Blog Archive

Monday, September 11, 2017

Les Expos de Montréal sont des champions du monde

The 1982 Expos won over 100 games and upset the Cardinals by winning the NL East.  They had to survive a tough 5 game NLCS vs the Dodgers (where have we heard that before) in order to even make it to the world series.  I started managing the Expos back in 1976.  I envisioned winning the Series in either 1979 or 1981 when I had the "horses".  Without a post season under my belt and in my 7th season as the Expos skipper I saw the window of opportunity closing on us.  How many more good seasons would underrated (not anymore) ace Steve Rogers have?  Would the Hawk's knees hold up?  Would ownership trade "The Kid" to a contender?  All questions we pondered as the season started.  The Expos had a magical ride during this '82 campaign.  A late surge by the Cardinals made it a bit interesting, but the Expos had a nice lead to fall back on and won the division.  I've always wondered why they didn't win a string of championships in real life.  With 3 HOF'ers in their lineup:  Raines, Dawson & Carter the Expos were perennial contenders from the late 70's through the mid 80's.  Jeff Reardon was a premier reliever and Steve Rogers was definitely an ace.  Supporting players like Warren Cromartie, Chris Speier and Jerry White were rock solid.  Acquiring a borderline HOF'er like Al Oliver didn't hurt either.  When Lou Whitaker made the final out I was able to breathe a sign of relief, because the long suffering Expo fans, who were robbed of their team, finally had something to cheer about.  The headline in the Montreal Gazettee would have read:  Les Expos de MontrĂ©al sont des champions du monde !

5 Expo All-Stars pictured at the '82 ASG @ Stade' Olympique
 

Game 5 - "Rogers Centre of the Universe"


GAME 5 - 10/20/82
Rogers vs Ujdur
Expos 8, Tigers 1

Detroit had a monumental task facing them.  In order to force a game 6 and send the series back to Montreal they needed to conquer 25 game winner Steve Rogers, who was on full rest.  Montreal drew first blood in the top of the 2nd as Kid Carter doubled home Al Oliver.  Two batter later Warren Cromartie sent Tiger RF'er Chet Lemon back to the wall for a deep fly that scored Carter easily from 3rd to make it 2-0 Expos.  Tim Wallach's solo blast with 2 out in the 4th make it 3-0 Expos.  The Tigers loaded the bases in the bottom of the 4th with nobody out, and had Rogers in a jam.  Hojo hit into a 4-6 force play, which scored Larry Herndon and put runners on the corners for Glen Wilson who hit a bullet to Wallach at 3rd.  Wallach, speared the ball and hit Flynn at 2nd with a great throw.  "Country Boy" Dougie pivoted beautifully to get out of the way of the hard sliding Wockenfuss to throw a dart to Oliver at first to complete the DP and get Rogers out of the jam.  For Rogers and the Expos this would be the turning point of the game.  From this point on Montreal's ace was in complete control.  

The Expos added a solo run in the 8th and 4 huge insurance runs in the 9th to make the results a mere formality.  After getting Hojo and Wilson out to start the 9th Rogers began to tire.  Jerry Turner walked and Trammell singled.  Rather than have Rogers throw his 138th pitch of the day the Expos skipper went to the pen and brought in veteran lefty Woodie Fryman to face lefty batting Lou Whitaker, who hit a comebacker to the "Wood-man" to end the game and end the series.  For the first time in the history of major league baseball the World Series champion would not come from the lower 48.  The heavily favored Expos celebrated their fall classic win over a game/young Tiger club that looks destined for future greatness.  Steve Rogers would easily nab the series MVP trophy, going 2-0 with a 1.53 ERA in series play.

Special thanks to Glenn Perry, who managed the Tigers brilliantly to a most unlikely AL pennant.  Glenn was easily a couple of good breaks away from heading back to Montreal up 3 games to 2.  A wonderful competitor is Mr. Perry.
Expos win series 4-1

Game 4 - "Not Kidding Around"

GAME 4 - 10/19/82
Sanderson vs J.Morris
Expos 11, Tigers 9


Detroit batted around and battered Scott Sanderson for 6 runs in the bottom of the first.
Tiger fans had something to smile about after last night's heartbreaking extra inning loss.  Even when Montreal answered back with 3 in the top of the 2nd the Tiger faithful still felt confident with their "bend, but don't break" ace Jack Morris on the bump.  Unfortunately for Morris, and Tiger fans, the righty ace (who started game 1) was back on short rest and just didn't have it.  After the Expos scored 4 in the 5th the Tigers needed 2 in the bottom of the frame to tie the game up at 8-8.  In the top of the 7th back to back jacks by future HOF'ers Dawson & Carter off of reliever Pat Underwood made the score 10-8 Expos.  A solo blast by Chet Lemon off of closer Jeff Reardon cut the deficit to 2 runs with one inning left to play.  

