In the Beginning - The Montreal Expos

[majormet]

Beggar's Banquet by the Rolling Stones is blaring from my turntable, while I lay on my bed in a ramshackle apartment in the Buffalo suburbs. A hard night of partying after a previous night of hardcore partying, after all I am just 21 years old and just graduated college in May of 1968 from the University of Buffalo, and well now it is Christmas time in Buffalo which is about as dreary as the world can get, unless you can count my non college friends who are trudging through the jungles of Vietnam wondering if they will see tomorrow.

I had majored in English in college, which might explain my lack of employment at this juncture. I have had offers to write for some newspapers but they are in cities like Rapid City, South Dakota or even worse Toledo, Ohio, and I would be covering the local news and that is not terribly exciting to me. The idea of law school is somewhat appealing but another 3 years of college really sounds fatiguing in concept.

These are hard times, I moved to Buffalo from Long Island and have stayed in Buffalo because I have become increasingly addicted to inertia. There is always the possibility of a draft, that has me scared. A few dudes from my hometown have been severely injured from the battles in Saigon, and I have never even been in a fistfight in my life. Having a family, will make you exempt from the draft, or deferred, but I live in Buffalo where it is hard to get a date with a woman unless you like women with facial hair, so I am a sitting duck for the draft, and this Nixon character has me scared in the oval office.

My name is Carl Dunkirk and I have been leading a simple life, with very few hiccups. The worst day in my 21 years of living was when Jeanne Simpson broke my heart by dumping me for some older fireman named Jed, other than that, I have lived safely and soundly. I have no guilt for my lack of ambition or my lack of reason at this juncture in my life. My parents paid for my college and expect me to be making a living, they were anguished by my failure to be a pre-med student, but the small of formaldihide in biology lab sickened me. I tried my hand at pharmacy but that seemed like I would be working in drugstores with a white coat instead of the company sweater.

I might be spiraling into never never land, but I am only 21, and maybe I will have this thing figured out in a year or so, but for now I am enjoying my Old Vienna splits and watching the Buffalo Braves basketball games on TV.

[majormet]

I was lounging around on a Sunday in late December and that is when my life changed. I put down my joint and my headphones as there was only so many times I could hear Magical Mystery Tour. The phone call was from a headhunter named Egon Hester. Egon was the same headhunter who had me earmarked for Rapid City to report on weddings and bake sales. A basically dry guy who was trying hard to get me a job, as the unclean slate of a 21 year old coming out of college meant easier placement, less baggage and of course diminutive salary.

Egon mentioned that the Sporting News wanted a correspondent for the newly formed Montreal Expos. This was a big year for expansion in major league baseball with 4 added teams, and everyone wanted the Seattle and San Diego jobs, and they were able to move a home office St Louis based person to Kansas City to pen for the Royals. The Expos job would be paid in American dollars and I would have to live in Montreal for the baseball season and travel to the road games.

Being a 21 year old baseball fan from the New York area, I was intrigued by this offer. The job would also make me an employee based in Canada so I would be exempt from the draft without having to be a dodger. On top of it, I have nothing going on here in Buffalo, life is depressing and I need a change of scenery.

The starting salary is $6,000 a year, which is not bad here in 1968 for a starting salary. I would be covering the new Expos team, and the foray into Canada for major league baseball. I have watched enough baseball over time, and have been an adopted New York Mets fan since the Giants flew the coup back in the 1950's.

I would have to submit weekly material to the Sporting News on the state of th Expos and of course updated recaps of each game. I don't have to think too much about this and readily accept this job. Being the consummate minimalist, I pack my 1964 Barracuda with all my belongings in the backseat and get on the road across upstate New York into Vermont and then Montreal.

I find an apartment in downtown Montreal, which is a total contrast of Buffalo. Neon signs are everywhere with a lot of topless/bottomless bars. I can get used to this place.

A week has passed and I have gotten use to the higher alcohol content of the Molson beers here, and well I have seen more naked women in one week then my first 21 years, but I am not complaining.

From a work standpoint, I have yet to figure out what to do, the Expos were just recently drafted in early December, and most of the team has not met each other yet. They have some interesting players here, Roy Face and Maury Wills are property of the Expos and a colorful young player named Rusty Staub is actually living down the road from me.

Being single in Montreal is fun, and Rusty is a single guy, who might not even be straight, but who cares, he is a fun guy, who can eat and he cooks some amazing ribs. Rusty feels that the Expos will lose 100 games, but he is happy to be on a major league roster rather than rotting in the minors somewhere.

I won't comment on the roster until we get closer to opening day, but I hear rumblings that I will have news to report in a day or so, as the Expos and Cardinals have been talking trade. The Redbirds won the NL in 1968 and are looking to find the equalizers to take out the Tigers this year. I know they have interest in Coco Laboy and Donn Clendenon and the local paper here has been reporting rumors, although this is Montreal and well winter in Montreal only means the Canadians are all over the backpages.

I am stunned by the craziness of the Canadian fans and wonder if they will treat their baseball team the same way. If the Habs are down 1-0 at the end of the first period the fans are booing immensely. I have been to Shea Stadium and heard people boo, but the Mets gave you reason to boo.

Well the beat reporter thing should be fun, and I will get the word on the trades and player moves as fast as the local media here too.

[majormet]

The Sporting News worked out a deal where I would work in conjunction with the Montreal Gazette. I would have a cubicle in their building. I reported to their offices which is about 3 miles from my apartment. Today was going to be the first newsworthy day in 1969 for the Expos as two trades were reported.

Montreal Expos send Coco Laboy to St Louis Cardinals for Earl Wilson

Montreal Expos send Donn Clendenon to St Louis Cardinals for Tim McCarver and Reggie Cleveland.

These were 2 interesting trades. Trading Clendenon was a tough move as he has been a good bat in the past for the Pittsburgh Pirates but the Expos got a Canadian prospect starting pitcher back in Cleveland. Cleveland is a big and portly guy from Saskatchewan who was heavily regarded in the Cardinals system. The Expos also got McCarver. From what I hear, McCarver is an opiniated a-hole who does not get along with most of the players on his team. The inexperienced GM saw it as an opportunity to get an experienced World Series catcher who can handle the pitching, but not so sure if he constantly going to usurp the management.

Clendenon has seen his average drop in the past 2 years, after hitting over .300 and blasting 28 bombs for the Bucs in 1966.

John Boccabella had been pencilled in as the starting catcher. I have had a few phone interactions with Boccabella, who is also from Long Island, and he was not happy about the McCarver acquisition. Besides losing the starting job, he feels that McCarver will dominate the locker room and divide players and not to mention talk out of both sides of his mouth.

The other trade gets the Expos an experienced starting pitcher in Earl Wilson. Wilson is 34 years old and won 22 games for the tough Tigers in 1967 and won 13 games for them last year and will eat up a lot of innings. The Cardinals get Laboy back who they lost in the 54th round of expansion to the Expos. Small price to pay for Wilson.

There is talk of more trades on the horizon but for now, the Expos are trying to get good pitching and some experience.

