Au jeu/Play Ball: The 50 Greatest Games in the History of the Montreal Expos (SABT Digital Library)

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.

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.

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 45,000 fans cheered as Expos coach Jerry Manuel spurred him through gestures to acknowledge the crowd.

Foreword by Dave Van Horne

APRIL 8, 1969
Bienvenue to Major League Baseball by Norm King

APRIL 14, 1969
Mack Lays Claim to Jonesville by Norm King

APRIL 17, 1969
Stoney Sets Record for Fastest No-Hitter by a Franchise by Adam J. Ulrey

SEPTEMBER 25, 1970
Mauch’s Prediction Comes True by Norm King

OCTOBER 2, 1972
Stoney’s Second No-No by Norm King

JULY 26, 1973
Steve Rogers Tosses One-Hit Shutout To Win First Big-League Game by Gregory H. Wolf

SEPTEMBER 17, 1973
Montreal’s First Lead in a Pennant Race by Rory Costello

JUNE 11, 1974
Expos Blow Up Big Red Machine by Gregory H. Wolf

APRIL 21-22, 1976
Tim Foli Gets on his Cycle by Norm King

MAY 29, 1977
Parrish Goes 5-for-5, Hits Three Consecutive Homers by Alan Cohen

JUNE 9, 1978
Larry Parrish’s Bat, Ellis Valentine’s Arm Highlight Expos’
Come-From-Behind Victory by Gregory H. Wolf

JULY 20, 1978
Chris Speier Hits for the Cycle by Norm King

JULY 30, 1978
Expos Visit the Launching Pad by Alan Cohen

OCTOBER 1, 1978
Twenty Wins for Ross the Boss by Gregory H. Wolf

MAY 29-31, 1979
How ’bout them Expos by Norm King

JUNE 17, 1979
Back-to-Back-to-Back Jacks by Norm King

SEPTEMBER 24, 1979
Expos Regain First Place from Pirates by Rod Mickleburgh

AUGUST 12, 1980
Triple (Play) Your Pleasure by Norm King

AUGUST 24, 1980
“This is a dumb man’s game.” by Norm King

SEPTEMBER 10, 1980
Expos Rookie Gullickson Whiffs 18 by Gregory H. Wolf

MAY 10, 1981
Lea Pitches a Giant No-Hitter by Gregory H. Wolf

SEPTEMBER 21, 1981
This Game Had it All by Norm King

OCTOBER 3, 1981
We’re Going to the Playoffs by Mark S. Sternman

OCTOBER 11, 1981
Rogers Leads Expos to NLCS by Norm King

OCTOBER 16, 1981
Rogers Wins Game Three of NLCS by Norm King

SEPTEMBER 22, 1982
Speier Goes Crazy with Eight RBIs by Brian P. Wood

APRIL 13, 1984
Pete Rose Gets His 4,000th Major League Hit by Bill Schneider

SEPTEMBER 24, 1985
Dawson Hits Three Home Runs by Tom Heinlein

MAY 2, 1987
Raines Makes Grand Return to Expos by Mark Simon

AUGUST 16, 1987
Tim Raines Hits for the Cycle by Tom Heinlein

JULY 28, 1991