The 1969 Montreal Expos season was the inaugural season in Major League Baseball for the team. The Expos, as typical for first-year expansion teams, finished in the cellar of the National League East with a 52–110 record, 48 games behind the eventual World Series Champion New York Mets. They did not win any game in extra innings during the year, which also featured a surprise no-hitter in just the ninth regular-season game they ever played. Their home attendance of 1,212,608, an average of 14,970 per game, was good for 7th in the N.L. The franchise would play in Montreal for 36 seasons until 2004 when the team relocated to Washington, D.C. and was rebranded as the Washington Nationals in 2005.

Offseason

Expansion draft

The Montreal Expos participated in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft on October 14, 1968. Player Former team Pick NotesManny MotaPittsburgh Pirates2nd pickManny Mota at Baseball ReferenceMack JonesCincinnati Reds4th pickJohn BatemanHouston Astros6th pickGary SutherlandPhiladelphia Phillies8th pickJack Billingham Los Angeles Dodgers10th pickNever played for the Expos. Sent to Houston just as the season was starting as part of a deal for Rusty Staub.Donn ClendenonPittsburgh Pirates11th pickJesús AlouSan Francisco Giants13th pickJesús Alou at Baseball ReferenceNever played for the Expos. Sent to Houston as part of a deal for Rusty Staub.Mike WegenerPhiladelphia Phillies15th pickSkip GuinnAtlanta Braves17th pickSkip Guinn at Baseball ReferenceNever played for the Expos. Sent to Houston just as the season was starting as part of a deal for Rusty Staub.Bill StonemanChicago Cubs19th pickMaury WillsPittsburgh Pirates21st pickMaury Wills at Baseball ReferenceBobby WinePhiladelphia Phillies23rd pickBobby Wine at Baseball ReferenceBob ReynoldsSan Francisco Giants25th pickDan McGinnCincinnati Reds27th pickJosé HerreraHouston Astros29th pickJimy WilliamsCincinnati Reds32nd pickJimy Williams at Baseball Reference Never played for the Expos. Only major league experience was in 1966 and '67.Remy HermosoAtlanta Braves34th pickMudcat GrantLos Angeles Dodgers36th pickMudcat Grant at Baseball ReferenceJerry RobertsonSt. Louis Cardinals38th pickDon ShawNew York Mets40th pickDon Shaw at Baseball ReferenceTy ClineSan Francisco Giants41st pickGarry JestadtChicago Cubs43rd pickCarl MortonAtlanta Braves45th pickCarl Morton at Baseball ReferenceLarry JasterSt. Louis Cardinals47th pickErnie McAnallyNew York Mets49th pickDidn't make it to the big league squad until 1971.Jim FaireyLos Angeles Dodgers52nd pickCoco LaboySt. Louis Cardinals54th pickCoco Laboy at Baseball ReferenceJohn BoccabellaChicago Cubs56th pickRon BrandHouston Astros58th pickJohn GlassNew York Mets60th pickNever played in the major leagues

Other transactions October 16, 1968: Don Bosch was purchased by the Expos from the New York Mets.Don Bosch at Baseball Reference October 21, 1968: Bob Bailey was purchased by the Expos from the Los Angeles Dodgers.Bob Bailey at Baseball Reference December 2, 1968: Floyd Wicker was drafted by the Expos from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1968 rule 5 draft.Floyd Wicker at Baseball Reference January 22, 1969: Donn Clendenon and Jesús Alou were traded by the Expos to the Houston Astros for Rusty Staub. Clendenon refused to report to his new team. The Expos sent Jack Billingham, Skip Guinn, and $100,000 to the Astros on April 8 as compensation.Rusty Staub at Baseball Reference

1968 MLB June amateur draft The Expos and San Diego Padres, along with the two American League expansion teams set to debut in 1969, the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Pilots, were allowed to participate in the June 1968 MLB first-year player draft, although the new teams were barred from the lottery's first three rounds. The Expos drafted only 15 players in the 1968 June draft, and none reached the major leagues. All but five went unsigned.1968 Montreal Expos Draft Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft Baseball Reference

Spring training The Expos held spring training at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach, Florida, a facility they shared with the Atlanta Braves. It was destined to become their long-time spring training home: they trained there through 1972 and from 1981 through 1997.

