Canadian Baseball History

[Tony Crocker]

I also have to ask Patrick since he's been in Europe for a couple of weeks. Was he able to find a TV at 2AM local time last Sunday for Game 7 of the World Series? By e-mail he said he attended the Blue Jays' comeback games against Seattle in the ALCS.

 

[Patrick]

I also have to ask Patrick since he's been in Europe for a couple of weeks. Was he able to find a TV at 2AM local time last Sunday for Game 7 of the World Series? By e-mail he said he attended the Blue Jays' comeback games against Seattle in the ALCS.

Seattle/Blue Jays : watched, not attended.
Sadly no.
World Series : games started at 1am, saw some live update for some games.
I will also missed the Montreal Alouettes play in the CFL’s Grey Cup.

 

[Tony Crocker]

started at 1am

The Euros must go back to standard time earlier (and more sensibly IMHO) than we do.

Jimmy Petterson came out here as usual in mid-September (he lives in Austria and Sweden but grew up in SoCal) and bought postseason tickets via my season ticket holder presale. He has done this since 2022. We met in person at the end of the 2021 season as we are both in NASJA and from my address he wondered if I was a Dodger fan.

Adam was limited this season as most postseason home games were midweek so he managed just one game per series. His highlight was Ohtani's unprecedented performance in NLCS Game 4 (6 shutout IP, 10K, 3 home runs batting). Liz similarly attends one game per series, which included the 18 inning World Series Game 3 (Adam attended Game 5). Liz and I watched Game 7 with Jimmy and friends at a Culver City sports bar. We thought about Cosm for Game 7 but it went on sale after Game 6 ended and sold out in 15 minutes.

I presume Will Smith joins Rick Monday (whom Patrick has mentioned to me) in the memory of Canadian baseball fans.

 

[Patrick]

I presume Will Smith joins Rick Monday (whom Patrick has mentioned to me) in the memory of Canadian baseball fans.

As you know, I played hookey from High School to go to that rescheduled Monday afternoon game.
I didn’t watch the series, but I don’t think so. Blue Jays weren’t even suppose to make the playoffs and they have previous won the World Series. Expos were supposed to be the team of 1980s. Carter, Dawson, Raines.
1979: 95 wins, 2 games behind the Pirates which would go on to win the World Series. 2nd team in NL, 3rd in MLB.
1980: 91 wins, 1 games behind the Philies which would go on to win the World Series.
1981: well, you know.
And then there is the 1994 strike when the Expos were the best tesm baseball and leading the Braves by 6 games.
I didn’t see as we were about to leave, but there is a documentary « Who killed the Expos » on Netflix.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

there is a documentary « Who killed the Expos » on Netflix.

I'll watch that as moving the Expos out of Montreal was one of the great sport-franchise robberies, similar to the Dodgers and Nordiques going west. Part of it was "self-inflicted" by having the team play at that concrete Olympic monstrosity. They should've stayed at Jarry Park until a proper stadium was built!

 

[Patrick]

Part of it was "self-inflicted" by having the team play at that concrete Olympic monstrosity. They should've stayed at Jarry Park until a proper stadium was built!

i disagree with the Jarry Park / Olympic Stadium. People complained about the Stadium being far, Jarry was small and a few blocks away from a Metro station. We were in the 70s in the era of the mega domes like in Seattle and Minnesota.
I’ve seen a few Expos games at Jarry Park and a few concert after the Expos moved to the Big O.
The problem is that, in their bargaining with the government, they kept saying they it sucked and needed a new stadium. Great selling tactic when you trying to attract fans. The Olympic Stadium with 40-50,000 people rocked like crazy.
There was a plan for a downtown park, but Jeffrey Loria let the option for the land go. I had donated money for a brick in the new stadium.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

We're now seriously off-topic; however, this is Patrick's thread so it can go wherever he wants! What do you think about the explanation in this article for what happened? I was living in Montreal during 2000 when, if memory serves, final discussions about keeping the Expos weren't going anywhere. Maybe we should ask Geddy Lee for his opinion given how much time they spent at Le Studio in Morin Heights back in the day.

Vincent Price, Pablo Picasso & The Death of the Montreal Expos — CANADIANA web series

You can trace the roots of the Montreal Expos’ demise all the way back to a strange day in the early 1960s: the day Vincent Price agreed to start selling Picassos for Sears.

thisiscanadiana.com

 

[Patrick]

Maybe we should ask Geddy Lee for his opinion given how much time they spent at Le Studio in Morin Heights back in the day.

Le Studio in Morin Heights, like many old lost ski area, it was abandonned and burnt down a few years ago (like the Gray Rocks Inn).
A couple of things about Geddy Lee.

I’m sure that Tony know that he’s an avid baseball memorabilia collector, he might have seen the interview he did with Dan Rather.
You know Geddy Lee why became so passionate about baseball? On the road with the Rush, there was nothing good to watch on TV in the hotel room during the day but Cubs home game played at Wrigley Field.

Without future Montreal Canadiens hockey hall of famer, the Rush have existed. Steve Shutt and Geddy Lee were schoolmates, friends and we music fans. Both started playing bass guitars together. Steve would eventually introduce Geddy to Alex Lifeson.

And now for the Great White North connection. Rick Moranis and Geddy Lee also went to the same school. When Bob and Doug McKenzie made a record, Rick called Geddy to ask him to participate/write/sing called « Take Off ». I belueve its Geddy’s only number 1 hit (it was in Canada).

