Florida Marlins sold to former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria

ByTom

2002 – One day after the acquisition of the Montreal Expos by Major League Baseball as a result of the sale of the Florida Marlins to former Expos owner Jeffrey Loria, a number of personnel changes are announced: the Expos name Frank Robinson as manager, Tony Tavares as president of the club and Omar Minaya as the major leagues’ first Hispanic general manager; south of the border, former Expos manager Jeff Torborg will manage the Marlins with former Expos’ interim general manager Larry Beinfest as the GM and David Samson taking over the duties of team president.

Major League Baseball owners approve the sales of the Florida Marlins and Montreal Expos

ByTom

2002 – Major League Baseball owners approve the sales of the Florida Marlins and Montreal Expos. Florida owner John Henry is selling the Marlins to Jeffrey Loria for $158.5 million, while Loria is selling the Expos to Baseball Expos LP, a limited partnership owned by the other 29 teams, for $120 million. The sales won’t officially close until later this week.

Baseball to eliminate two teams – 2001

Baseball to eliminate two teams – 2001

ByThis Day in Baseball

“We had hoped that we were in a new era, one that would see a much better relationship between players and owners. Today’s announcement is a severe blow to such hopes.” – DONALD FEHR, the Players Association executive director commenting on MLB’s plan to contract two teams. Denying it’s a negotiating ploy, major league owners give commissioner Bud Selig the authority to “begin the process” of eliminating two ‘to be announced’ teams by a 28-2 vote. Donald Fehr, the Players Association executive director, calls the action of possibly eliminating the Expos, Twins, or Marlins most imprudent and unfortunate, and the worst manner in which to begin the process of negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement.

The first-place Braves draw just 3,613 fans in Montreal as they beat the Expos, 3 – 2. Andruw Jones hits a leadoff homer in the 9th for the difference. The crowd is the smallest at Olympic Stadium in 17 years.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The first-place Braves draw just 3,613 fans in Montreal as they beat the Expos, 3 – 2. Andruw Jones hits a leadoff homer in the 9th for the difference. The crowd is the smallest at Olympic Stadium in 17 years.

The plan to name a new downtown Montréal, QC ballpark “Labatt Park” dim as the Canadian Labatt Brewing Company announces it is ending its 15-year sponsorship of the Expos. The company cites the lack of a local television contract and stalled stadium plans as factors in the decision.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The plan to name a new downtown Montréal, QC ballpark “Labatt Park” dim as the Canadian Labatt Brewing Company announces it is ending its 15-year sponsorship of the Expos. The company cites the lack of a local television contract and stalled stadium plans as factors in the decision.

Hoping to pick it up where his success started, 41 year-old outfielder Tim Raines agrees to a minor league contract with the Expos, the team he played for as a rookie in 1979. After retiring in Yankee camp during spring training with a .295 career batting average, he failed to make this year’s U.S. Olympic team.

Hoping to pick it up where his success started, 41 year-old outfielder Tim Raines agrees to a minor league contract with the Expos, the team he played for as a rookie in 1979. After retiring in Yankee camp during spring training with a .295 career batting average, he failed to make this year’s U.S. Olympic team.

ByTom

Hoping to pick it up where his success started, 41 year-old outfielder Tim Raines agrees to a minor league contract with the Expos, the team he played for as a rookie in 1979. After retiring in Yankee camp during spring training with a .295 career batting average, he failed to make this year’s U.S. Olympic team.

Expos and Labatt announce the C$100M sponsorship deal

ByTom

The Expos and Labatt announce the C$100M sponsorship deal, negotiated two years ago, will go forward as planned. The Brewery has committed to pay C$40M over the next twenty years for the naming rights to Montreal’s proposed downtown ballpark, and approximately another C$60M to be the team’s main sponsor, a role the company has played for the past 15 years.

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New York Yankees ace David Cone pitches the 14th perfect game of the modern era and the 16th overall in major league history

ByThis Day in Baseball

On July 18, 1999, On Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium, David Cone pitches 14th perfect game of the modern era and the 16th overall in major league history and the third Yankee to toss a perfect game, Cone doesn’t reach a three-ball count on a single batter and throws only 88 pitches in shutting…