Topps Cards That Should Have Been: The Last Expos

 

On the day that the result of a new collective bargaining agreement could either save or doom the season, I wanna take you all back to 2002. 

I'm not sure if a lot of people remember this, but in 2001, Bud Selig wanted to contract the league and eliminate the two lowest-drawing teams, which, in 2001, were the Montreal Expos and Minnesota Twins. After the city of Minnesota said 'like hell you will', the Expos, while saved for the moment, were still on the bubble. They were harmed by infuriating ownership practices [courtesy of Jeffrey Loria], a downturn in their core despite a productive trade deadline in 2002, and, of course, a market that couldn't be bothered. There were still Expos loyalists, but by 2002 they were far and few. 

The only thing that kept the Expos in the MLB was the renewed collective bargaining agreement, which kept the league at 30 and instead led the league to consider relocating the team. The CBA here is the reason we have the Nationals, and that this franchise eventually found a ring. Holding out on the players and fans, and their concerns, solves nothing. 

And so the Expos played two final seasons as the Expos. I call these the 'death nell' years because it was clear the MLB wanted them out of Montreal, and they even went so far as make them play home games in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The writing was clearly on the wall for the team, and I consider these teams the end of the road for the team. Hell, in 2003 they were close to playoff contending when the MLB, who OWNED THE TEAM AT THAT POINT, basically locked their roster at 25 in September, essentially to ensure they wouldn't win NOW and draw in fans. That is not the sign of a prospering market.

So in this post, I'm including Expos that Topps left out in 2003 and 2004, because, unsurprisingly, by following the MLB narrative on the season, Topps must not have seen many true heroes worthy of making cards of in these seasons. 

Most confounding is Livan Hernandez, dealt to the Expos for nothing after bombing out of a job in San Francisco. Hernandez, the former 1997 World Series breakout, was the top WAR earner for the Expos in 2003, with a 15-10 record, a 320 ERA and 178 Ks in a full season of 33 starts. How the HELL do you just not make a card of that? He was clearly a standout by the time Update was happening? Why be so deliberate in erasing the narrative?

Similarly bafflingly, Topps didn't make a card of the Expos' starting catcher in these farewell seasons either. They made a Michael Barrett card in 2003, but he got traded to the Cubs midway through the year. Brian Schneider, meanwhile, became a steady backstop for the Expos. While he was around replacement level in 2003, hitting only .230, Schneider had a strong year in '04, with the third highest WAR on the team with 3.5, 112 hits and 49 RBIs in 132 games. He came off as reliable and trustworthy as a catcher, which is why the team would keep him on upon moving to Washington. 

Similarly absent from these sets was super-ute contact hero Jamey Carroll, known for scoring the last run in Expos history. Carroll was a defensive upgrade from Fernando Tatis at third in '03, playing 105 games and hitting .260. In '04 he'd be trapped behind Jose Vidro and Tony Batista for starting positions, but would be a bench bat extraordinaire, hitting .289 with 63 hits in 102 games. From here he'd fill a similar role with the Rockies. 

Also absent in both sets was relief specialist Luis Ayala, who was a very big piece of these late teams for the Expos. In 2003 he had 10 wins as a reliever, a 2.92 record and 46 Ks in 65 appearances, going for saves in 5. While not having as strong a W/L ratio in 2004, he'd be equally hard on opposing offenses, with a 2.69 ERA and 63 Ks in 81 appearances. Ayala would make the trip to Washington, and would eventually bop around the leagues as a solid cheap relief option. 

As for closing options during these seasons, I have to say that the Expos did pretty well both times. In 2003 they had Rocky Biddle, who came over from being a middle reliever with the White Sox, and, being thrust right into the ninth, notched 34 saves, despite some rocky numbers otherwise. He did get a Topps card in 2004, but by then he was struggling even more and had to vacate the ninth. Enter young whiz kid Chad Cordero, who would make the most of this promotion with a 2.94 ERA, 14 saves and a full 83 Ks over the course of the season. Of course, the Nats would lock him down as closer, he'd be a fearsome force and All-Star, and then would be injured far too young and never have a closing job again. 

An all-star with Montreal in 1994, Wil Cordero would be the Expos' starting 1st baseman in 2003. In 130 games, he'd hit .278 with 71 RBIs, his highest since his 72 in 1997, and 121 hits. A solid season, if marred by sliding defense. Topps, of course, would look the other way. 

In a post where there wouldn't be too many actual big pieces to document, you'd see a lot more ones like this one- Todd Zeile was traded by the Yankees to the Expos midyear, and as a backup 3rd baseman he hit .257 with 19 RBIs and 5 homers in 34 games. He'd essentially be starting by the end, which would pave the way for a decent year as position-warmer-for-David-Wright in 2004. 

As for the 2004 team, they had former Indians and Rangers backstop Einar Diaz as a backup. He was decent, hitting .223 in 55 games with above-average defense, but by this point Schneider was having the better season. 

I think it'd be pretty fitting if we ended on Terrmel Sledge. As the Expos' starting left-fielder he'd be adequate, hitting .169 with 107 hits, 62 RBIs and 15 homers. In Vladimir Guerrero's absence, Sledge was the true power bat of the outfield, and he was alright at that. The reason I'm ending with Sledge is that, upon the team's move to Washington, he would hit the Nationals' first ever home run. The ball was on display in Cooperstown for a bit, I think. One of those career trivia question guys, but still a great run with the Expos.

Part of me hopes baseball returns to Montreal someday. Part of me hopes there's a market for it.