Other trades

Pittsburgh Pirates trade Gene Alley to San Diego Padres for Tommy Sisk. Pirates get back Sisk who they lost in expansion to the Padres. Padres get a veteran shortstop

Oakland Athletics trade Ted Kubiak and Dave Duncan to San Diego Padres for Tom Dukes, and John Sipin..... A lot of weak players changing hands, Kubiak and Duncan will get to play on an MLB roster instead of the Oakland farm.

San Francisco Giants trade Cesar Gutierrez to the St Louis Cardinals for Vada Pinson and Joe Hague....... Gutierrez is a low level prospect and the Redbirds give up a declining star in Pinson for him. Pinson has seen a production drop over the past 4 years, but St Louis could have received more for him.

[majormet]

What can I say? The winter is cold in Montreal and well it is Buffalo without the squalls. It is March now and we should see some good weather, the Expos are down in St Petersburg, getting ready for the exhibition season, and I get to join them in 2 weeks, which can't be a bad thing.

The past 2 months have been interesting, a lot of people speak French here, and English is somewhat spoken. I know some French so it does help. My gut feeling is that this is going to be a tough season to grow a fan base. The Players are basically unknown and the sport is not considered major, in effect Buffalo would have been a better expansion city, but so is life.

Oscar Maldonado as GM has really been focused on putting a team out there that will draw some fans and be competitive every 3rd night. Mack Jones, Manny Mota, Rusty Staub, Maury Wills and Bob Bailey will be the core of the offense, while pitching will rely on Bill Stoneman, Earl Wilson and Jerry Robertson.

The Expos made 2 more trades, as they try to sure up their bullpen, as it should be used a lot more than other teams pens.

Montreal Expos send Ron Brand to San Diego Padres for Dick Kelley and Tommy Dean....... Brand was expendable when the Expos got McCarver, while Kelley is a good solid reliever who should set up Dan McGinn as the closer. Dean is a hillbilly from Mississippi who was a one time Dodger prospect

Montreal Expos send Ty Cline to Oakland Athletics for Marcel Lacheman and John Sipin. Cline is a marginal player who was with the Giants and the Expos get back Lacheman who is a good arm for the pen, and has a French sounding name which might make him of some fan interest. Sipin has already been dealt by the Padres in the offseason, he is a classic throw in guy.

The suring up of the bullpen is a key thing and the Expos really have not given much up to get some key setup guys.

Other trades

Houston Astros trade Julio Gotay and Keith Lampard to California Angels for Rick Reichardt and Tom Egan. A lot of nothing in one trade

Baltimore Orioles trade Davey Johnson to the Philadelphia Phillies for Rick Joseph.... A good deal for the Phillies as they get the ugly looking Johnson who has shown some promise. Joseph has not produced much

Minnesota Twins trade Johnny Roseboro to California Angels for Eddie Fisher. Roseboro is washed up and the Angels hope for some vet leadership in exchange the Twins get a bullpen workhorse

Los Angeles Dodgers trade Tom Haller to Atlanta Braves for Paul Doyle. Braves get a guy who has lost his power but can hit for average and throw out baserunners, while the Dodgers get a 30 year old rookie reliever, hard to see the benefit to Hollywood here.

Baltimore Orioles trade Merv Rettenmund to California Angels for Jim McGlothin. Orioles acquire a 200 inning a year arm in McGlothlin while the Angels get a very technically sound bat, who has yet to prove much.

Cincinnati Reds trade Ted Savage to St Louis Cardinals for Dave Giusti and Ted Simmons. Another head scratcher for St Louis as they deal their 19 year old prospect stud catcher in Simmons to the Reds along with a #4 starter type in Giusti for a journeyman in Savage. The Redbirds are trying to save cash it seems

Washington Senators trde Brant Alyea to New York Yankees for Al Downing.....Yankees get quick bat in Alyea who will chase every pitch. Downing was good in the mid 60's but has been injury plagued.

Baltimore Orioles trade Curt Motton to Houston Astros for Denny LeMaster.....Orioles get a proven starter in LeMaster who has been lacking run support in Houston, while the Stros get Motton who has been a failed prospect

Boston Red Sox trade Dick Schofield to Seattle Pilots for Jim Bouton....The Red Sox get a former 20 game winner who likes to write and cause trouble and can't pitch consistently, while the Pilots get a no hit/good glove shortstop.

Minnesota Twins trade Leo Cardenas to St Louis Cardinals for Sal Campisi and Boots Day..... Twins recently acquired Cardenas from Cincinnati, and his number are in free fall of late after being a stud for many years. The Twins get back two prospects that are not to write home about.

San Francisco Giants trade Jack Hiatt to Philadelphia Phillies for Woodie Fryman. Fryman showed a lot of promise in 1968 for the Phils and they deal him away to the Giants for a backup catcher.

Philadelphia Phillies trade Tony Taylor to the Kansas City Royals for Jim Rooker and Joe Keough....Phillies get some young unproven talent while the Royals get a vet leader on the decline who won't wear a batting helmet

New York Yankees trade Tom Tresh to Cincinnati Reds for Clay Carroll. Tresh has battled injuries and the Reds are taking a chance on him, while the Yankees get a good live bullpen arm.

[Loeffle]

Majormet and the Expos!

This sounds like good stuff for months to come. Always liked the Expos ... Moises Alou, Andres Gallaraga were my "first" stars of the game. So sad about that stolen strike season.

[majormet]

Yep, My Las Vegas dynasty crapped out with expansion, don't think I will be able to recover it, but who knows.

This dynasty is purely reporting coverage, so I won't have any power over the simulation. So it will be random if they end up with Gary Carter, Raines, Dawson etc.... they could end up with Winfield and players like that.

[majormet]

I have never been to Florida before, and the warm weather is definitely refreshing, I can understand why all the old folks move down here and retire. It is also fun to catch MLB games in small venues and get to know the players.

Training camp has been fun. There are no expectations for this ball club in 1969, just to exist and make the games competitive. A lot of known veterans in camp like Manny Mota, Maury Wills, Roy Face, Earl Wilson, Tim McCarver and Dick Kelley. Mota has stepped up as the leader.

The Expos were dealt a bad blow early in camp as their franchise player Mack "The Knife" Jones went down with a dislocated shoulder in an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs. It looked innocent enough, but trying to stretch a single into a double he slid into second base awkwardly and his shoulder popped out. Players on the team were questioning his heart, but it was easy to tell that the injury was more serious than it appeared. Jones will be out 2 months, which means Jose Herrera and Jim Fairey will have to platoon in leftfield and Manny Mota moves to centerfield.

Steve Renko also came up injured. Renko is another native Canadian who was slated to be the spot starter/mopup man. Renko was having a bout of back spasms and will be out 2 weeks.

Management made one other trade as they were dissatisfied this spring with the middle infielders and acquired John Donaldson from the Oakland Athletics for Howie Reed and Don Hahn, a small price to pay for a decent glove at second base.

Morale has been decent, as players fight for the final spots on the roster while some starting positions are up for grabs.