 

[Tony Crocker]

concrete Olympic monstrosity

Seats don't look that distant from the field compared to many of the combined baseball/football stadiums of the 1970's. Both Anaheim and Candlestick in SF were converted from baseball only in that era, and much for the worse.

What catches my eye in the above picture from 1992 is the roof. Unfortunately the roof has always been fragile and sustained repeated damage. IMHO major league baseball is not viable in that climate unless that stadium can be enclosed, as in Toronto.

Recall that during COVID the Blue Jays played the abbreviated summer 2020 season at their AAA affiliate in Buffalo. In spring 2021 they judged that climate too harsh in spring and played games at their Dunedin FL spring training ballpark until June. I attended a game there May 1, 2021.

Montreal attendance stats are here. Their attendance was in the top half of the NL only from 1979 - 1983.

An Expo tidbit I've never mentioned to Patrick was that I attended Dennis Martinez' perfect game in 1991.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Without future Montreal Canadiens hockey hall of famer, the Rush have existed. Steve Shutt and Geddy Lee were schoolmates, friends and music fans. Both started playing bass guitars together. Steve would eventually introduce Geddy to Alex Lifeson.

I read Geddy's autobio and was shocked about the Steve Shutt connection.

And now for the Great White North connection. Rick Moranis and Geddy Lee also went to the same school. When Bob and Doug McKenzie made a record, Rick called Geddy to ask him to participate/write/sing called « Take Off ». I believe its Geddy’s only number 1 hit (it was in Canada).

I'm a huge SCTV fan but never found the Great White North bit or the "Take Off" song very funny.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Seats don't look that distant from the field compared to many of the combined baseball/football stadiums of the 1970's.

The only iconic visual that I can recall emanating from that stadium -- during the August 1977 concert.

 

[Patrick]

The only iconic visual that I can recall emanating from that stadium -- during the August 1977 concert.

That was a few weeks after Pink Floyd Animals’ show on July 6, 1977. That show was an inspiration from Roger Waters to write The Wall. Long story somewhere about the separation between the band and the audience.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

« Who killed the Expos » on Netflix.

I watched it last night. It's a very detailed documentary that Patrick should appreciate but perhaps a bit too "inside baseball" for non-Montrealers.

Good thing it had subtitles -- the French Canadian twang/drawl is still a challenge for me after all these years.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I'm fascinated (repelled) by the concrete donut stadiums of the 60s and 70s.

The Ballparks, 1960s-1980s: The Cookie Cutter Monsters—This Great Game

Multi-purpose stadiums adaptable to disparate events become the rage as baseball teams flee decaying ballparks and inner cities.

thisgreatgame.com

I always thought that the Astrodome was the first of this ilk; however, not the case!

1960 – Candlestick Park (San Francisco, CA)
• Tenants: San Francisco Giants (MLB), San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2015)
• In use: 40 years

1961 – RFK Stadium (Washington, DC)
• Tenants: Washington Senators (MLB), Washington Redskins (NFL), D.C. United (MLS)
• Status: Being demolished (2024–25)
• In use: 10 years for baseball, 36 years for football

1962 – Astrodome (Houston, TX)
• Tenants: Houston Astros (MLB), Houston Oilers (NFL)
• Status: Still standing (vacant)
• In use: 35 years

1964 – Shea Stadium (New York, NY)
• Tenants: New York Mets (MLB), New York Jets (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2009)
• In use: 45 years

1965 – Busch Memorial Stadium (St. Louis, MO)
• Tenants: St. Louis Cardinals (MLB & NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2005)
• In use: 30 years

1966 – Angel Stadium (Anaheim, CA)
• Tenants: California/Los Angeles Angels (MLB)
• Status: Still standing and in operation for baseball
• In use: 59 years and counting (longest active use)

1966 – Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta, GA)
• Tenants: Atlanta Braves (MLB), Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (1997)
• In use: 31 years

1966 – Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
• Tenants: Oakland Athletics (MLB), Oakland Raiders (NFL)
• Status: Still standing (vacant)
• In use: 57 years

1967 – Jack Murphy Stadium (San Diego, CA)
• Tenants: San Diego Padres (MLB), San Diego Chargers (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2021)
• In use: 35 years

1970 – Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati, OH)
• Tenants: Cincinnati Reds (MLB), Cincinnati Bengals (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2002)
• In use: 33 years

1970 – Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA)
• Tenants: Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2001)
• In use: 31 years

1971 – Veterans Stadium (Philadelphia, PA)
• Tenants: Philadelphia Phillies (MLB), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2004)
• In use: 33 years

1972 – Olympic Stadium (Montreal, QC)
• Tenants: Montreal Expos (MLB, 1977–2004)
• Status: Still standing
• In use: 28 years for baseball/now repurposed. The provincial government has committed CAD $870 million to replace the roof.

1976 – Kingdome (Seattle, WA)
• Tenants: Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle SuperSonics (NBA, briefly)
• Status: Demolished (2000)
• In use: 23 years

1982 – Metrodome (Minneapolis, MN)
• Tenants: Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Vikings (NFL)
• Status: Demolished (2014)
• In use: 28 years

1989 – Rogers Centre (Toronto, ON)
• Tenants: Toronto Blue Jays (MLB), Toronto Argonauts (CFL, former)
• Status: Still standing and in operation for baseball
• In use: 36 years and counting

1990 – Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, FL)
• Tenants: Tampa Bay Rays (MLB)
• Status: Still standing and in operation for baseball
• In use: 35 years (facing replacement)