Baseball in Montreal had been dying a slow death, killed by the 1994 Player’s Strike and the penny pinching ways of owner Jeffrey Loria. On this day in 2004, it was announced that the Expos would be no more, as they would move to the Nation’s capital and become the Washington Nationals.
It was a move that was to be expected. After threats of contraction, and the team being taken over by the MLB, the Montreal Expos time was coming to an end. That end came on this day in 2004, when the Expos played their final game in Montreal, and a move to Washington DC was announced.
This was a time of mixed feelings. With the Washington Nationals beginning their time in Washington DC, baseball had once again returned to the the Nation’s capital. Of course, it was still debatable as to whether or not such a move would work out, as the previous two teams, both named the Senators, moved to other locations.
This was also a day of sadness. Montreal had a proud baseball history, being the place where Jackie Robinson got his first action in the Dodgers organization. The fanbase had proven their loyalty prior to the strike in 1994, but had become disenfranchised as their top players were sold off one by one, and the team was decimated for profit margins.
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The fans certainly deserved better. Montreal only made the playoffs once, in 1981, another strike interrupted year. That season, they advanced to the National League Championship Series, only to fall to the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1994, the Expos were the best team in baseball, and appeared destined to make a deep run in the playoffs before the strike occurred.
Yet, that was not the final nail in the coffin. The Expos, in theory, still could have been competitive after the strike. Charismatic players like Pedro Martinez could have kept the fans engaged, and the Expos could have rebuilt their fanbase over time.
Instead, anything of any value was traded away. Those top players were sent packing one by one, as the ownership was more concerned about padding their checkbook than fielding a competitive team. In the end, all that would remain of that excellent 1994 squad would be Olympic Stadium and Youppi! Although, the Expos ownership would probably have traded Youppi! for some cutrate minor league mascot if they could.
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That slow death was finalized on this day, as the MLB pulled the plug on the Expos, announcing that the team would move to Washington DC. The Washington Nationals were born, and Expos fans were left with a bitter taste in their mouths.