WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 26: A general view during the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs game at Nationals Park on June 26, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Despite their rough history as both the Montreal Expos and the Washington Nationals, the franchise has had some excellent players. Which of those stars make the franchise’s Mount Rushmore?
It has been a rough go for the Washington Nationals franchise. During their time as the Montreal Expos, they made the postseason once, advancing to the National League Championship Series before falling to the eventual World Series Champion Dodgers. They appeared set to return to the playoffs in 1994, as they held the best record in baseball at the time. Then, the Player’s Strike happened, ending the season.
That strike effectively ended the Expos. While the game as a whole was slow to recover, the Expos never did. A potential dynasty loaded with great young stars was broken apart due to payroll concerns. There were threats of contraction, as no one seemed to care what happened to the franchise. Montreal, and its impressive baseball history, were being left behind. It got to the point where Major League Baseball took over the franchise, the ultimate insult as the team could not find a buyer.
The other shoe eventually dropped when the Expos were moved to Washington DC. Renamed the Nationals, it was the third attempt to have a major league franchise in the nation’s capital. After bottoming out, and earning the first overall pick for two consecutive seasons, the Nationals have found respectability. A perennial contender, they have still yet to shake those postseason issues, failing to advance beyond the first round in any of their four playoff appearances.
Even though every year has ended in disappointment, there have been some great players to come through the franchise. In fact, three players have been inducted into the Hall of Fame representing the Expos. Which of these players lands on the Washington Nationals franchise Mount Rushmore?
Only one player has had a career lasting over five seasons, and spent his entire playing career withe the Expos. That player was Steve Rogers.
A tenacious competitor with outstanding stuff, Rogers was one of the top pitchers during the 1970s and into the 1980s. He was a five time All Star, and finished in the top five in the Cy Young vote three times. Rogers led the league with a 2.40 ERA in 1982, proving to be far more than a solid innings eater for the Expos.
His final numbers do not represent how good of a pitcher he was. Overall, Rogers posted a 158-152 record, a performance skewed because he led the league in losses twice. Rogers did have a 3.17 ERA and a 1.232 WHiP, suggesting that he deserved a better fate in regards to emerging victorious. In his 2837.2 career innings, he struck out 1621 batters with only 876 walks.
Rogers was a star in the 1981 postseason. He was dominant, winning each of his three starts in the playoffs. However, Rogers is remembered for his relief appearance against the Dodgers in Game Five, when he served up the game winning home run to Rick Monday. As he posted 0.98 ERA and a 1.012 WHiP in the postseason that year, he certainly deserves to be remembered for more than one pitch.
Steve Rogers was a lifelong member of the Montreal Expos, an excellent pitcher who gave the team everything he had. Had that one pitch turned out differently, he could have been a national hero in Canada.
During his prime, Andre Dawson was a five tool talent that, had he played outside of Montreal, would have been considered one of the elite players in the game.
He was one of the top players in the game during his prime, the majority of which was spent with the Montreal Expos. Dawson had five seasons with at least 20 homers and 20 steals, as he began to emerge as a superstar. He won the 1977 National League Rookie of the Year award, was a three time All Star and Silver Slugger, and won six consecutive Gold Gloves.
During his time in Montreal, Dawson produced a solid .280/.326/.476 batting line, hitting 225 homers and stealing 253 bases. Dawson’s defense was also superlative during his time in Montreal, as he led all National League outfielders in runs saved in 1981 and 1982. He was one of the best players of his time, although he was never as bright a star as he deserved to be.
Dawson’s time in Montreal ended in controversy. He became a free agent in 1986, and received a lowball offer from the Expos. Despite his excellence, no other offers were forthcoming. He ended up going to the Cubs, handed them a blank contract and said he would sign for whatever they offered. In the end, it was proven that the owners had engaged in collusion, driving down player salaries as they sought a way around free agency. Dawson still had another couple of years of greatness left, but his knees were effectively destroyed by the turf in Montreal, robbing him of his speed.
Andre Dawson was one of the bright stars of the game during his time with the Expos. Few players could equal his performance.
A brilliant speedster, Tim Raines had the misfortune of coming to the majors at the same time as Rickey Henderson.
Dubbed the second greatest leadoff hitter in the history of the game, Raines run his way into the National League’s consciousness during his first full season. He led the league in steals in each of his first four seasons, and stole at least 70 bases in his first six years. Even as he began to slow down, he remained the most prolific basestealer in franchise history.
A seven time All Star, Raines finished in the top ten of the NL MVP vote three times. During his time with the Expos, Raines produced a .301/.391/.437 batting line, hitting 281 doubles and 96 homers. His impressive speed led to 635 stolen bases and 947 runs scored. During his prime, he was the best leadoff hitter in the National League.
The Expos also played a part in Raines making history. He had returned to Montreal for one more season in 2001, when his son, Tim Raines Jr, was called up by the Baltimore Orioles. The Expos sold him to Baltimore, allowing the duo to be the second father and son to play in the same game.
Tim Raines was a brilliant speedster, with his career culminating with his Hall of Fame induction in 2017. For now, he may be the last player to represent the Montreal Expos in Cooperstown.
Widely regarded as one of the best catchers of his time, Carter was a star from the start. After a nine game stint as a 20 year old in 1974, Carter made the All Star Game and finished second in the Rookie of the Year vote, although he began his career in right field. Following a hand injury in 1976, Carter established himself as one of the top catchers in the game.
During his time in Montreal, Carter was a seven time All Star, finishing as high as second in the MVP vote. He won three Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Gloves, as he was one of the best all around catchers in the game. His offense was excellent as well, as Carter produced a .269/.342/.454 batting line with 220 homers and 274 doubles.
When he was traded after the 1984 campaign, it marked a shift for the franchise. As one of their top players, he was sent to the Mets for four players. Although the Expos had quite a few holes to fill, Carter was one of the top players in the league. His moving to New York officially turned the franchise into a smaller market club, and marked the end of the Expos Golden Era.