My social life has been fun, I get to hang out with Rusty, Boccabella, Steve Shea, Reggie Cleveland and Phil Gagliano a lot. Gagliano has been upbeat, he has been killing the ball in the spring and feels he will finally have a shot to showcase himself. Cleveland is probably ticketed for the farm, while Boccabella will more than likely backup the know it all. Rusty has been given the rightfield job, while Shea will be in the Expos pen.

Some guys are not approachable. Been hard to talk with Bob Bailey, he has a rather large ego and has not made many friends thus far. There are a few Spanish speaking players in camp that turn to Manny Mota for guidance, but I don't know Spanish. Gary Sutherland has his own following of women, not sure what that is about, but he is not that solid a player to be getting that much action.

Other than that, we are approaching opening day in St Louis with Bob Gibson and his 1.13 ERA lurking followed by the wonder kid named Steve Carlton, welcome to the big leagues


More Trades

St Louis Cardinals trade Mike Shannon to the California Angels for Clyde Wright. Cards boost their pen up but leave a hole in their infield, while the Angels get a guy who people though would never ever leave the Gateway Arch.

Chicago White Sox trade Don Pavletich to Philadelphia Phillies for Turk Farrell. Kind of a trade of needs at best.

Atlanta Braves trade Tito Francona to Chicago White Sox for Angel Bravo. Pretty insignificant trade of role players.


League News

Reggie Jackson (Oakland Athletics) is out 4 weeks with hyperextended elbow. Oakland management feels that the super prospect is dogging it.

Julian Javier (St Louis Cardinals) is out 6 weeks with torn rib cage muscle. At least the Expos will miss this guy on opening day.

Rick Monday (Oakland Athletics) is out 1 week with fractured hand. This guy refused to hit the DL.

Jim Bouton (Boston Red Sox) got a 2 year extension at $507,000. Questionable move, as this guy hasn't pitched well since the Beatles came to America.

Doug "The Rooster" Radar (Houston Astros) is out 5 weeks with fractured jaw. Line drive got him in the face, tough early season loss for the Stros.

Jim Ray (Houston Astros) is out 4 weeks with strained rotator cuff.

Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) is day to day with stiff neck. He refused to sit even in exhibition games.

Scipio Spinks (Houston Astros) is day to day with strained back muscle

Mike Corkins (San Diego Padres) is out 2 weeks with torn back muscle.

Wade Blasingame (Houston Astros) is out 2 weeks strained back muscle

Reggie Smith (Boston Red Sox) gets 2 year extension worth 1.4 million. Boston scouts feel locking this guy up is a must. He is a 5 tool stud.

Ted Abernathy (Chicago Cubs) is out 2 weeks with back spasms

Pete Rose (Cincinnati Reds) is out 5 weeks with damaged meniscus. He should have sat with the neck injury, he didn't look right out their in the field.

Claude Osteen (Los Angeles Dodgers) get a big 5 year extension worth 4.5 million. Decent pitcher that the Dodgers want long term.

Bobby Bonds (San Francisco Giants) is out 2 weeks with sore knee. A huge 5 tool stud that everyone has been watching carefully.

Horace Clarke (New York Yankees) is out 3 weeks with strained back muscle

Mike Epstein (Washington Senators) is day to day with strained hip muscle. He really needs to lose weight.

Gary Peters (Chicago White Sox) gets 4 year extension worth $1 million. Might have overpaid here.

Frank Robinson (Baltimore Orioles) gets a 3 year extension worth $4.2 million. He probably is worth more, but wants to stay in Baltimore.

Reggie Smith (Boston Red Sox) is out 2 weeks with bruised cheekbone. He gets the money and many feel he is faking an injury.

Bob Humphreys (Washington Senators) is out 2 weeks with a blister. Teammates have called him a feline slang name.

Tommy John (Chicago White Sox) is out 2 weeks with tender elbow. Chicago media makes fun of this guy, said some joke about having some surgery named after him.

Don Kessinger (Chicago Cubs) is out 5 weeks with fractured ribs. This is a tough injury as he is a great glove man in Wrigley.

Gary Gentry (New York Mets) is out 2 months with torn rotator cuff. There were bets in the Mets clubhouse at what date would Gentry get hurt, as he can never stay healthy.

Dick Selma (San Diego Padres) gets 3 year extension worth 1.4 million. Padres have yet to play a real game and are spending money to keep their palyers.

[Loeffle]

Originally Posted by majormet

Yep, My Las Vegas dynasty crapped out with expansion, don't think I will be able to recover it, but who knows.

This dynasty is purely reporting coverage, so I won't have any power over the simulation. So it will be random if they end up with Gary Carter, Raines, Dawson etc.... they could end up with Winfield and players like that.

Sucks the game crashed when you expanded. My Boise and Charlotte expansion went well and I finally play ball again.

Curious to see what happens in Canada

[majormet]

I will detail the roster and where these guys have come from, what their initial role will be on the team and what they have done in that past. Remember Mack Jones is out for 2 months and Steve Renko is nursing an injury.

The listing is alphabetical

#20 Jerry Adair (2B) (32 yrs old/Sand Springs, Oklahoma) - Adair is a deep reserve on this team and just happy to be extending his career. Was a backup for the Boston Red Sox the past few years. I have not really spoken much to him.

#6 Bob Bailey (1B) (26 yrs old/Long Beach, California) - He is the starting first baseman with very high expectations. Has been a .220 experimental hitter the past 2 years for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a huge ego for someone that has not produced in the big leagues yet.

#61 John Boccabella (C) (27 yrs old/San Francisco, California) - He is the backup catcher and he grew up in Long Island after being born out West. Was the backup catcher for the 1966 Chicago Cubs, but has been in their farms the past 2 years. A great guy who can tell a good minor league story at any given time.

#85 John Donaldson (2B) (25 yrs old/Charlotte, North Carolina) - will start at 2nd base against righties after being acquired from the Oakland Athletics. Showed promise in 1967 by batting .276 for the A's, but struggled last year. Have talked a bit with him, he is a shy Southern type.

#94 Jim Fairey (OF) (24 yrs old/Orangeburg, South Carolina) - with Mack Jones injury, he gets to start in leftfield against the righties. Was a deep reserve for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, and is happy with the chances opened up for him here. Another quiet guy though.

#59 Phil Gagliano (3B) (27 yrs old/Memphis, Tennessee) - he gets to start at 2nd base against lefties and 3rd base against righties. Had a great bat in spring training. Happy with the chances here, after being a deep reserve for a few years with the St Louis Cardinals. A fun affable guy who likes his pranks.

#5 Mudcat Grant (MR) (33 yrs old/Lacoochie, Florida) - a former stud starting pitcher with the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, he now is a mopup man on an expansion team. He is a nice guy, keeps to himself and is hoping for a renaissance in Montreal.

#65 Jose Herrera (OF) (26 yrs old/Venezuela) - another guy that will benefit from Mack Jones being hurt, He gets to play leftfield against lefties. He was the Houston Astros 5th outfielder in 1968. He speaks little English and defers to Manny Mota.

