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The park is the site of the IGA Stadium, which hosts an international professional … The Montreal Expos and the other 3 teams would cause a new "divisional playoffsystem". Before 1969 there were no playoffs. Before 1961, there was only 16 Major League teams so playoffsand divisional play were un-necessary and not even something that was everconsidered. Instead it was... what could havebeen... the most bizarre ballpark in the history of professional baseball.From 1928 until 1960, the Montreal Royals games were played at Delmorier Downs (akaHector Racine)... a 20,000 seat baseball stadium. With the excitementJarry Park would produce its greatest player. Characteristics It had a seatingcapacity of 33,000 it was large enough to accomodate Major League Baseball (sortof), and the city of Montreal wouldn't have to commit any further financial funding,or so they thought as that quickly changed. Magnifique organisation et initiative de Perry Gee. It was also spelled and prounced the same way in English as it was inFrench.
4. They would stay status quo for the 1971 seasonas they went71-90 and attendance held at 1.29 million (8th out of 12).
1. The park is the site of the IGA Stadium, which hosts an international professional tennis tournament annually.The Tourisme Montréal newsletter gives you the inside scoop on everything happening in the city. This wasn't just a thought... itwas almost a reality. Not quickly enough however. Now that the name was decided upon... the big question arose... whereon earth does this team play? A constructionThe Expos began their 4th season in the Major Leagues and what was supposed to bejumped a little to 1.24 million though it was still 9th in the league.By 1974, Major League Baseball had heard enough about construction strikes and ballparkWith the Olympics now booked for the city, this suddenly became serious to thoseExpos pitcher to lose 20 games going 15-22 with a 4.47 ERA.1975 would bring the Expos to Jarry Park for their final season. Drapeau and Giles realizedit wasn't the perfect scenario, but it would be servicable enough.
1. The reason had much to do with thefact that after losing the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1960, Montreal was withouta baseball team and Montreal city councilman Gerry Snyder had created a tremendousstir, calling baseball officials persistantly for a new baseball team.Snyder would probably have been thrilled just to have Triple-A return to Montreal...he set his sights however on a far more lofty goal.In Mexico City, the braintrust for the expansion of Major League Baseball met tocome to a final conclusion as to who the 4 new MLB expansion teams would be. With the stadium quickly rising not far from ParcJarry, Snyder assured Major League Baseball that not only would the Expos beallowed to utilize the stadium for professional baseball upon its completion...they would be allowed to do so for a very low lease to make up for all of theissues that the MLB had to deal with in waiting for this all to finally happen.With the issues now resolved, the Expos continued to play decent ball on thefield going 79-82 as Bob Bailey continued to break the 20 HR mark hitting 20 2Bsand... 20 HRs while batting .280. Onewas a given... the Kansas City Royals. A new stadium would need to be built for the Olympicgames and that new stadium would be known as Stade Olympic... or OlympicStadium.
The stadium …
Snyder had landedwho seemed apathetic to Montreal's stadium situations.
MLB turned their attentions to Montreal. Already tagged. Thoughnot one of William A. Shea's initial considerations, San Diego was awarded a franchise.Seattle was oddly enough awarded a franchise as well... perhaps the biggestfailure of the meeting as the Pilots would barely last a single year atSicks Stadium before fleeing to Milwaukee. While this was not exactly the plan, the Expos forged ahead playing in their.
In exchange for Staub, the Expos got 25 year old Ken Singleton(who hit .274 with 23 2Bs and 14 HRs), 21 year old Tim Foli (.241) and 23 yearold 1B Mike Jorgenson (13 HRs, .231). The little ballpark seated just 28,456, and that was only after additions pumped it up from its amateur capacity of 3,000.
Attendanceissues and looked at a blank page in the Expos future when the Expos werealready supposed to be playing in a brand new domed stadium.
Being the "American Language" ambassador so to speak forCanada, and councilman to the "American language" side of town, Snyder triedto persuade the group that baseball could thrive tremendously by opening itselfto international play and to allow Montreal the opportunity to be the inauguralteam in this endeavor.
Ken Singleton...the eldest prospect was blossoming into a true star as he hit 26 doubles,23 homers and became the first Montreal Expos player to break the 100 RBIbarrier by hitting 103 RBIs on the season. Again, it would be noneother than Gerry Snyder... the man who had gotten the Expos the franchise to beginwith who would come to the rescue. As it would turn out, the Expos would have to wait until1976 to move into Olympic Stadium to have the honor of playing in the world'sAs Drapeau and Giles toured Montreal's professional sporting facilities, they cameupon Stade Parc Jarry. The Montreal Expos in their first pick took MannyMota from the Pittsburgh Pirates. They deliberated and sure enoughthey all came to the same concensus... Montreal was indeed primed for MajorLeague Baseball. The Expos meanwhile were looking back at their trade of theirbeloved Le Grande Orange and immediately seeing the rammifications of it. He was elected to theHall Of Fame in 2003.
The excitement that this produced had convinced thetraditionalists that divisional play could work well in a Major League setting.Attendance rose 200,000 as the new park was completed and the Expos drew 1.4 millionto little Parc Jarry as the Expos finished 6th in attendance in the 12 teamleague. They would also choose Jesus Alou and MauryWills, Donn Clendenon and Mudcat Grant. The Expos were hoping to build thefranchise around Clendenon and Alou but the Astros made an offer they couldn'trefuse during the winter meetings. Do realize however thatthis strange looking creature was already listed in all the newspapers and magazinesas the new home of the Montreal Expos. Corner of Saint-Laurent Blvd.