1994 Montreal Expos season
Encyclopedia
The Montreal Expos
finished the season with the best record in Major League Baseball. The Expos had 74 wins compared to 40 losses. The 1994 Major League Baseball strike forced an end to the season and any postseason aspirations that the franchise had. One of the highlights of the season was that five Expos represented the National League
at the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
held in Pittsburgh. Moisés Alou
had the game winning hit for the National League.
— appeared to be rising to its potential. Led by rising young stars Pedro Martínez
, Moisés Alou
, Cliff Floyd
, Mike Lansing
and Jeff Fassero
, Montreal was off to a 74-40 start, leading the National League Eastern Division
. They had scored 585 runs (5.13 per game) and allowed 454 runs (3.98 per game) through 114 games by Friday, August 12.
Walker, with 86 RBI
, was well on his way to his first 100-RBI year; Ken Hill
was on pace to win 23 games while Pedro Martinez
was on pace to strike out more than 200 batters. Moisés Alou
was hitting .339 and on pace to collect more than 200 hits for the first time in his career. Marquis Grissom
was on pace to score 137 runs. Two other Expos, namely Alou and Walker, were also on pace to score more than 100 runs. The team was also drawing well at home: through 52 home games in 1994, 1,276,250 fans had attended Expos games, for an average of 24,543 per game. At that pace, the Expos would have had a good chance of drawing two million fans for the first time since 1983. The season, however, was stopped due to the 1994 players' strike. The World Series
, for which the Expos appeared to be destined, was never played and Montreal lost many of its players during the next season due to free agency and salary constraints and the team never recovered. The 1994 Montreal Expos team that could have been remains one of baseball's hot discussion points. The collapse of the Expos would eventually lead to the team moving to Washington D.C. ten years later.
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
finished the season with the best record in Major League Baseball. The Expos had 74 wins compared to 40 losses. The 1994 Major League Baseball strike forced an end to the season and any postseason aspirations that the franchise had. One of the highlights of the season was that five Expos represented the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
at the 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 65th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
held in Pittsburgh. Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
had the game winning hit for the National League.
Offseason
- November 19, 1993: Delino DeShieldsDelino DeShieldsDelino Lamont DeShields is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who enjoyed a 13-year career with 5 teams. He is currently the manager for the Dayton Dragons in the Cincinnati Reds organization....
was traded by the Expos to the Los Angeles Dodgers1994 Los Angeles Dodgers seasonThe Dodgers were leading the National League's Western Division in the 1994 season when a players strike halted the season.-Offseason:*November 17, 1993: Acquired Delino DeShields from the Montreal Expos for Pedro Martínez...
for Pedro MartínezPedro MartínezPedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
. - December 13, 1993: The Expos traded a player to be named later to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Randy MilliganRandy MilliganRandall Andre Milligan is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1987-1994. He is currently a scout with the Baltimore Orioles. Milligan is nicknamed "Moose".-External links:...
. The Expos completed the deal by sending Brian BarnesBrian Barnes (baseball)Brian Keith Barnes is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played from 1990-1994 with the Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Dodgers.-External links:...
to the Indians on December 17. - March 31, 1994: John Vander WalJohn Vander WalJohn Henry Vander Wal is a former American Major League Baseball left-handed hitter who played outfield and first base for eight different teams over 14 seasons.-Early life:...
was purchased from the Expos by the Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Regular season
In , the Expos team — and Larry WalkerLarry Walker
Larry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos , Colorado Rockies , and St. Louis Cardinals...
— appeared to be rising to its potential. Led by rising young stars Pedro Martínez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
, Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
, Cliff Floyd
Cliff Floyd
Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
, Mike Lansing
Mike Lansing
Michael Thomas Lansing is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox between 1993 and 2001...
and Jeff Fassero
Jeff Fassero
Jeffrey Joseph Fassero is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-Montreal Expos:Fassero was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the amateur draft, but he bounced around in the minors for several years until he joined the Montreal Expos in...
, Montreal was off to a 74-40 start, leading the National League Eastern Division
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. They had scored 585 runs (5.13 per game) and allowed 454 runs (3.98 per game) through 114 games by Friday, August 12.
Walker, with 86 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, was well on his way to his first 100-RBI year; Ken Hill
Ken Hill (baseball)
Kenneth Wade Hill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 14-year career, he pitched from 1988-2001 for seven different teams. He pitched in the 1995 World Series as a member of the Cleveland Indians. He also appeared in the 1994 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers...
was on pace to win 23 games while Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
was on pace to strike out more than 200 batters. Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
was hitting .339 and on pace to collect more than 200 hits for the first time in his career. Marquis Grissom
Marquis Grissom
Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
was on pace to score 137 runs. Two other Expos, namely Alou and Walker, were also on pace to score more than 100 runs. The team was also drawing well at home: through 52 home games in 1994, 1,276,250 fans had attended Expos games, for an average of 24,543 per game. At that pace, the Expos would have had a good chance of drawing two million fans for the first time since 1983. The season, however, was stopped due to the 1994 players' strike. The World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, for which the Expos appeared to be destined, was never played and Montreal lost many of its players during the next season due to free agency and salary constraints and the team never recovered. The 1994 Montreal Expos team that could have been remains one of baseball's hot discussion points. The collapse of the Expos would eventually lead to the team moving to Washington D.C. ten years later.