#63 Mike Hershberger (OF) (29 yrs old/Massilon, Ohio) - backup outfielder for this team, and just happy to have a job. He is a light stick outfielder who was with the A's for a few years and and has over 800 career hits, he just isn't flashy. He leaves the park with his family and doesn't feel that he fits in with the club yet.

#36 Dick Kelley (MR) (29 yrs old/Boston, Massachusetts) - a solid reliever acquired via trade that will get a lot of work. Has been a workhorse for the past few years for the Atlanta Braves, and will be more valuable for the Expos. A nice guy who will grab the occasional beer and fit in.

#74 Marcel Lacheman (MR) (27 yrs old/Los Angeles, California) - a decent pickup who will work out of the pen. He has never been in the majors before, but is known to be gutty if short on talent. He will come out to dinner once in a while and is happy to be on this team. Has relatives in Quebec.

#15 Tim McCarver (C) (27 yrs old/Memphis, Tennesse) - everyday catcher after his glory years with the St Louis Cardinals. Was actually happy to be traded after many years there, he upset a lot of people there. Has been a good hitter over the years and a great defensive catcher. He pretty much hangs out with Earl Wilson, who was his teammate in St Louis briefly.

#37 Dan McGinn (Closer) (25 yrs old/Omaha, Nebraska) - He pitched in 14 games in 1968 for the Cincinnati Reds, but he will be the closer for the Expos as the options are limited. He is a hardcore drinker, and will party a lot with John Sipin and Jerry Robertson.

#21 Carl Morton (Starting Pitcher) (25 yrs old/Kansas City, Missouri) - Will be near the back of the rotation, and has yet to pitch in the big leagues. He is a very depressing guy, who feels that the world is against him. Hopefully he will be able to find happiness in Montreal, seems very homesick.

#10 Manny Mota (Centerfield) (31 yrs old/Santo Domingo, DR) - everyday CF after Mack Jones was hurt, was to play leftfield. Mota has been a great hitter the past few years for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is the leader on the team as he has the most respect.

#87 Jerry Robertson (Starting Pitcher) (25 yrs old/Winchester, Nevada) - he gets the ball on opening day. He has never pitched in the big leagues before and is being promoted based on decent minor league stats. A real party animal type of guy, but does look like a good pitcher.

#51 Steve Shea (26 yrs old/Worcester, Massachusetts) (Setup Man) - pitched well for the 1968 Houston Astros and was given the main relief job based on a great spring. A very nice guy who will get dinner with me at times. He is happy to be close to Central Mass.

#60 John Sipin (22 yrs old/Watsonville, California) (utility guy) - Was dealt around in the offseason and ended up here. He can play a lot of positions and has no fear so he made the club. He drinks too much but he is like me, right out of college for the most part.

#98 Rusty Staub (25 yrs old/New Orleans, Louisiana) (RF) - everyday rightfielder, who will be at the core of this team. Tore the cover off the ball with the Houston Astros the past few years, and now is happy to be here in Montreal. A fun chunky red headed dude who loves to cook, and shoot the breeze.

#19 Bill Stoneman (24 yrs old/Oak Park, Illinois) (SP) - short guy who is probably shorter than the media guide says that will be in the rotation in 1969. He mopped up for the Cubs the past 2 years, but looks good in spring, and is a great a$$ kisser. He willl make a great GM one day.

#89 Gary Sutherland (24 yrs old/Glendale, Arizona (SS) - he will play shortstop against lefties. Has shown promise with the Philadelphia Phillies over the past 2 seasons, and will get some chances here. He sticks to himself and gets a lot of women.

#71 Mike Wegener (22 yrs old/Denver, Colorado) (SP) - A young kid that will be in the rotation. Not much of a prospect and the Expos are hoping for something here. He seems confident and happy for the chances. I have hung out with him a bit, seems out of place but that might be a maturity thing.

#13 Floyd Wicker (OF) (25 yrs old/Burlington, North Carolina) - a reserve at this point in time, and happy to make the club. Got a September callup with the St Louis Cardinals in 1968. A fun guy, who moves around the clubhouse cliques.

#88 Maury Wills (SS) (36 yrs old/Washington, DC) - will play everday as a SS against righties and a 3B against lefties. He looks very washed up, but has that name value to him. He still can slap the ball around, cover some ground in the field and of course steal bases, so he will fill up the scorebook. Crafty veteran but constantly is talking retirement after being with the Pittsburgh Pirates the past 2 years.

#22 Earl Wilson (SP) (34 yrs old/Ponchatoula, LA) - in the rotation and looked very good in the spring, has a great resume of winning and should help the team. He is mostly gobbled up socially by McCarver and has had little chance to bond with others.

[majormet]

It was an exhillirating first week of baseball on the job for me. The first week of the season saw me traveling to St Louis and then coming home to Montreal with a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Expos ended up going 2-4 in their first 6 historical games.

St Louis was interesting, they had Bob Gibson going on opening day and he was tough, and I got to visit with my bosses at Sporting News headquarters. It was fun to be in the press box and hearing the other media folks chatter up about the league. Jack Buck was calling the game for the Redbirds and everyone loves him, seems like an affable guy. The Cardinals got a shutout from Bob Gibson on opening day and he is picking up where he left off in 1968.

The second game of the season was much closer as it was 5-3. Steve Carlton, the young left hander looked sharp for St Louis while Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson homered again. I can tell that people are already getting sick of Tim McCarver's attitude and hopefully he was just being arrogant because he knew St Louis and the Cardinals.

On the third day, the Expos got a huge pitching gem from Bill Stoneman, who fanned 7 in a 2-1 victory. Stoneman who was not taken seriously because he was an a$$ kisser, shut up a lot of the clubhouse critics with that first team history win. The Twins screwed up and waived Dean Chance, the former two time 20 game winner and the Expos were able to grab him off of waiver, he would be pitching the home opener.

Jarry Park was very cold, at 22 degrees on opening day, so it was barely a half packed house for the inaugural game. The fans that showed up were treated to a great game, where pinch hitter Johnny Jeter won the game with a 2 run homer in the 8th inning off of Steve Shea.

The Expo bats came to life in the 2nd game as they pounded the Bucs 8-1 as Phil Gagliano hit the team's first ever homer and Mike Wegener made the scouts look smart with a solid outing.

Sadly, the rubber match of the series saw Jerry Robertson and the entire bullpen gets smoked 18-4 as Al Oliver lead the hit parade with a big grand slam.

