Oh, Canada
Mack Jones (9) reaches the plate after his three-run homer
Playing a major league baseball game outside of the United States no longer seems like such a big deal, but it certainly is 55 years ago today as the Montreal Expos host the St. Louis Cardinals at Parc Jarry in the first regular-season game held outside the U.S.
The first pitch is thrown by Expos left-hander Larry Jaster to Cardinals leadoff hitter and future Hall of Famer Lou Brock, who quickly lines out to second baseman Gary Sutherland.
The first home run – and, for that matter, runs – comes in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run shot by Mack Jones off St. Louis starter Nellie Briles.
Waiting to greet Jones at home plate are Rusty Staub (10) and Don Bosch (19), who both score ahead of Jones.
The first to congratulate Jones is Bob Bailey (3), the next hitter who promptly doubles off Briles.
The Expos win the game 8-7 before a Monday afternoon, capacity crowd of 29,184.
The Expos play at Parc Jarry through the 1976 season before moving into repurposed Stade Olympique, better known south of the border as Olympic Stadium.
The Expos stay at Olympic Stadium through the 2004, after which Major League Baseball uproots the franchise after 36 seasons in Montreal and moves it to Washington, D.C.
While the Expos eventually play their home games on artificial turf at Olympic Stadium, Parc Jarry with its natural grass hardly is ready for the Expos’ debut there 55 years ago today.
Players, especially ones from the Cardinals, complain about the softness of the field and of sod that shifts during the game.
“I’ve played on some bad diamonds, but this is the worst,” says Cardinals All-Star center fielder Curt Flood. “I pray I don’t get killed out there.
“It was unbelievable. The infield was soft and it was tough to go from first to third.”
Flood knows of what he speaks as he is on base four times in Montreal’s inaugural home game with three singles and a double.
“A stolen base is going to be unheard of here until something is done about (the field),” Flood says. “You just can’t get the proper footing. … The outfield is rough and it’s tough to figure out which way the ball is going to bounce.”
The ball does not bounce so well for the Expos at home that season as they follow their home opening victory 55 years ago today with 57 losses in their next 80 games at Parc Jarry, while other teams outscore them 414-280 in those 80 home games.
Parc Jarry, the Montreal Expos’ home from 1969-76