Expos attract fans from around world

Though the Montreal Expos moved to Washington after the 2004 season, they still have fans all over the world. Photo: Expos Nation

July 20, 2020

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

One thing I've learned in the last few years writing stories and chapters for books is that the Expos enjoy a legion of fans all over North America and in far-flung regions like the United Kingdom, Australia and the Philippines.

There's Nick Stevens in Great Britain. Montrealer Joel Kirstein remains devoted after he moved to Dallas. Andy Wheatley of Montreal moved to the Philippines a few years ago, Archi Yokota of Ottawa lives now in Thailand.

Just think of all the huge Expos fans, who were not born in Canada but have a craving for the Expos.

How about Joe Sarkees, Jr., a physical education teacher at Niagara Falls High School in Niagara Falls, N.Y. Sarkees figures he might be the only Expos fan in his town.

"You had asked me, what drew me to the Montreal Expos. