Archives for February 2017

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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.