in January. Now, he will be properly honoured in the city where his career began. This will be the first opportunity for Expos fans to congratulate “Rock” on making it into the Hall of Fame.

So, make sure you’re at Olympic Stadium to show Tim Raines how much this city appreciates its baseball legends.

Filed Under: News

Baseball Is in the Air in Montreal Despite the Cold Weather

March 8, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel 2 Comments

Although we’re still dealing with temperatures below zero and either freezing rain or snow, baseball is in the air in Montreal. Spring Training has started in Major League Baseball, which has always meant the end of winter to me. Sure, we may not have a professional team gearing up for its season, but there is plenty of baseball activity on the horizon in our city. Here’s a sampling of what’s happening around Montreal in the next few weeks.

An Event for Baseball and Tech Fans

The Third Annual Montreal Baseball Hack Day is on March 25.

Last year, I had the opportunity to discover an event that flew under the radar for most baseball fans. Plank, a local web design firm located in downtown Montreal, hosted its second Baseball Hack Day and offered me an opportunity to write about it.

The Baseball Hack Day is a fun event geared towards baseball fans who are tech-oriented. Participants work in teams (or alone) to produce either a website, an application or a web tool with a baseball focus. They have only one day to produce a functional end result to the judges.

I was amazed by the work presented last year and I can’t wait to see what is in store this year.

The third annual Montreal Baseball Hack Day takes place March 25 at the Belgo building downtown. If you’re into coding and are a huge baseball fan, you can sign up for the event here.

MTL Baseball plans on attending again this year, so you’ll get to read more about it over the next few weeks.

Baseball Weekend is Coming Back

Baseball is in the air in Montreal at Olympic Stadium.

Baseball fans make the annual pilgrimage to Olympic Stadium during Baseball Weekend.

The biggest weekend of the year for Montreal baseball fans is right around the corner.

Of course, the Toronto Blue Jays will be hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates for an exhibition series on March 31 and April 1 at the Olympic Stadium. It will be the fourth straight year that the Blue Jays play an exhibition series in Montreal to close out Spring Training.

The games offer baseball fans in Montreal their only chance to see Major League Baseball. Those who miss the Expos should attend the games in order to send a strong message to commissioner Rob Manfred that Montreal deserves a second chance at having a major league team.

MTL Baseball will be there to speak with fans before the games. Be on the lookout for me if you want to share your passion for baseball with everyone. I’ll make sure to provide you all with quality coverage of the games.

To cap off the weekend, the second annual Exposfest will take place on April 2.

Le retour de Bill Lee @Expos Fest
Bill Lee returns on Sunday April 2nd https://t.co/am2WQscN3g @jp_tvasports
@jonahkeri @SpacemanTheFilm pic.twitter.com/R3EmzcRMXr

— Expos Fest (@ExposFest) March 8, 2017

Bill “Spaceman” Lee joins an impressive lineup of former players at this charity event aimed at raising funds for DIPG cancer research.

We are not done with our guest list. Adding an other #expos immortal to our lineup tomorrow. Stay tuned. https://t.co/7Mvecp8NsM#KatDdipg pic.twitter.com/LVeb6fKSHT

— Expos Fest (@ExposFest) March 7, 2017

You can purchase tickets here.

MTL Baseball will have much more coverage of this event so stay tuned in the weeks to come.

For those who can’t wait for the snow to melt to hit the field this summer, these events are a perfect way to kick off the baseball season.

Baseball is in the air in Montreal and MTL Baseball is excited to share this city’s passion for the game with all of you.

 

Filed Under: Culture, Events

Eight Memories of The Kid Five Years After He Left Us

February 16, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Memories of The Kid Hall of Fame

Gary Carter’s Plaque at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY

On this day five years ago, Montrealers mourned the loss of one their most beloved sports icons. Gary “The Kid” Carter succumbed to brain cancer on February 16, 2012. Today, baseball fans across the city shared their memories of one of the greatest Expos in history. MTL Baseball did some digging and found eight memories of The Kid on video for Montrealers to look back on five years after he left us.

The Kid Was a Superstar in Montreal

Gary Carter put up incredible numbers with the Expos from 1974 to 1984. Per 162 games in his first tenure in Montreal, he averaged 25 home runs and 92 runs batted in while hitting .271. The Kid  was an All-Star seven times. Carter won three Gold Gloves as the best defensive catcher in the National League and three Silver Sluggers as the best hitter at the position.

Simply put, he was an incredible player.

He also had a knack for performing under the spotlight. He loved the glory that came with being a superstar in Montreal. Some of his teammates even called him “Camera Carter”.

In 1981, when he was first selected to start at catcher in an All-Star Game, The Kid responded in a big way.

1. Here is Carter connecting for his second home run of the 1981 All-Star Game that was played in Cleveland.

2. Carter won the Most Valuable Player award for that same All-Star Game. His two home runs helped the National League claim a 5-4 victory. Here’s The Kid receiving the award and flashing his trademark smile.