After Enos Cabell flew out weakly to open the 9th former Wolverine QB Rick Leach came up to the plate and worked out a walk.  Trammell grounded out weakly to his opposite number, Chris Speier, for the second out of the inning.  Up stepped Lou Whitaker who turned on a 1-0 fastball that looked like it had a chance to tie things up.  Too much top spin and a leaping grab by Cromartie ended Detroit's threat.  Scott Sanderson, who gave up 8 runs in 6 innings was the unlikely winner.  Reardon, the game 3 winner, notched the save.  Both teams combined for 20 runs on 29 hits.  Andre "The Hawk" Dawson (4-5) knocked in 3 and scored 3.  His running mate Gary Carter (3-4) did the same.  Kid had 2 homers, while Hawk had 1.  Glen Wilson and Chet Lemon each had a 3 hit game, in this painful loss that prevented the Tigers from evening the series.
Expos lead series 3-1

Game 3 - "Eli's Comin..."


GAME 3 - 10/18/82
Tiger Stadium
Lea vs Wilcox
Expos 5, Tigers 4 (10 inn)

This historic 1st "International World Series" shifted south across the border to the Motor City, where the Tigers delighted their fans by taking a 4-1 lead after 3 innings of play.  The Expos would fight back with a solo run in the 4th (Doug Flynn RBI single) and 2 in the 5th (2 run single by Gary Carter) to tie the game at 4 all.  Neither team could push across a run over the next 4 innings as the Detroit temperature slipped into the high 40's and became as cold as both team's respective bats.  Dave Tobik started the 10th for Detroit and faced rookie thirdbaseman Tim "Eli" Wallach, who worked the count to 3-1 and then slammed a fastball 357 feet into the overhang to make it 5-4.  Jeff Reardon, who pitched a scoreless 9th came back out for the 10th needing 3 outs for the victory.  First batter he faces, Larry Herndon flied one deep into the left center field gap that the fleet footed Dawson tracked down.  Lance Parrish fanned on a 1-2 slider for the 2nd out.  Johnny Wockenfuss worked out a walk, which brought HoJo to the plate.  Reardon threw a 2-1 fastball to a dead fastball hitter who jerked the ball to the warning track, where it fell comfortably into Warren Cromartie's leather.
Expos lead series 2-1

Game 2 - "Petry Dishes Shutout"

GAME 2 - 10/16/82
Petry vs Gullickson.
Tigers 7, Expos 0

 Dan Petry and the highly acclaimed Tiger offense were firing on all cylinders tonight.  Petry, who fanned 7, scattered 5 hits and easily shutout the Spos.  Larry Herndon (2-5) knocked in 3 via a two bagger and a long ball.  Sweet Lou Whitaker (3-5) also went deep, but more importantly was the offensive catalyst who scored 3 runs.  The top 4 batters in Detroit's offense (Whitaker/Lemon/Herndon/Parris) went a combined 9 for 18 and scored 6 of the Tigers 7 runs.  The 7th run was scored by light hitting 9th batter Allan Trammell.
Series tied 1-1

1982 World Series Game 1 - "Hawk Soars"

GAME 1 - 10/15/82
Stadie Olympique'
J.Morris vs Rogers
Expos 7, Tigers 2
 


The presumptive 1982 NL Cy Young Award winner, Steve Rogers, went the distance to complete the circuit and stake Les Expos to a 1-0 series lead.  The marquee matchup vs Jack Morris never really occurred as Montreal rang up 7 runs (6 earned) off of Morris.  After 3 1/2 innings of play the Expos clung to a 3-2 lead, but Rogers locked the door for the final 5 and the the Expo bats heated up.  The Hawk, Andre Dawson (3-4) knocked in 3 thanks to a double and a homer.  DH Jerry White also went deep.
Expos lead series 1-0