Au jeu/Play Ball

This volume by members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) presents the 50 greatest games in Montreal Expos history. The games described here recount the exploits of the many great players who wore Expos uniforms over the years—Bill Stoneman Gary Carter Andre Dawson Steve Rogers Pedro Martinez and others. <br /><br />The book details games from the earliest days of the franchise to the glory years of 1979- 1981 the what-might-have-been years of the early 1990s and the sad final days. It describes the famous first game at Shea Stadium on April 8 1969 when the Expos defeated that year’s eventual world champion New York Mets. It also details the first regular season major league game ever played outside the United States when fans jammed little Jarry Park and began a love affair with the team. <br /><br />These game summaries don’t just retell the runs hits and errors. They give a context to the times and individuals involved. The article about Dennis Martinez’s perfect game also describes how he overcame his struggle with alcohol to resurrect his career. The piece about Curtis Pride recounts how he reached the major leagues despite the disadvantages of deafness and what it felt like when 45000 fans cheered as Expos coach Jerry Manuel spurred him through gestures to acknowledge the crowd. <br /><br />Foreword by Dave Van Horne<br /><br />APRIL 8 1969<br />Bienvenue to Major League Baseball by Norm King<br /><br />APRIL 14 1969<br />Mack Lays Claim to Jonesville by Norm King<br /><br />APRIL 17 1969<br />Stoney Sets Record for Fastest No-Hitter by a Franchise by Adam J. Ulrey<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 25 1970<br />Mauch’s Prediction Comes True by Norm King<br /><br />OCTOBER 2 1972<br />Stoney’s Second No-No by Norm King<br /><br />JULY 26 1973<br />Steve Rogers Tosses One-Hit Shutout To Win First Big-League Game by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 17 1973<br />Montreal’s First Lead in a Pennant Race by Rory Costello<br /><br />JUNE 11 1974<br />Expos Blow Up Big Red Machine by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />APRIL 21-22 1976<br />Tim Foli Gets on his Cycle by Norm King<br /><br />MAY 29 1977<br />Parrish Goes 5-for-5 Hits Three Consecutive Homers by Alan Cohen<br /><br />JUNE 9 1978<br />Larry Parrish’s Bat Ellis Valentine’s Arm Highlight Expos’
Come-From-Behind Victory by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />JULY 20 1978<br />Chris Speier Hits for the Cycle by Norm King<br /><br />JULY 30 1978<br />Expos Visit the Launching Pad by Alan Cohen<br /><br />OCTOBER 1 1978<br />Twenty Wins for Ross the Boss by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />MAY 29-31 1979<br />How ’bout them Expos by Norm King<br /><br />JUNE 17 1979<br />Back-to-Back-to-Back Jacks by Norm King<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 24 1979<br />Expos Regain First Place from Pirates by Rod Mickleburgh<br /><br />AUGUST 12 1980<br />Triple (Play) Your Pleasure by Norm King<br /><br />AUGUST 24 1980<br />“This is a dumb man’s game.” by Norm King<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 10 1980<br />Expos Rookie Gullickson Whiffs 18 by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />MAY 10 1981<br />Lea Pitches a Giant No-Hitter by Gregory H. Wolf<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 21 1981<br />This Game Had it All by Norm King<br /><br />OCTOBER 3 1981<br />We’re Going to the Playoffs by Mark S. Sternman<br /><br />OCTOBER 11 1981<br />Rogers Leads Expos to NLCS by Norm King<br /><br />OCTOBER 16 1981<br />Rogers Wins Game Three of NLCS by Norm King<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 22 1982<br />Speier Goes Crazy with Eight RBIs by Brian P. Wood<br /><br />APRIL 13 1984<br />Pete Rose Gets His 4000th Major League Hit by Bill Schneider<br /><br />SEPTEMBER 24 1985<br />Dawson Hits Three Home Runs by Tom Heinlein<br /><br />MAY 2 1987<br />Raines Makes Grand Return to Expos by Mark Simon<br /><br />AUGUST 16 1987<br />Tim Raines Hits for the Cycle by Tom Heinlein<br /><br />JULY 28 1991<br />