The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will be showcasing historic Montreal Expos artifacts at Olympic Stadium during the Toronto Blue Jays’ exhibition games against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 25 and 26.
“We’re very excited to be bringing these artifacts back to the city to share with Montreal baseball fans” said Scott Crawford, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s director of operations. “Montreal has a rich baseball history and the story of it will be featured prominently in our newly renovated museum that will re-open this spring.”
The Hall’s display, which will be on the concourse level of the stadium, will include the Pearson Cup. This trophy was named after Canadian Prime Minister and baseball fan Lester B. Pearson and was awarded to the winner of an annual exhibition game between the Blue Jays and Expos that took place from 1978 to 1986.
Also on display will be Mark Grudzielanek’s Expos jersey from the first interleague game played between the Blue Jays and the Expos. That contest was staged at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on June 30, 1997 and Grudzielanek was the first player to walk to the plate.
Fans will also have the opportunity to view a game-used ball from Lachine, Que., native Denis Boucher’s start at Olympic Stadium on September 6, 1995 that was caught by fellow Canadian Joe Siddall (Windsor, Ont.). This game represented the first time the Expos had fielded an all-Canadian battery in the same game. The batting gloves that Pete Rose wore, as a Montreal Expo on April 13, 1984, when he recorded his 4,000th major league hit will also be displayed.
The Hall’s exhibit will also feature game-used items from Expos legends and Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Pedro Martinez, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero, Rusty Staub, Tim Wallach and Steve Rogers, as well as from Canadians Larry Walker, Matt Stairs and Rheal Cormier.
Artifacts highlighting the rich history of the Montreal Royals will also be on display. Baseball immortals Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Duke Snider, Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, Roy Campanella and Dick Williams all honed their skills with this International League franchise prior to their legendary big league careers.
The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will also be attending ExposFest on Sunday. This is a fundraiser organized by Perry Giannias that will see proceeds go to the Kat D DIPG Foundation and the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Larry Walker, Steve Rogers, Felipe Alou, Dennis Martinez and Claude Raymond will be guests at the event.
“I’ve been fortunate to meet many passionate Montreal baseball fans over the years and I’m looking forward to meeting more in their home city at ExposFest and at Olympic Stadium” said Crawford.