1981 was quite a year for The Kid. Before the players went on strike, he caught Charlie Lea’s no-hitter on May 10. He won the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award before the regular season resumed following the end of the strike. The Expos made the postseason for the first and only time in their history.

Carter was at his best in the playoffs, hitting .421 with two home runs and six runs batted in against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series.

3. Here’s The Kid hitting a home run against the Phillies in the series. And yes, that’s Dave Van Horne using his signature “Up, Up and Away!” home run call.

Of course, 1981 was bittersweet for Carter, the Expos and their fans. The team came oh so close to reaching the World Series. Then Blue Monday happened.

The Kid Finally Wins the World Series

After Carter was traded to the New York Mets following the 1984 season, he got an opportunity to play in the World Series two years later.

After coming so close in 1981 with the Expos, Carter did his best to guide the Mets to victory. He hit .276 with two home runs and nine runs batted in.

4. The Kid hit two home runs in Game Four to tie the series.

Of course, the Mets would win a thrilling World Series in seven games. Carter’s leap into Jesse Orosco’s arms after the final out made for an iconic image in baseball history.

The Kid Caps His Hall of Fame Career Where it All Began

Eventually, Gary “The Kid” Carter would return to the city where it all began. Montrealers got to watch him on the field for one final season in 1992.

5. Carter was no longer a superstar, but he did give fans one more memorable moment, driving in the only run of the game in the seventh inning on September 27, 1992. Watch Carter drive the ball over his former teammate Andre Dawson’s head. Listen to the crowd go crazy. Watch The Kid soak it up.

6. Carter would be back in Montreal in 1993 as the team retired his jersey.

7. 10 years later, Carter would make one last speech as an Expo. He became the first Montreal Expo inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

The Kid Inspires a Baseball Renaissance in Montreal

It seems that Carter’s death five years ago has awakened a passion for baseball that was dormant in Montreal for many years. As Mitch Melnick said in this Vice article, Carter’s death tapped “deep feelings and emotion that people had put aside. And people realized how much they missed baseball.”

8. Since then, a movement to bring back the Expos has been growing. One of the biggest ambassadors for baseball in this city is Annakin Slayd, a local hip hop artist. Slayd has made a name for himself with songs that pay tribute to the city’s local sports teams and iconic athletes. He’s also embarked on a school tour to discuss the importance of Jackie Robinson’s impact in Montreal.

Here’s Annakin Slayd’s touching tribute to Gary Carter that captures his best memories of The Kid.

RIP Kid.

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog

Braves Trade Recalls a Controversial Expos Blockbuster

February 14, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Phillips Trade Recalls Controversial Expos Blockbuster

Brandon Phillips While Still With the Cincinnati Reds

On Sunday, the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds completed a trade that sent Brandon Phillips to his hometown in exchange for a couple of pitching prospects. On the surface, this was hardly an earth-shattering move between two non-contender teams. However, a closer look recalls a controversial Expos blockbuster from the team’s final seasons in Montreal.

By acquiring Phillips, the Braves reunited him with Bartolo Colon, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent in November. Expos fans recall that Omar Minaya sent Phillips to Cleveland in a package deal for Colon during the 2002 season. Minaya was going all-in for the postseason. Some people called it the “Trade of the Decade”. Instead, it became an example of how trading the farm for a rental player can backfire on a team.

The Controversial Expos Blockbuster

The full deal was Phillips, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Lee Stevens for Colon and Tim Drew. At the time, only Stevens was on the active big-league roster for the Expos. Colon was an ace pitcher in Cleveland. Phillips, Lee and Sizemore were top prospects but hadn’t played a big-league game with the Expos yet.

Colon Part of Controversial Expos Blockbuster

Bartolo Colon With the White Sox After the Expos Traded Him

It was an exciting trade and Colon pitched well in Montreal. He went 10-4 with a 3.31 Earned-Run Average. However, the Expos didn’t make the playoffs and wound up trading Colon to the White Sox in the subsequent offseason in a payroll-cutting move.

While Colon was an established ace, there was little chance he would stay in Montreal for more than a few months. Phillips, Lee and Sizemore became All-Stars outside of Montreal. The Indians clearly won the deal.

The 2002 trade may have tilted heavily in Cleveland’s favour but it has taken numerous twists over the years.

Colon and Phillips are two of the last remaining connections to the Montreal Expos in Major League Baseball. Colon is technically the last former Expo remaining in the big leagues since Phillips never played with Montreal’s Major League team.

As it stands, Phillips is a fading player who will serve as middle-infield depth on a bottom-feeding team. Sizemore and Lee may never play again in the big leagues. As for Colon, he reinvented himself as a pitcher and remains a highly-productive fixture in the starting rotation.

