An emotional tribute to the 1994 Montreal Expos

I have had the pleasure of being involved with the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors Sports Celebrity Breakfast since its inception seven years ago. It all actually began with a phone conversation between myself and Harold Greenspon. I was interested in seeking a seat on Côte Saint-Luc City Council back then and it was the constituency of Harold’s that I was targeting. Out of respect I asked whether he had planned to run again, to which he responded “I’m not sure.” I told him that I would never run against him, so when he decides to please advise me as I would love his support.

“Listen,” said Harold, “I am very involved these days with the Cummings Jewish Centre for Seniors (CJCS). I want to start a Sports Celebrity Breakfast. If you can help me do that, I will support your council run.”

I had previously organized such events at Beth Zion Synagogue with Joe Presser, who was one of the first people I called to join our new committee. I gathered a few others and we agreed to launch this venture. To make a long story short, the Breakfast has gotten bigger and more popular every year. What began as an event for which we hoped to break even evolved into a true fundraiser for an important cause, seniors in crisis, a program that delivers much needed assistance to seniors who are unable to financially look after their needs

As the co-emcee and producer of the event itself, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Harold Greenspon turned the chairmanship over to Mike Wagen, senior vice-president of Delmar Cargo, five years ago. Mike  really turned on the faucets in terms of bringing in the dollars. By choosing former limited partner of the Expos Mark Routtenberg and honouring the 1994 team for our 2011 event, we raised over $175,000. We were sold out two months in advance, with more than 650 people on hand at the Gelber Conference Centre, which is attached to the CJCS headquarters.

Routtenberg was a limited partner in the Expos ownership group from 1991 to 2001. He was also a general partner of the Hull Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League when they won the Memorial Cup in 1997 and served as chairman of the Canadian hockey team which captured gold at the Maccabiah Games in Israel that same year, with Jacques Demers as head coach. He is presently the president of Freemark Apparel Brands. Previously, he was chairman of Ideal Plumbing Supplies and president and CEO of Guess Canada Inc.

Among 1994 Expos alumni on hand were manager Felipe Alou (pictured with me below), general manager Kevin Malone, team president Claude Brochu,  Cy Young Award winning pitcher Pedro Martinez, standout outfielders, Rondell White, Marquis Grissom and Cliff Floyd,  pitchers John Wetteland,  Mel Rojas and Denis Boucher. Noted rap artist   Annakin Slayd presented his spectacular tribute to the Expos, which has become a YouTube sensation.

Also on hand were former Stanley Cup winning coach for the Canadiens Senator Jacques Demers, Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes  players  Etienne Boulay and Scott Flory, new team president Ray Lalonde and former player  Bruno Heppelle. Thanks to team owner Farrel Miller and president Sebastien Courcelles, the Montreal Juniors delayed their departure to Halifax for their game three of their first round playoff series in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League so that  head coach Pascal Vincent and three of his top players could join us -  Habs prospects Louis  Leblanc and Philippe Lefebvre and Los Angeles Kings draft pick and goalie J.F. Bérube.

Here is the CTV Montreal report on the event:

Former World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion Otis Grant, Canadian Paralympic sledge hockey goalie Benoit  St. Amand, former Canadian LPGA champion Jocelyn Bourassa and  Adam Braz of the Montreal Impact were there. The mascots  were well represented Youppi, formerly of the  Expos and now with the Habs, was joined by Snorro of the Montreal  Juniors and Tak Tik of the Impact. It should be noted that  the Montreal Canadiens were to be represented. Unfortunately for us they were shut out for their  third successive game the evening before and head coach Jacques Martin decided to call a rare Sunday morning practice.

Make no mistake about this though. This was a day to remember the Expos and when it was all over, the feeling was pretty unanimous: if only they had never left. I invited Rodger Brulotte, the voice of the Expos on RDS and French radio, to share in some of the introductions and interviews.  He was superb, providing us with some of his famous home run calls.

Routtenberg put it best when he spoke about the 1994 Expos being one of the best teams in baseball. Unfortunately, with the club in first place towards the end of August, the Major League Baseball Players Association triggered a strike. Both the season and a dream of a World Series championship were dead.

As Routtenberg reasoned, if the strike had never occurred; if the planned downtown stadium had been built; if the Canadian dollar was not valued at close to 60 cents vs. the American buck back then; if there were a proper revenue sharing formula in place, well we would still have our Expos.

“We are the largest North American city not to have a major league baseball team,” said Routtenberg.

The question I asked, and have been doing so for many years, is why does Montreal not at least have a minor league professional team?  Whom better than Routtenberg to try and bring an ownership group together and retrofit the Centre Claude Robillard as their home. Former Expo Warren Cromartie has been working behind the scenes to make this happen. I would bet the likes of Pedro Martinez, who earned  more than $100 million in his career, would climb aboard.

Many of the former Expos whispered that Montreal should get a major league team again. This, I doubt, will ever occur in our lifetime. Montreal will not have a Major League Baseball team in our lifetime, nor in our children's lifetime,” Brochu told me. “The cost is now prohibitive.”

And why can’t our city at least become the home of a minor league pro franchise? “I'm not sure Montreal can handle a minor league club right now,” he said. “We are in a form of denial to some extent, which indicates to me that the mourning of the loss is not over. There is almost no indication in the city that the Expos ever existed and people are only now beginning to say they are missed.” 

Watch the Annakin Slayd video for yourself. I have seen it at least 100 times. You could see tears pouring out of the eyes of grown men today as it played on the big screen.

The Expos have been gone for seven years. It is something I always accepted. Did I miss their presence? Perhaps a bit, but after the 2011 Breakfast I realize more than ever what we lost.

 
Pedro sports the Expos cap of THE TEAM 990's Matthew Ross.