I think there is potential here in Montreal for something good, but the word will have to spread, it does hot help having the Canadians in the playoffs and this horrific weather that we are having. Snow is in the forecast and it just does not mix with baseball


Game #1

St Louis 5
Montreal 0

WP - Bob Gibson (1-0)
LP - Jerry Robertson (0-1)

Star of Game - Bob Gibson (7 hit shutout, 2 K's)

Homers
St Louis - Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson (1), Byron Browne (1)


Game #2

St Louis 5
Montreal 3

WP - Steve "Lefty" Carlton (1-0)
LP - Earl Wilson (0-1)

Star of Game - Steve Carlton (CG, 8 hits, 3 ER, 6 K's)

Homers
St Louis - Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson (2)


Game #3

Montreal 2
St Louis 1

WP - Bill Stoneman (1-0)
LP - Nelson Briles (0-1)
Save - Dan McGinn (1)

Star of Game - Bill Stoneman (8 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 7 K's)

Homers
St Louis - Steve Huntz (1)

Game #4

Pittsburgh 5
Montreal 4

WP - Jim Bunning (1-0)
LP - Steve Shea (0-1)
Save - Bruce Dal Canton (1)

Star of Game - Matty Alou (3-5, 2 RBI's)

Homers
Pittsburgh - Johnny Jeter (1)

Game #5

Montreal 8
Pittsburgh 1

WP - Mike Wegener (1-0)
LP - Luke Walker (0-1)

Star of Game - Phil Gagliano (3-4, HR, 2 RBI's)

Homers
Pittsburgh - Phil Gagliano (1)

Game #6

Pittsburgh 18
Montreal 4

WP - Bob Veale (2-0)
LP - Jerry Robertson (0-2)

Star of Game - Al Oliver (4-5, Grand Slam)

Homers
Pittsburgh - Carl Taylor (1), Willie Stargell (1), Al Oliver (1)


League News

Fritz Peterson (New York Yankees) fires a 5 hit shutout against the Washington Senators

Joe Coleman (Washington Senators) blanks the New York Yankees on 4 hits

Pete Ward (Chicago White Sox) is out 2 weeks with a fractured finger against the Oakland Athletics

Bob Johnson (St Louis Cardinals) suffers CAREER ENDING INJURY with a torn back muscle. He had 41 career homers and 592 hits, he was 33 years old.

Bob Johnson (pitcher/New York Mets) pitches a 5 hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds

Larry Dierker (Houston Astros) notches a 3 hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants

Steve Whitaker (Seattle Pilots) wins AL PLAYER of the WEEK (4 HR 10 RBI .588)

Phil Gagliano (Montreal Expos) wins NL PLAYER of the WEEK (1 HR 2 RBI .600)


Status

Montreal is 2-4 and in a tie for last with the Chicago Cubs trailing the first place Pittsburgh Pirates by 3 games.

[majormet]

It may be early in the season but the Montreal Expos had to travel to San Diego and San Francisco respectively. It was fun for me to visit California for the very first time. Obviously jet lag had set in, and the Expos were set to play their expansion cousins, the Padres.

The atmosphere in San Diego was very similar to Montreal in that there were hardly any fans, and the knowledge of the game was lacking. A year ago, these 2 teams were not existent and now they both competed in the National League.

It was a good series for the Expos as they won two out of three games, for their first ever series victory. Earl Wilson won the first game by pitching and hitting well. Maury Wills did go down to injury in that game and is out for a few weeks. The Padres exacted revenge in the second game with a 7-5 win as Ted Kubiak went 4 for 4. Rusty Staub did hit his first Montreal homer in the game. The rubber match was won by the Expos as Dean Chance sailed to victory.

Next stop was up the coast by the bay to play the San Francisco Giants. The Giants have a loaded lineup and we dropped 2 out of 3 games to them. The first game saw Mike Wegener get buried early as Dick Dietz drilled a first inning 3 run homer. The Second game was 7-6 as we rallied back from 6-0 only to have Ron Hunt hit an 8th inning pinch hit single. The Expos salvaged the series with a 13-4 pasting behind the surprising Jim Fairey's 6 RBI's.

On the horizon for the Expos, are the last place Chicago Cubs at home, as they have a solid chance at a .500 record.



Game #7

Montreal 4
San Diego 3

WP - Earl Wilson (1-1)
LP - Al Santorini (1-1)
Save - Dan McGinn (2)

Star of Game - Earl Wilson (8 IP, 8 hits, 1 ER, 3 K's, 2 RBI's)

Homers
San Diego - Roberto Pena (1)

Comments - a good start to the road trip as Wilson looked in command. Pena's homer was a pinch hit homer to make it 4-3.


Game #8

San Diego 7
Montreal 5

WP - Billy McCool (1-0)
LP - Steve Shea (0-2)

Star of Game - Ted Kubiak (4-4, RBI)

Homers
Montreal - Rusty Staub (1)
San Diego - Ollie Brown (1)

Comments - Ed Speizio has a big 2 run pinch hit single in the 8th to snap the tie.


Game #9

Montreal 6
San Diego 1

WP - Dean Chance (1-0)
LP - Steve Arlin (1-1)

Star of Game - Dean Chance (CG, 6 hits, 1 ER, 8 K's)

Homers
San Diego - Van Kelly (1)

Comments - This was a solid masterpiece by Mr Chance


Game #10

San Francisco 8
Montreal 5

WP - Bobby Bolin (1-1)
LP - Mike Wegener (1-1)

Star of Game - Dick Dietz (2-4, HR 3 RBI's)

Homers
San Francisco - Dick Dietz (2)

Comments - Dietz hit the 3 run homer in the first inning. We rallied back from 8-0 in this one but fell short


Game #11

San Francisco 7
Montreal 6

WP - Juan Marichal (2-1)
LP - Dick Kelley (0-1)

Star of Game - Willie McCovey (2-5, HR 2 RBI's)

Homers
San Francisco - Willie McCovey (2)

Comments - Montreal was in awe of Marichal early, and fell behind 6-0, they tied it at 6-6, before Ron Hunt won the game with a pinch hit single.


Game #12

Montreal 13
San Francisco 4

WP - Earl Wilson (2-1)
LP - Gaylord Perry (1-1)

Star of Game - Jim Fairey (3-4, HR 6 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Jim Fairey (1)

Comments - A true blowout as the spitball was not working for Perry. Rusty Staub had 5 hits and Bob Bailey picked up 4 hits.



Status

Montreal is 5-7 and tied for 4th in the NL East with the St Louis Cardinals trailing the first place Pittsburgh Pirates by 4 games.


Around the League

Maury Wills (Montreal Expos) is out 4 weeks with damaged meniscus suffered on the road against the Padres in San Diego

Al Oliver (Pittsburgh Pirates) is out 2 weeks with scratched Cornea

Steve "Lefty" Carlton (St Louis Cardinals) fires a 4 hit shutout against the New York Mets.

Denny LeMaster (Baltimore Orioles) pitches a 6 hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox

Harmon Killebrew (Minnesota Twins) hits CAREER HOMER #400 at home against the Detroit Tigers

Jim Perry (Minnesota Twins) gets a 4 year extension worth $1.32 Million

Bruce Dal Canton (Pittsburgh Pirates) is out 5 weeks with a herniated disc

Skip Guinan (Houston Astros) is out 2 weeks with a blister on his finger

Rusty Staub (Montreal Expos) collects 5 hits in a game on the road at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco Giants

Rod Carew (Minnesota Twins) wins AL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1 HR 2 RBI .538)

Willie Stargell (Pittburgh Pirates) wins NL PLAYER OF THE WEEK (2 HR 9 RBI .435)

[majormet]

A tough run of baseball for the Montreal Expos as the bullpen has been terrible. The Chicago Cubs came to town and took 2 out of 3 games, and then the Expos hopped on the plane to get swept by the Houston Astros at the Astrodome in close game after close game.