Opening Day starters
- Moisés AlouMoisés AlouMoisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
- Sean BerrySean BerrySean Berry , is a former Major League Baseball player who served primarily as a third baseman from -...
- Wil CorderoWil CorderoWilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in...
- Darrin FletcherDarrin FletcherDarrin Glen Fletcher is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from to .Fletcher made his major league debut in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared in 5 games. He saw limited major league playing time the following season...
- Cliff FloydCliff FloydCornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
- Marquis GrissomMarquis GrissomMarquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
- Mike LansingMike LansingMichael Thomas Lansing is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox between 1993 and 2001...
- Pedro MartínezPedro MartínezPedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
- Larry WalkerLarry WalkerLarry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos , Colorado Rockies , and St. Louis Cardinals...
Major League debuts
- Pitchers:
- Joey Eischen (Jun 19)
- Heath Haynes (Jun 1)
- Rod Henderson (Apr 19)
- Gabe White (May 27)
Roster
| 1994 Montreal Expos | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Player stats
| = Indicates team leader |
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting Average; HR = Home Runs; RBI = Runs Batted In| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Darrin Fletcher Darrin Fletcher Darrin Glen Fletcher is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from to .Fletcher made his major league debut in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared in 5 games. He saw limited major league playing time the following season... |
94 | 285 | 74 | .260 | 10 | 57 |
| 1B | Cliff Floyd Cliff Floyd Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius... |
100 | 334 | 94 | .281 | 4 | 41 |
| 2B | Mike Lansing Mike Lansing Michael Thomas Lansing is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox between 1993 and 2001... |
106 | 394 | 105 | .266 | 5 | 35 |
| 3B | Sean Berry Sean Berry Sean Berry , is a former Major League Baseball player who served primarily as a third baseman from -... |
103 | 320 | 89 | .278 | 11 | 41 |
| SS | Wil Cordero Wil Cordero Wilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in... |
110 | 415 | 122 | .294 | 15 | 63 |
| CF | Marquis Grissom Marquis Grissom Marquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia... |
110 | 475 | 137 | .288 | 11 | 45 |
| LF | Moisés Alou Moisés Alou Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs... |
107 | 422 | 143 | .339 | 22 | 78 |
| RF | Larry Walker Larry Walker Larry Kenneth Robert Walker is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1989 through 2005, Walker played for the Montreal Expos , Colorado Rockies , and St. Louis Cardinals... |
103 | 395 | 127 | .322 | 19 | 86 |
Other batters
| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenny Webster Lenny Webster Leonard Irell Webster is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a platoon catcher from 1989-2000... |
57 | 143 | 39 | .273 | 5 | 23 |
| Lou Frazier Lou Frazier Arthur Louis Frazier is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of five seasons in the majors, between 1993 and 1998, for the Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, and Chicago White Sox. He was primarily a left fielder.From 2007-2008 Frazier was the first base coach for the... |
76 | 140 | 38 | .271 | 0 | 14 |
| Juan Bell Juan Bell Juan Bell Mathey , is a former professional baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as an infielder from 1989-1995.- Early career :... |
38 | 97 | 27 | .278 | 2 | 10 |
| Rondell White Rondell White Rondell Bernard White is an outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. His career batting average currently stands at .284 and his career slugging percentage is .462.... |
40 | 97 | 27 | .278 | 2 | 13 |
| Freddie Benavides Freddie Benavides Alfredo Benavides is a former Major League Baseball infielder of Mexican American descent. He is an alumnus of Texas Christian University.... |
47 | 85 | 16 | .188 | 0 | 6 |
| Randy Milligan Randy Milligan Randall Andre Milligan is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1987-1994. He is currently a scout with the Baltimore Orioles. Milligan is nicknamed "Moose".-External links:... |
47 | 82 | 19 | .232 | 2 | 12 |
| Tim Spehr Tim Spehr Timothy Joseph Spehr was a catcher for Major League Baseball's Kansas City Royals , Montreal Expos , Atlanta Braves and New York Mets .... |
52 | 36 | 9 | .250 | 0 | 5 |
| Jeff Gardner Jeff Gardner (baseball) Jeffrey Scott Gardner is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He was the starting second baseman for the San Diego Padres in , and played parts of three other seasons for the Padres, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos. After his playing career, Gardner was a manager in the Padres' minor league... |
18 | 32 | 7 | .219 | 0 | 1 |
Starting pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | SO | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Hill Ken Hill (baseball) Kenneth Wade Hill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 14-year career, he pitched from 1988-2001 for seven different teams. He pitched in the 1995 World Series as a member of the Cleveland Indians. He also appeared in the 1994 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers... |
23 | 154.7 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 3.32 | 85 | 44 |
| Pedro Martínez Pedro Martínez Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion... |
24 | 144.7 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 3.42 | 142 | 45 |
