Montreal BASEBALL FANGROUP (MEBFG)

Celebrate Baseball Montreal II

Chris Chartier

September 29, 2015

 

 

On September 29, 2004 the Expos played their last home game in Montreal. Baseball Fans were heart-broken their team was taken away and moving to another city.  For eleven years there has been no Major League baseball in the city of Montreal, but things are about to change. In recent years more and more, not just in Montreal; but all around the World Montreal is being mentioned as a baseball city once more. It does not stop there, now in 2015 there are as many people playing baseball in Quebec as 2004, great news.  Fans of baseball now have their kids playing the game, in order for baseball to succeed the young must love the game; more and more this is happening.  These parents, grand-parents, family members, play the game that they love..... together.

 

In a recent interview with Steve Rogers, he may have said it best.

“There is no doubt about it has been well documented a groundswell of baseball, interest in baseball. Because the generation of 10-12 year olds that watched me play, watched Vladimir Guerrero play and those guys play. All of those parents are now having 10-12 year olds and they don’t have baseball. It is definitely resurgence in the province and that’s witness by the two exhibition games. I understand it is only two games and it is in the spring, but drawing 100,000 to the Olympic stadium when it is in such disarray, is still a pretty good feat.”

 

In 2014 there was an incentive to get people on

September 29, the tenth anniversary of the loss

of the Expos, everywhere and anywhere in Expos

Gear. Why? ? To be loud and clear, make a statement

"we want our team back":. The Kids of

Dorval Pick-Up Baseball and the MEBFG took

up that incentive and went to Gary Carter field

Dorval, with the Mayor of Dorval, and did just that.

The kids played the game that they love and showed

off the colours of the team that they love so much

and miss.

 

It is incredible to see a generation of kids that

do not know of Major League baseball in the city

of Montreal. I have two kids Autumn, 11 and Ryan

14, both  stand-out from the crowd of kids,

as they were fortunate enough to have seen

Montreal Expos games at the Big O.

Many of these kids playing the game do not

know the joy of rooting for your home team.

 

In 2015 the Kids of DB_Community Cares basebal

l (formerly Dorval Pick-up Baseball)/MEBFG took

up the incentive once more, just to go to a field

show up Expos colours and have some fun.

 

On September 27 on a beautiful sunny Sunday

afternoon the kids took on an All-Star adult team in a safe “Nerf” baseball game. It looked to me as the adults may have had more fun than the kids, but all had a blast. The all-stars were lead by Ex-Texas Rangers  Player Luis Rodriguez and featured Mark Lidbetter and well known Expos Fans Perry Gee and Benoit Ripert. The kids had the chance to play against these adults and their parents, something you could tell they were loving.

 

 

Very lucky to have in attendance as well Former Pro John Elias who helped present the second MVP award. The DB_CC team lost 3-0 to the all-stars, but I do not think the score matter to the 16 kids who just enjoyed the day and the game.

 

September 29, 2004 was indeed a sad day for Expos fans. Now in 2015 we all need to take this time to celebrate the resurgence of Baseball in and around Montreal, and the return of MLB baseball to Montreal.

 

Take the time no matter where you are, show off your colours, GO Expos GO!