Regular season

Milestones First international game in MLB history First hit and extra-base hit in franchise history: Bob Bailey, a double in the first inning First home run: relief pitcher Dan McGinn, a two-run shot off future Baseball Hall of Famer Tom Seaver in the fourth

Scorecard April 8, Shea Stadium, New York City, New York Team123456789RHEMontreal20110214011120New York03030000410153W: Shaw (1–0)  L: Koonce (0–1)  SV: Sembera (1)   HRs: McGinn (1), Staub (1), Laboy (1), Dyer (1)

Opening Day lineup +Opening Day Starters # Name Position30 Maury Wills SS1 Gary Sutherland 2B10 Rusty Staub RF9 Mack Jones LF3 Bob Bailey 1B2 John Bateman C39 Coco Laboy 3B43 Don Hahn CF22 Mudcat Grant P Retrosheet box score: Montreal Expos 11, New York Mets 10; 8 April 1969

Others April 14, 1969: Mack Jones hit a three-run home run and two-run triple that highlighted an 8–7 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the Expos' first home victory as a franchise at Jarry Park. Jones' blast was also the first MLB home run hit outside the United States. Dan McGinn became the first MLB pitcher to win a game outside the United States. April 17, 1969: In just the franchise's ninth game in existence, Bill Stoneman pitched a 7–0 no-hitter while striking out 8 batters against the Philadelphia Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. Johnny Briggs made the final out for the Phillies. Le Grand Orange Rusty Staub was the hitting hero for the Expos going 4 for 5 with three doubles and a homer. A crowd of 6,496 were on hand to see it in Philadelphia. Stoneman pitched another 7–0 no-hitter in 1972, against the New York Mets in Jarry Park on October 2.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions April 27, 1969: Roy Face was signed as a free agent by the Expos.Roy Face at Baseball Reference June 3, 1969: Mudcat Grant was traded by the Expos to the St. Louis Cardinals for Gary Waslewski.Mudcat Grant at Baseball Reference June 11, 1969: Maury Wills and Manny Mota were traded by the Expos to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ron Fairly and Paul Popovich.Dodgers finally bring Wills back home June 11, 1969: Paul Popovich was traded by the Expos to the Chicago Cubs for Adolfo Phillips and Jack Lamabe.Paul Popovich at Baseball Reference June 15, 1969: Donn Clendenon was traded by the Expos to the New York Mets for Kevin Collins, Steve Renko, Bill Carden (minors) and Dave Colon (minors).Donn Clendenon at Baseball Reference August 15, 1969: Roy Face was released by the Expos. August 19, 1969: Claude Raymond was purchased by the Expos from the Atlanta Braves.Claude Raymond at Baseball Reference September 13, 1969: Marv Staehle was purchased by the Expos from the Seattle Pilots.Marv Staehle at Baseball Reference

Draft picks June 5, 1969: Terry Humphrey was drafted by the Expos in the 39th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.Terry Humphrey at Baseball Reference

Roster 1969 Montreal Expos Roster Pitchers Catchers

Infielders Outfielders Manager

Coaches (Third Base) (Pitching) (First Base) (Bullpen)

Player stats = Indicates team leader

Batting

Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Pos Player G AB R H Avg. HRRBISB C 103 287 19 74 .258 0 20 2 1B 111 358 46 95 .265 9 53 3 2B 141 544 63 130 .239 3 35 5 3B 157 562 53 145 .258 18 83 0 SS 121 370 23 74 .200 3 25 0 LF 135 455 73 123 .270 22 79 6 CF 58 199 25 43 .216 4 7 6 RF 158 549 89 166 .302 29 79 3

Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases Player G AB R H Avg. HRRBISB 70 253 35 73 .289 12 39 1 74 235 16 49 .209 8 19 0 101 209 26 50 .239 2 12 4 47 189 23 42 .222 0 8 15 38 129 14 31 .240 4 14 0 47 126 7 36 .286 2 12 1 49 112 13 20 .179 1 4 1 52 96 5 23 .240 2 12 0 31 89 6 28 .315 0 0 1 40 86 4 9 .105 1 6 1 28 74 6 12 .162 0 3 3 20 49 6 14 .286 1 6 0 41 39 2 4 .103 0 2 0 6 17 4 7 .412 1 1 0 4 9 0 1 .111 0 2 0 6 6 1 0 .000 0 1 0

Pitching

Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 42 235.2 11 19 4.39 185 38 179.2 5 16 3.96 133 32 165.2 5 14 4.40 124 18 103.1 6 7 4.01 68 11 50.2 1 6 4.80 20 1 1.1 0 0 20.25 2

Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 30 109.1 3 7 3.29 63 31 106.0 6 7 4.84 59 24 77.0 1 6 5.49 39 8 29.1 0 3 4.60 16

Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO 74 7 10 6 3.94 112 44 4 2 5 3.94 34 35 2 5 1 5.21 45 23 0 2 2 3.55 15 22 0 4 3 5.71 32 15 1 2 1 4.09 11 10 0 0 0 2.87 11 3 0 0 0 6.75 4

Awards and honors

1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Rusty Staub, reserve

Farm system

Notes

References

1969 Montreal Expos at Baseball Reference 1969 Montreal Expos at Baseball Almanac