The Starting Pitching has been there, but the offense is asleep with the injuries to Mack Jones and Maury Wills. We are starting way too many guys with little to no major league experience.

The Expos are tied with the Cardinals for the cellar now at 6-12 while the Pennsylvania teams are off to great starts. Oddly the Seattle Pilots are out of the game at 10-8 in their first year in the AL West.

Game #13

Chicago 1
Montreal 0

WP - Ken Holtzman (2-1)
LP - Dean Chance (1-1)
Save - Rich Nye (1)

Star of Game - Ken Holtzman (7 IP, 9 hits, 0 ER, 2 K's)
No Homers

Comments - Holtzman did not have great stuff, just was able to get a lot of double play balls and the lack of good power for the Expos and this was a heartbreaker for Dean Chance.

Game #14

Montreal 5
Chicago 4

WP - Marcel Lacheman (1-0)
LP - Bill Hands (0-3)

Star of Game - Billy Williams (losing) - 2 run homer

Homers
Chicago - Billy Williams (2)

Comments - Chuck Cottier who was in for defense threw a way a ground ball which caused Gary Sutherland to score with the walk off run.

Game #15

Chicago 6
Montreal 5

WP - Ferguson Jenkins (3-1)
LP - Jerry Robertson (0-3)

Star of Game - Willie Smith (2-4, HR 3 RBI's)

Homers
Chicago - Ken Rudolph (1), Willie Smith (3)

Comments - a seesaw game where Jenkins did not pitch well but still beat us. Expos have just 3 longballs in the first 18 games.


Game #16

Houston 2
Montreal 1

WP - Don Wilson (2-2)
LP - Dick Kelley (0-2)

Star of Game - Don Wilson (CG, 4 hits, 1 ER, 7 K's)

No Homers

Comments - Earl Wilson pitched a game and the bullpen gave it away


Game #17

Houston 3
Montreal 2

WP - Wade Blasingame (1-0)
LP - Marcel Lacheman (1-1)
Save - Dooley Womack (3)

Star of Game - Wade Blasingame (8.1 IP, 6 hits, 2 ER, 6 K's)

No Homers

Comments - once again there was no offense against a weak arm like Blasingame.


Game #18

Houston 5
Montreal 4
11 Innings

WP - Dooley Womack (1-0)
LP - Steve Shea (0-3)

Star of game (losing) - Manny Mota (1-3, 2 RBI's)

No Homers

Comments - walk off RBI by Jimmy "Toy Cannon" Wynn in the 11th inning off the shaky pen. Dean Chance was not so effective in this game.


Around the League

Bill Melton (Chicago White Sox) is out 5 weeks with strained rotator cuff

Tom Griffin (Houston Astros) is out 8 weeks with strained elbow ligament

Hank Aaron (Atlanta Braves) is out 2 weeks with strained calf muscle

Al Downing (Washington Senators) fires a 3 hit shutout against the Oakland Athletics

Nelson Briles (St Louis Cardinals) gets a huge 3 year extension worth 395,200 per year

Jim Perry (Minnesota Twins) is out 2 weeks with strained bicep muscle

Tom Burgmeier (Kansas City Royals) is out 2 weeks with dead arm syndrome

Rico Petrocelli (Boston Red Sox) gets 2 year extension worth 1.9 million per season.

Jim Merritt (Cincinnati Reds) is out 2 weeks with dead arm syndrome

Rico Petrocelli (Boston Red Sox) is out 1 week with fractured hand

Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) pitches a 4 hit shutout against the California Angels


Trades

New York Yankees trade Frank Fernandez to Baltimore Orioles for Paul Blair

Chicago White Sox trade Gail Hopkins to Cincinnati Reds for Lee May

Divisonal Leaders

AL East - Boston Red Sox (13-5) - 4 game lead
AL West - Chicago White Sox & Seattle Pilots (10-8) - 1 game lead
NL East - Philadelphia Phillies & Pittsburgh Pirates (13-5) 3 game lead
NL West - Houston Astros (11-7) - 1 game lead


Individual Leaders

AL - Batting

Avg - Steve Hovley (Seattle Pilots) - .392
HR - Carl Yaztremski (Boston Red Sox) - 9
RBI - Rico Petrocelli (Boston Red Sox) - 17
SB - Cesar Tovar (Minnesota Twins) - 8
Doubles- Sal Bando (Oakland Athletics) - 6
Triples - Don Buford (Baltimore Orioles) - 2
Runs - Harmon Killebrew (Minnesota Twins) - 16

NL Batting

Avg - Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) - .393
HR - Ken "Hawk" Harrelson (St Louis Cardinals) - 9
RBI - Ken "Hawk" Harrelson (St Louis Cardinals) - 21
SB - Joe Morgan (Houston Astros) - 12
Doubles - Johnny Briggs (Philadelphia Phillies) - 7
Triples - Many tied at 1
Runs - Roberto Clemente (Pittsburgh Pirates) - 16


AL Pitching

Wins - Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) - 4
K's - Mickey Lolich (Detroit Tigers) - 31
ERA - Joe Coleman (Washington Senators) - 0.81
Saves - Bob Locker (Chicago White Sox) - 4

NL Pitching

Wins - Bob Moose (Pittsburgh Pirates) - 4
K's - Steve "Lefty" Carlton (St Louis Cardinals) - 30
ERA - Grant Jackson (Philadelphia Phillies) - 0.85
Saves - Wayne Granger (Cincinnati Reds) - 4

Expos Leaders

HR - 3 tied at 1
RBI - Jim Fairey (10)
Avg - Jose Herrera (.441)
SB - Bob Bailey (3)
Runs - Rusty Staub (10)
Doubles - Manny Mota (4)
Triples - Bob Bailey 1


Status

Expos at 6-12 tied for last with the St Louis Cardinals in the NL East trailing the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates by 7 games

[majormet]

What can I say, the Expos got to stay home and they were able to sweep the semi lowly Atlanta Braves before the first place Philadelphia Phillies came to town and took 2 of 3 games.

The atmosphere in Montreal is starting to pickup as the weather improves and some baseball fans are being born in this traditional hockey city. After sweeping Atlanta, a lot of fans showed up to see the Phillies and their lineup.

We next head off to Los Angeles, kind of excited about seeing that town for the first time. The Dodgers have struggled so far, so this could be a very key early series for the Expos

Game #19

Montreal 6
Atlanta 2

WP - Bill Stoneman (2-0)
LP - Milt Pappas (1-3)

Star of Game - Jim Fairey (2-3, 2 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Bob Bailey (1)

Comments - Stoneman is looking a lot better than most had expected. He kisses a lot of butt, but he is backing it up


Game #20

Montreal 9
Atlanta 5

WP - Jerry Robertson (1-3)
LP - Phil Niekro (2-3)

Star of Game - Tim McCarver (4-5, 2 RBI's)

No Homers

Comments - McCarver is really hitting, and people are not tuning him out as much as they normally do. Robertson still is not a good arm but he gets the win with all that run suppot.


