To: Jeffrey Beckman who wrote (13404 ) 6/10/2015 7:20:12 AM From: Chris Forte Read Replies (1) | Respond to To be at a perfect game is something that must feel special. How cool is that? Jim Bunning and Bob Moose are two names I haven't heard in a while. I had their baseball cards. edit ]Jarry Park Stadium , 1969.New York Mets at Shea Stadium , beating the Mets by a score of 11–10. The Expos took the field for the first time with Bob Bailey playing first base , Gary Sutherland playing second base , Maury Wills playing shortstop , Coco Laboy playing third base , Mack Jones playing left field , Don Hahn playing centerfield , Rusty Staub playing right field , John Bateman at catcher and Mudcat Grant on the mound . The first manager was former Philadelphia Phillies manager Gene Mauch . Wills had the first hit in Expos history and also scored the first run. The first home run in franchise history came from an unlikely source — relief pitcher Dan McGinn . Bailey had the first RBI, and Don Shaw was credited with the win. Carroll Sembera pitched the final inning against the Mets and recorded the first save.Expos win over the St. Louis Cardinals , broadcast nationwide on CBC television and radio. A crowd of 29,184 jammed every corner of Jarry Park to watch the first major league baseball game ever played outside the United States. Jarry was only intended as a three-year temporary facility until what became Olympic Stadium could be completed, and so the stands were left completely exposed to the elements. As a result, the Expos frequently had to postpone games in April and September because there was no protection for the fans. Another problem was its orientation; during night games in April and September, first basemen were often blinded by the setting sun. Eventually, it was decided to stop the game until the sun finished setting. [11] [15] When it became apparent that Olympic Stadium wouldn't be ready for 1972, the league threatened to yank the franchise. However, the Expos managed to get a reprieve at the 1971 winter meetings. They would get a reprieve at all winter meetings until Olympic Stadium was ready for the 1977 season.Phillies . On April 17, Bill Stoneman pitched the first no-hitter in the club's history, as the Expos won 7–0. Stoneman's feat gave the Expos the record for the earliest no-hitter recorded by any major league baseball franchise — only ten days after their very first game. It was Stoneman's fifth major league start and he finished with eight strikeouts and five walks. [16] [17] [18] Stoneman's second no-hitter came at the end of the 1972 season on October 2; he beat the New York Mets in Montreal at Jarry Park . [19] It was the first-ever major league no-hitter pitched in Canada and another 7–0 score, and Stoneman had nine strikeouts (and seven walks).Rusty Staub and Mack Jones became the darlings of the Montreal fans during the early years of the team. Staub was affectionately known as "Le Grand Orange" (in tribute to his red hair), and with Jones in left field, its bleachers at Jarry Park came to be known as "Jonesville."New York Mets in exchange for 3 young prospects: first baseman-outfielder Mike Jorgensen , infielder Tim Foli , and outfielder Ken Singleton . While the trade landed Montreal three youngsters that would help the still maturing expansion team, many Montrealers were saddened to lose a popular player. Staub was reacquired by Montreal in July 1979 . At his first game back in Montreal, against the Pittsburgh Pirates , Staub received a long and heartfelt standing ovation from the adoring fans, welcoming "Le Grand Orange" back. Staub left the team for good after the 1979 season. His number 10 was eventually the first one retired by the Expos.
