The Washington Nationals are the fairy tale of the Postseason. They went from barely making it as a Wild Card to a championship contender. Furthermore, they did so in impressive fashion, sweeping the Cardinals in the NLCS. While this fact is historical on its own for the young franchise, it might be even more meaningful for their ancestors: The Montreal Expos.
Let’s Go Back To 1994
The Expos were founded in 1969, named after the 1967 World Fair hosted in the Canadian metropolis. To the eyes of many, Montreal was bound to win their first World Series in 1994. Unfortunately, the season was cut short that year due to a strike. At the time the season came to a halt, Montreal led the NL East with a 74-40 record, the best in all of baseball.
The logos, patches, and banners are nothing more than collectors’ items of a postseason that was never played and the Expos are no more. It’s clear why many think the Canadian team should have won it all that year if we take a look at their roster. While we’re on that, we can compare them to the 2019 Nationals as well.
Similar Stories
The Expos had a Max Scherzer of their own in the form of Ken Hill. He dominated the big leagues in 1994. Hill had a 16-5 record with a 3.32 ERA. He’d have been a force to be reckoned with that postseason.
Just like their successors have Juan Soto, they also had a young star in the making thanks to Pedro Martinez. Martinez was coming into his sophomore year in the league and showed signs of steady growth. The future Hall of Famer had an 11-5 record with a 3.42 ERA over 23 starts. He recorded the last of his three career saves that year as well. Perhaps Martinez would have stayed in Montreal if the team had gotten a chance to win it all that October.
Playing For The Past
If you look at the history of the Montreal Expos, you might burst into tears. I am not responsible if you choose to do so and end up crying your eyes out over it. They went from Montreal to Puerto Rico, to nothing. It is the history of a team that at one point had it all, and the cruel world of baseball took it all away from them.
This is exactly why Washington is playing for more than just themselves and their fans this time around. They’re no longer just playing for the nation’s capital or for a $300 million All-Star. They are taking the field in the 2019 World Series for MLB’s doomed team.
You Better Be Watching Montreal
Montreal better be watching. Whether is in French or English, they better be watching. The uniforms might be different, but the meaning behind them stays the same. This is the Expos shot at redemption. If Washington succeeds, they will finally take revenge on everyone who did them wrong; Jeffrey Loria, Olympic Stadium, commissioner Bud Selig, and the 1994 strike. All after 25 long years of waiting.
Do it Nationals, do it for the Expos.
Check out our 2019 World Series preview and prediction HERE
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