Game #21

Montreal 5
Atlanta 3

WP - Earl Wilson (3-1)
LP - Ron Reed (0-4)
Save - Dan McGinn (3)

Star of Game - Tim McCarver (2-4, 2 RBI's)

Homers
Atlanta - Orlando Cepeda (1)

Comments - took Cepeda 21 games to go deep. Earl Wilson is pitching very well for Montreal, making that Cardinals trade look great


Game #22

Philadelphia 3
Montreal 2
10 Innings

WP - John Boozer (1-0)
LP - Marcel Lacheman (1-2)
Save - Luis Peraza (6)

Star of Game (losing) - Mike Wegener (7 IP, 9 hits, 0 ER, 6 K's)

Comments - Hard luck game for Wegener, as the bullpen fell apart in this one.


Game #23

Philadelphia 3
Montreal 1

WP - Jim Rooker (3-1)
LP - Rich Robertson (0-1)
Save - Al Raffo (3)

Star of Game - Jim Rooker (8 IP, 6 hits, 1 ER, 4 K's)

Homers
Philadelphia - Richie Allen (3)

Comments - Allen crushed a huge 3 run homer in the top of the 9th to give the Phillies the lead for good.


Game #24

Montreal 2
Philadelphia 1
11 Innings

WP - Dan McGinn (1-0)
LP - Bill Wilson (1-2)

Star of Game - Bill Stoneman (8 IP, 5 hits, 1 ER, 10 K's)

Homers
Philadelphia - Don Money (3)
Montreal - Gary Sutherland (1)

Comments - huge win for Montreal as Gary Sutherland hits the walk off homer in the 11th inning off of Wilson. Stoneman continues to dazzle for the Expos.

Around the League

Harmon Killebrew (Minnesota Twins) wins AL Player of the Week (4 HR 8 RBI .455)

Johnny Briggs (Philadelphia Phillies) wins NL Player of the Week (2 HR 8 RBI .543)

Willie Horton (Detroit Tigers) is out 7 MONTHS with TORN TRICEP MUSCLE. Huge blow here as Horton had 5 homers already in 1969.

Dick Dietz (San Francisco Giants) is out 2 weeks with hyper extended knee.

Art Shamsky (New York Mets) gets a huge 5 hit game against the Chicago Cubs

Al Santorini (San Diego Padres) is out 2 weeks with tender shoulder.

Marcelino Lopez (Baltimore Orioles) gets 2 year extension. Salary not reported

Del Unser (Wasington Senators) gets 5 hits in a game against the California Angels

Bobby Bolin (San Francisco Giants) fires a 3 hit shutout against the St Louis Cardinals

Pete Richert (Baltimore Orioles) gets 3 year extension, money not disclosed

Larry Dierker (Houston Astros) gets a 2 year extension worth 1,693,000

Trades

New York Yankees send Joe Pepitone to Chicago Cubs for Bill Hands

Seattle Pilots trade Jerry McNertney to California Angels for 46 year old Hoyt Wilhelm

Pittsburgh Pirates trade Manny Sanguillen to Philadelphia Phillies for Jerry Johnson

Kansas City Royals trade Bob Oliver to New York Yankees for Gene "The Stick" Michael


Status

Montreal is 10-14 and are tied for last in the NL East with the St Louis Cardinals trailing the first place Philadelphia Phillies by 7 games.

[majormet]

The Expos continue to show that they are an expansion team with many holes. They win one game each in their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. The team has shown little offensive punch and the bullpen continues to be shaky as ever.


Game #25

Los Angeles 4
Montreal 3

WP - Joe Moeller (1-0)
LP - Steve Shea (0-4)

Star of Game - Bill Singer (9 IP 7 hits, 2 ER, 2 K's)

Homers
Los Angeles - Joe Moeller (1), Bill Sudakis (3)

Comments - Andy Kosco had the walk off single in this game as Shea disappointed again. Moeller tied the game 3-3 with a homer as well, which was shocking.


Game #26

Montreal 3
Los Angeles 0

WP - Earl Wilson (4-0)
LP - Don Sutton (1-4)
Save - Dan McGinn (4)

Star of Game - Earl Wilson (8 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 4 K's)

No Homers

Comments - A stellar outing by Wilson in this game to even up the series. Don Sutton pitched well as well but was victimized by shoddy fielding.


Game #27

Los Angeles 3
Montreal 2

WP - Claude Osteen (3-2)
LP - Dean Chance (1-2)

Star of Game - Claude Osteen (CG, 5 hits, 2 ER, 1 K)

Comments - The bats fall asleep when Chance is on the hill. Osteen was economical with a lot of ground ball outs in this game


Game #28

Montreal 6
New York 5

WP - Steve Shea (1-4)
LP - Jack DiLauro (1-4)

Star of Game - Bob Bailey (2-4, HR 2 RBI's)

Homers
New York - Art Shamsky (4), Kevin Collins (2)
Montreal - Bob Bailey (2), Phil Gagliano (2)

Comments - Gagliano hits the walk off run shot in the 9th for the Expos off of DiLauro. The first time in Expos history that they hit 2 homers in a game.


Game #29

New York 5
Montreal 2

WP - Bob Johnson (2-3)
LP - Mike Wegener (1-2)

Star of Game - Bob Johnson (CG, 2 ER, 1 K)

Homers
New York - Ed Kranepool (4)

Comments - The Expos made the lame Bob Johnson look stellar in this game. The Mets jumped on Wegener early.


Game #30

New York 8
Montreal 0

WP - Jerry Koosman (6-1)
LP - Jerry Robertson (1-4)

Star of Game - Jerry Koosman (1 HITTER, 5 K's)

Homers
New York - Art Shamsky (5), Cleon Jones (6)

Comments - Koosman is having a brilliant season for the Mets and he allowed just a first inning single to Rusty Staub in this game.


Around the League

Tom Hall (Minnesota Twins) pitches a 1 hit shutout against the Washington Senators. Lone Washington hit by Del Unser

Vida Blue (Oakland Athletics) fires a 5 hit shutout against the Cleveland Indians

Frank Howard (Washington Senators) wins AL Player of the Week (4 HR 6 RBI .444)

Tim McCarver (Montreal Expos) wins NL Player of the Week (0 HR 5 RBI .500)

Rick Monday (Oakland Athletics) is out 2 weeks with a tender shoulder suffered playing a game of dodgeball in the A's clubhouse

Ron Fairly (Los Angeles Dodgers) is out 2 weeks with strained rib cage muscle

Roger Nelson (Kansas City Royals) pitches a 6 hit shutout against the New York Yankees

Tom Seaver (New York Mets) is out 2 weeks with strained back muscle

Carl Yastrzemski (Boston Red Sox) wins AL Batter of the Month (11 HR 22 RBI .300)

Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants) wins NL Batter of the Month (10 HR 22 RBI .350)

Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) wins AL Pitcher of the Month (6-0)

Jerry Koosman (New York Mets) wins NL Pitcher of the Month (5-1, 1.36 ERA)

Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) wins AL Rookie of the Month (6-0 1.29 ERA)

Ted Sizemore (Los Angeles Dodgers) wins NL Rookie of the Month (3 HR 10 RBI .327)

Bill Freehan (Detroit Tigers) gets 5 hits in a game against the Oakland Athletics

Ken Holtzman (Chicago Cubs) gets a 2 year extension

Expos promote Remy Hermoso and send Jerry Adair to the minors


Status

Montreal is 12-18 in last place in the NL East trailing the first place Pittsburgh Pirates by 9 games.

