Remembering Baseball in Canada

I miss the Montreal Expos terribly.

A collection of radio and television clips on the CBC.ca about baseball in Canada. This clip in particular discusses how the arrival of baseball in Montreal came to be. Notice how Gordon Atkinson didn't think it was logical for MLB to locate in Canada suggesting they should go to Japan first. How wrong he was. He overlooked Canada's own historical attachment to the game especially through the Montreal Royals. Baseball did have roots in Canada and it did make sense for MLB to come here. It made no sense to go to Japan.

However, he did (perhaps unwittingly) touch on the idea of North American sports leagues expanding abroad. The NBA has begun exploring the possibility of having a European division and the NFL will play an exhibition game in Toronto. There have been some grumblings that one day a European hockey division may be created in the NHL and MLB has certainly flirted with the idea of setting up in Mexico and is laying down the tracks to Japan.

Regardless, for me the Expos defined many a summer day and night. Val-de-ri, Val-de-ra! Val-de-ri! Val-de-ra! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!

I can make you one promise. If I'm to ever earn enough cash, I will work to bring baseball back to Montreal.

Assuming of course the economics make sense.