Oh yeah, and baseball fans will forever love “Big Sexy” for this:

While the Braves may have been bitter rivals to Expos fans for years, they now have a special connection to Nos Amours. By reuniting two of the last remaining players connected to the Expos, the Braves have given nostalgic Montrealers a reason to follow their games this season.

Unless of course they don’t want to be reminded of that controversial Expos blockbuster that backfired in 2002.

 

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Bartolo Colon, Expos

27 Reasons to Love Vladimir Guerrero on His Birthday

February 9, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero with the Orioles.

Three weeks ago, Vladimir Guerrero just missed the cut for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A week ago, he was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Today is Guerrero’s birthday, so it’s a perfect opportunity to remind ourselves of his greatness. Here are 27 reasons to love Vladimir Guerrero that show why he will likely be going to Cooperstown in 2018.

His Brilliant Career Started With the Expos

1. Here is Vladimir’s first career hit with Nos Amours. A fresh-faced, lanky Guerrero would later become one of the greatest players in Expos history.

2. It didn’t take long for Guerrero to show off his prodigious power. This clip is great because it shows former Expos’ manager Felipe Alou’s genius as well as Vladimir’s tremendous raw talent.

Listen to the colour commentator second-guess Alou for bringing in Guerrero to hit against dominant Braves closer Mark Wohlers. He declares it a “white flag” from Alou, as if the legendary manager were giving up by bringing in the rookie.

Vlad wastes no time in making the announcer eat his words. This is so good.

He Wowed Expos Fans With His Power

3. Guerrero had incredible raw power.

Watch him clobber this pitch as Rodger Brulotte loses his mind.

4. Vlad played in eight seasons with the Expos (really seven since he only played as a September call-up in 1996). He hit over 30 home runs in five of them. Guerrero hit over 40 in both 2001 and 2002. He hit 25 in an injury-shortened final season with the Expos in 2003.

5. Here’s Vlad hitting his 30th home run of the season in 2001.

He Amazed Expos Fans With His Arm

6. Guerrero had a cannon for an arm as a right fielder. He finished with over ten outfield assists in six of his eight seasons with Montreal. Most runners quickly learned not to test his arm.

7. Here’s one perfect example.

This is why runners were better off staying put when Guerrero came up with the ball in right field.

DON’T. TEST. VLADDY.

8. Here’s Vladimir using a perfect bounce at the plate to save a run from scoring on fellow Expos legend Pedro Martinez.

He Put Up Monster Numbers With the Expos

9. In eight seasons with Montreal, Guerrero hit .323 with 234 home runs, 641 runs, 702 runs batted in and 123 stolen bases over 1004 games.

From 1998-2002 he absolutely dominated the National League. In that 5-year stretch, he .325 with 197 home runs, 524 runs, 582 runs batted in and 111 stolen bases. That averages out to 39 home runs, 104 runs, 116 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases per season.

That’s insane.

10. Vladimir is the only Expo player to be a part of the elite 30/30 club. He hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases twice in his career. Vlad did it in back-to-back seasons in 2001 and 2002.

He actually just missed making the extremely exclusive 40/40 club in 2002. He finished one home run shy of joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano as the only players in Major League Baseball history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a single-season.

Here’s his final chance at accomplishing the feat. He just missed a home run down the line in right field before the first base umpire denied him getting one more opportunity with a questionable call.

11. Guerrero finished his Expos career in style by joining another exclusive club in his final season in Montreal.

On September 14, 2003, he hit for the cycle by getting a single, a double, a triple and a home run in the same game.

Vladimir is one of only six players in Expos history to hit for the cycle. The others are Tim Foli (1976), Chris Speier (1978), Tim Raines (1987), Rondell White (1995), and Brad Wilkerson (2003).

Here’s his last great Expos moment.

He Got to Shine on a Larger Stage After He Left Montreal

12. While Vladimir never got to experience the postseason during his time in Montreal, he did make it to the playoffs six times after he left the Expos. He even got to play in a World Series with Texas in 2010.

13. Guerrero may not have been able to match his regular-season production in the postseason, but he still had some signature playoff moments.

Here’s Vladdy tying a playoff game with a grand slam in his first postseason with the Angels.

14. Here’s another clutch game-tying home run in the playoffs in 2009.

15. Vladimir played in four All-Star Games as an Expo, and was a respectable 2-for-6 in those games. However, he never had a real “All-Star Moment” with the Expos.

Here he is with his first “All-Star Moment” in 2006.

16. Even though Guerrero participated in the 2000 Home Run Derby with the Expos, he didn’t make it out of the first round, hitting only two home runs.

Here he is winning the 2007 Home Run Derby as a member of the Angels.

He Still Had All the Tools After He Left the Expos

17. Vladdy still had a cannon.

18. STILL. DON’T. TEST. VLADDY.

19. Guerrero could still rack up the big hits.

Including the home runs.