[majormet]

The 1969 Montreal Expos played 4-2 ball over the next 6 games, they dropped 2 out of 3 games against the Cincinnati Reds, but went on to sweep the struggling St Louis Cardinals at home.

The team got Maury Wills back and he had started to produce. Mack Jones will make his season debut in game #37. Jerry Robertson came down with a season ending injury, one day after the Expos dealt Bill Stoneman to the New York Yankees for Bobby Cox. Cox is an irritable type of guy, and Stoneman has a lot of upside, I think management was having a hard time with Stoneman backstabbing his players.


Game #31

Cincinnati 9
Montreal 0

WP - Jim Merritt (3-0)
LP - Earl Wilson (4-2)

Star of Game - Jimmy Stewart (3-3, 2 HR's, 6 RBI's)

Homers
Cincinnati - Jimmy Stewart (2,3)

Comments - Stewart had 3 RBI's in his first 83 at bates and ends up driving in 9 runs in this series, he wore out the Expos.

Game #32

Montreal 6
Cincinnati 4

WP - Dean Chance (2-2)
LP - John Noriega (2-2)
Save - Dan McGinn (5)

Star of Game - Remy Hermoso (2-3, HR 2 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Remy Hermoso (1)
Cincinnati - Tony Perez (5), Pete Rose (3), Jimmy Stewart (4), Tom Tresh (5)

Comments - Chance surrendered 4 solo homers in this game and gets the win as the Expos rally late. Hermoso had a great game but was sent down to make room for Maury Wills' return

Game #33

Cincinnati 7
Montreal 5

WP - Jim Maloney (4-2)
LP - Bill Stoneman (2-1)
Save - Wayne Granger (5)

Star of Game - Joe Hague (3-4, 3 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Phil Gagliano (3)
Cincinnati - Tom Tresh (6)

Comments - Stoneman's last start with the Expos, Curt Morton was brought up after the trade.


Game #34

Montreal 10
St Louis 2

WP - Mike Wegener (2-2)
LP - Jimmy Ellis (1-3)

Star of Game - Gary Sutherland (3-4, 3 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Rusty Staub (2)

Comments - The Expos lit up Ellis for 7 runs in the 2nd inning. Sutherland will be starting a major tear here.


Game #35

Montreal 6
St Louis 2

WP - Marcel Lacheman (2-2)
LP - Bob Gibson (5-3)

Star of Game - Gary Sutherland (3-3, 2 RBI's)

Homers
St Louis - Steve Huntz (5)

Comments - Jerry Robertson was lost for the season in this game, Lacheman pitched well in long relief. Rich Robertson will move to the rotation to take Jerry's spot. Expos struck for 5 runs in the 8th off of the amazing Gibson.


Game #36

Montreal 6
St Louis 5
11 Innings

WP - Dan McGinn (2-0)
LP - Joe Hoerner (1-1)

Star of Game - Gary Sutherland - (2-5, HR 3 RBI's)

Homers
Montreal - Gary Sutherland (2), Jose Herrera (1)

Comments - Wild game where Steve Carlton pitched 10 innings for the Redbirds after giving away the 5-2 lead on Sutherland's 3 run homer. John Sipin hit the walk off triple and then was demoted to make room for Mack Jones.


Around the League

Jim Merritt (Cincinnati Reds) fires a 6 hit shutout against the Montreal Expos

Tom Timmerman (Detroit Tigers) is ou 2 weeks with dead arm syndrome

Lee May (Chicago White Sox) wins AL Player of the Week (4 HR 9 RBI .444)

Bobby Bonds (San Francisco Giants) wins NL Player of the Week (4 HR 9 RBI .310)

Dooley Womack (Houston Astros) gets 2 year extension worth $422,416

Luis Aparacio (Chicago White Sox) gets CAREER HIT #2000 against the Boston Red Sox

Willie Davis (Los Angeles Dodgers) gets 5 hits in a game against the Cincinnati Reds

Jerry Robertson (Montreal Expos) is out 8 months with torn back muscle suffered in a game against the St Louis Cardinals

Bill Singer (Los Angeles Dodgers) is out 2 weeks with a blister on his finger

Nolan Ryan (New York Mets) is out 13 months with ruptured ulna collateral ligament

Don Sutton (Los Angeles Dodgers) pitches a 5 hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds

Bill Henry (Houston Astros) gets 2 year extension at 215,000 per year. He is 41 years old

Trades

New York Yankees trade Bobby Cox to Montreal Expos for Bill Stoneman

Status

Montreal is 16-20 and now in 4th place in the NL East trailing the first place Philadelphia Phillies by 8 games

League Stats as of 36 Games

Divisonal Leaders

AL East - Boston Red Sox (25-11) - 7 game lead
AL West - Seattle Pilots (22-14) - 2 game lead
NL East - Philadelphia Phillies (24-12) - 1 game lead
NL West - San Francisco Giants (23-13) - 3 game lead

Individual Leaders

AL - Batting

Avg - Bill Freehan (Detroit Tigers) - .368
HR - Frank Howard (Washington Senators) - 12
RBI - Don Mincher (Seattle Pilots) - 34
SB - Terry Harper (Seattle Pilots) - 15
Doubles- Bubba Morton (California Angels) - 13
Triples - Sal Bando (Oakland Athletics) - 2
Runs - Mike Andrews (Boston Red Sox) - 27

NL Batting

Avg - Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) - .385
HR - Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants) - 10
RBI - Willie Stargell (Pittsburgh Pirates) - 34
SB - Joe Morgan (Houston Astros) - 20
Doubles - Johnny Briggs (Philadelphia Phillies) - 10
Triples - Ken Henderson (San Francisco Giants) - 3
Runs - Willie McCovey (San Francisco Giants) - 27


AL Pitching

Wins - Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) - 7
K's - Mickey Lolich (Detroit Tigers) - 62
ERA - Mike Nagy (Boston Red Sox) - 1.61
Saves - Paul Lindblad (Oakland Athletics) - 6

NL Pitching

Wins - Jerry Koosman (New York Mets) - 6
K's - Jerry Koosman (New York Mets) - 59
ERA - Jim Merritt (Cincinnati Reds) - 0.97
Saves - Luis Peraza (Philadelphia Phillies (8)

Expos Leaders

HR - Phil Gagliano (3)
RBI - Rusty Staub (18)
Avg - Manny Mota (.331)
SB - Maury Wills (5)
Runs - Manny Mota (16)
Doubles - Tim McCarver (6)
Triples - 3 tied at 1

Wins - Earl Wilson (4)
K's - Bill Stoneman (35)
ERA - Dean Chance (2.52)
Saves - Dan Mcginn (5)