At Connie Mack Stadium, Bill Stoneman of the Montreal Expos pitches a 7 – 0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in only the ninth game of the Expos’ existence. Rusty Staubhits a home run with three doubles and three RBI to pace Stoneman’s gem.
On April 14, 1969, the expansion Montreal Expos host their first game north of the border, marking the first time a regular season major league game is played outside of the United States. 29,417 fans came to see the Expos win their debut at Jarry Park, edging the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7. Montreal moundsman Larry…
1969 – Tommie Agee of the New York Mets hits a monster shot into the upper deck in left field making it the longest home run to reach the seats in Shea Stadium history.
Four expansion teams make their debuts. The Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots, Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres all win their inaugural games. At Shea Stadium, the Expos defeat the New York Mets, 11 – 10, to keep the Mets winless for openers. Pitcher Dan McGinn hits the Expos’ first home run as the key hit, a three-run home run by Coco Laboy, is given up by Canadian-born Mets relieverRon Taylor.
On April 7, 1969, Montreal held a parade for their new baseball franchise, the Montreal expos. Over 150,000 people lined the streets, to greet their new team. The next day, the Montreal expos played their first game at Shea Stadium against the NY Mets. The Montreal expos won 11-10. They would go on to play…
April 3, 1969, first baseman Donn Clendenon ends his retirement and reports to the Montreal Expos. Clendenon will eventually be traded twice during the season, first Clendenon refuses to report to his new team after being traded, along with Jesus Alou to the Astros; the Expos resign their reluctant first baseman. Montreal will send Jack…
1969 – After Donn Clendenon “retires” and refuses to report to spring training, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn rules that Montreal can keep both Rusty Staub and Clendenon, insisting that Houston will have to settle for further compensation rather than voiding the trade.
On January 22, 1969, the Houston Astros trade Rusty Staub to the Montreal Expos for Donn Clendenon and Jesus Alou. But Clendenon refuses to report to Houston, because of a personality conflict with the team’s newly-hired skipper, Harry Walker, who had managed him in Pittsburgh. He eventually announces his retirement. The Astros petition Commissioner Bowie Kuhn…
Jarry Park is grudgingly approved by Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau for interim use by the Montreal Expos. Montreal officials tell National League President Warren Giles that a new stadium will be ready by 1972. In fact, the Expos will play their home games at tiny Jarry Park until the end of the 1976 season.
1968 – San Diego and Montreal are awarded NL expansion teams for 1969 and Dallasites are quick to blame Houston’s Judge Roy Hofheinz for the snub. Montreal doesn’t even have a minor league team at the time. One Dallas paper prints a picture of the judge with a bullseye over it. The Astros celebrate by clubbing the Dodgers, 10-1. Dallas-Ft. Worth would get the old Washington Senators team in 1972. Elsewhere, Jeff Bagwell is born in Boston, MA. He owns many records for the Astros, including the career marks for home runs and runs batted in.
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