And the clutch hits.

20. He still had MASSIVE power.

21. And he could still run when he had to.

He Could Do Things Nobody Else Could Do

22. Vladimir Guerrero was widely regarded as the best “bad-ball” hitter in baseball. There wasn’t a pitch he couldn’t hit.

Not even those in the dirt were safe.

Here’s Carlos Peña discussing how Vladdy could lock into any pitch. Enjoy the sound effects and computer graphics. Target acquired!

He Reached Some Important Milestones Before Ending His Career

23. Here’s Vladimir getting his 300th career home run with the Angels.

24. Here’s Vladdy getting home run number 400 with Anaheim.

25. Vlad finished his career with 449 home runs (38th all-time), 1328 runs (116th), 1496 runs batted in (57th) and 181 stolen bases.

He averaged 100 runs, 34 home runs, 113 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases for every 162 games (a full season) over the course of his career. He hit .318 lifetime (56th).

Here he is with Baltimore knocking his final home run over the fence in an illustrious career.

26. In 2011, Guerrero became the all-time hits leader among Dominican-born players. This clip is great because you get to hear Felipe Alou describe Guerrero as a player.

Guerrero is currently third all-time in hits among Dominican-born players. Adrian Beltre and Albert Pujols have since passed him.

He Should Go into the Hall of Fame as a Montreal Expo

27. Vladimir may have had more signature moments in the playoffs and the All-Star Game after he left Montreal, but his prime was in Montreal and he’ll always be an Expo to us. I’m not sure he made the same impact on Angels fans.

In any case, Vladimir asked the fans which team he should represent should he be elected to the Hall of Fame.

In case I have the honor of being selected to Cooperstown, which cap will you like me to use in the plaque?.

— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) March 14, 2016

The people have spoken Vladimir.

2017 is Rock’s turn in Cooperstown. 2018 will belong to Vladdy and his legion of Expos fans.

Happy birthday Vlad! Thanks for all the memories.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog

Vladimir Guerrero Among 2017 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees

February 2, 2017 By Jan Sauvé-Frankel Leave a Comment

Vladimir Guerrero Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Vladimir Guerrero as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

Vladimir Guerrero will have to wait at least a year to go to Cooperstown. He won’t have to wait that long to proclaim himself as a baseball hall of famer. Following an official announcement this morning, Guerrero is among the 2017 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees.

The museum announced in a press release on their website that Guerrero will join former Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay, Baseball Canada President Ray Carter, longtime B.C. umpire Doug Hudlin and the 2015 Senior Mens Team Canada squad that took home gold in the Pan Am Games as inductees on June 24, 2017.

“I was surprised and excited to hear that I’m being inducted,” said Guerrero through a translator during a media conference call this afternoon.  “I knew that I would need to wait at least one more year to join the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but I’m very pleased to join the Canadian hall of fame first, since I was given my first opportunity to play Major League Baseball in Canada.”

The museum posted the following on its Twitter feed this morning:

@CDNBaseballHOF 2017 Inductees. @RoyHalladay @VladGuerrero27 Ray Carter, Doug Hudlin, Team Canada 2015 SR Mens Team Pan-Am @baseballcanada pic.twitter.com/8HYPsh1dEQ

— CDN Baseball HOF (@CDNBaseballHOF) February 2, 2017

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is in St. Marys, Ontario.

Guerrero also joins other former Expos notables Dennis Martinez (2016), Felipe Alou (2015), Tim Wallach (2014), Tim Raines (2013), Larry Walker (2009), Steve Rogers (2005) and Gary Carter (2001) as inductees of the museum.

Furthermore, the former Expos All-Star is the fourth Dominican player in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The others are Felipe Alou, George Bell (2013) and Tony Fernández (2008).

Guerrero shared the following on his Twitter account:

I'm very happy to be among list of 2017 inductees of @CDNBaseballHOF. It's a great honor for me and my family. God bless you. pic.twitter.com/lZyislFQ8j

— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) February 2, 2017

Join Guerrero for the Festivities at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys, Ontario.

The induction ceremony will be part of an entire weekend of activities in Toronto and St. Marys. The ceremony will take place at the Hall of Fame grounds with the following itinerary for June 24:

9am-5pm – museum open for tours
9am-10:15am – Inductee press conference  (media only)
11:00am-1:00pm – Induction Ceremony for 2017 Inductees
1:30pm-3:00pm – autograph session with 2017 Inductees and other special guests.

There will also be a Baseball Family Festival all day.

Admission for the ceremony is 10$ for members and 20$ for non-members. You can find more details on this page:

Induction Day

You can read the rest of the press release announcing the Class of 2017 Inductees here:

CANADIAN BASEBALL HALL OF FAME UNVEILS 2017 INDUCTEE CLASS

Filed Under: News

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