| Jeff Fassero Jeff Fassero Jeffrey Joseph Fassero is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-Montreal Expos:Fassero was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 22nd round of the amateur draft, but he bounced around in the minors for several years until he joined the Montreal Expos in... |
21 | 138.2 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 2.99 | 119 | 40 |
| Butch Henry | 24 | 107.1 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2.43 | 70 | 20 |
| Kirk Rueter Kirk Rueter Kirk Wesley Rueter is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, and is the winningest left-hander in San Francisco Giants history. Rueter played for the Montreal Expos and the Giants and made most of his career appearances as a starter. Rueter attended and played for Murray State... |
20 | 92.1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 5.17 | 50 | 23 |
Relief pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | SO | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wetteland John Wetteland John Karl Wetteland is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who specialized as a closer. During a 12-year career , he pitched for four different teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers.-Playing career:Wetteland was signed by the Dodgers as their second... |
52 | 63.2 | 4 | 6 | 25 | 2.83 | 68 | 21 |
| Mel Rojas Mel Rojas Melquiades Rojas Medrano was a pitcher with a 10 year career from 1990 to 1999. He played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League and the Detroit Tigers of the American League.His best season was in 1992, when he posted a 7-1 record in 68... |
58 | 84.0 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 3.32 | 84 | 21 |
| Jeff Shaw Jeff Shaw Jeffrey Lee Shaw is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who had a 12-year career from 1990 to 2001... |
46 | 67.1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3.88 | 47 | 15 |
| Tim Scott | 40 | 53.1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2.70 | 37 | 18 |
| Gil Heredia Gil Heredia Gilbert Heredia is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1991–1996 and 1998-2001.-External links:... |
39 | 75.1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3.46 | 62 | 13 |
Other pitchers
| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | SO | BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heath Haynes Heath Haynes Heath Burnett Haynes is former Major League Baseball pitcher. Haynes played for the Montreal Expos in . He batted and threw right-handed.He was signed by the Expos as an amateur free agent in 1991.... |
4 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 3 |
| Brian Looney Brian Looney Brian James Looney is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during three seasons at the major league level for the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox... |
1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22.50 | 2 | 0 |
| Joey Eischen Joey Eischen Joseph Raymond Eischen is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.-High school:Joey Eischen attended West Covina High School in West Covina, California and was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis... |
1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54.00 | 1 | 0 |
| Gabe White Gabe White Gabriel Allen White is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from -. He gave up Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn's final hit of his career, on October 6, 2001, while playing for the Colorado Rockies.-External links:... |
7 | 23.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.08 | 17 | 11 |
| Denis Boucher Denis Boucher Denis Boucher is a Canadian former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays , Cleveland Indians , and Montreal Expos . He is currently a scout for the New York Yankees.... |
10 | 18.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.75 | 17 | 7 |
| Rod Henderson Rod Henderson Rodney Wood Henderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Henderson attended Glasgow High School in Glasgow, Kentucky and the University of Kentucky, where he pitched for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team.... |
3 | 6.2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9.45 | 3 | 7 |
Award winners
- Felipe Alou, Associated Press Manager of the Year
- Felipe Alou, The Sporting News Manager of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Manager of the Year AwardThe Sporting News Manager of the Year Award was established in 1936 by The Sporting News and was given annually to one manager in Major League Baseball...
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 65th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
- Moisés AlouMoisés AlouMoisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
, OF, Reserve - Wil CorderoWil CorderoWilfredo Cordero Nieva is a former first baseman/outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was best known as a member of the Montreal Expos . Cordero made his Major League Baseball debut in 1992 and last played in...
, Shortstop, Reserve - Darren FletcherDarren FletcherDarren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
, Catcher, Reserve - Marquis GrissomMarquis GrissomMarquis Deon Grissom is a former Major League Baseball player. He excelled in baseball at Lakeshore High School, under the tutelage of baseball coach Mike Juenger. He currently resides in College Park, Georgia...
, Outfield, Reserve - Ken HillKen Hill (baseball)Kenneth Wade Hill is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 14-year career, he pitched from 1988-2001 for seven different teams. He pitched in the 1995 World Series as a member of the Cleveland Indians. He also appeared in the 1994 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh's Three Rivers...
, Pitcher, Reserve