1969 Montreal Expos season


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 Division 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.

Offseason

Expansion draft

The Montreal Expos participated in the 1968 Major League Baseball expansion draft on October 14, 1968.
PlayerFormer teamPick
Manny MotaPittsburgh Pirates2nd pick
Mack JonesCincinnati Reds4th pick
John BatemanHouston Astros6th pick
Gary SutherlandPhiladelphia Phillies8th pick
Jack BillinghamLos Angeles Dodgers10th pick
Donn ClendenonPittsburgh Pirates11th pick
Jesús AlouSan Francisco Giants13th pick
Mike WegenerPhiladelphia Phillies15th pick
Skip GuinnAtlanta Braves17th pick
Bill StonemanChicago Cubs19th pick
Maury WillsPittsburgh Pirates21st pick
Bobby WinePhiladelphia Phillies23rd pick
Bob ReynoldsSan Francisco Giants25th pick
Dan McGinnCincinnati Reds27th pick
José HerreraHouston Astros29th pick
Jimy WilliamsCincinnati Reds32nd pick
Remy HermosoAtlanta Braves34th pick
Mudcat GrantLos Angeles Dodgers36th pick
Jerry RobertsonSt. Louis Cardinals38th pick
Don ShawNew York Mets40th pick
Ty ClineSan Francisco Giants41st pick
Garry JestadtChicago Cubs43rd pick
Carl MortonAtlanta Braves45th pick
Larry JasterSt. Louis Cardinals47th pick
Ernie McAnallyNew York Mets49th pick
Jim FaireyLos Angeles Dodgers52nd pick
Coco LaboySt. Louis Cardinals54th pick
John BoccabellaChicago Cubs56th pick
Ron BrandHouston Astros58th pick
John GlassNew York Mets60th pick

Other transactions

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.

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 would train there through 1972 and from 1981 through 1997.

Regular season

Historic games

The first game

Milestones

April 8, Shea Stadium, New York City, New York

Opening Day lineup

Others

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

Player stats

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
PosPlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
C1032871974.2580202
1B1113584695.2659533
2B14154463130.2393355
3B15756253145.25818830
SS1213702374.2003250
LF13545573123.27022796
CF581992543.216476
RF15854989166.30229793

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
PlayerGABRHAvg.HRRBISB
702533573.28912391
742351649.2098190
1012092650.2392124
471892342.2220815
381291431.2404140
47126736.2862121
491121320.179141
5296523.2402120
3189628.315001
408649.105161
2874612.162033
2049614.286160
413924.103020
61747.412110
4901.111020
6610.000010

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
42235.211194.39185
38179.25163.96133
32165.25144.40124
18103.1674.0168
1150.2164.8020
11.10020.252

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
30109.1373.2963
31106674.8459
2477165.4939
829.1034.6016

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
7471063.94112
444253.9434
352515.2145
230223.5515
220435.7132
151214.0911
100002.8711
30006.754

Awards and honors

1969 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: GCL Expos
On June 5, 1969 the Montreal Expos played a game against their farm team the Vancouver Mounties, the Mounties won 5-3.
Vancouver affiliation shared with Seattle Pilots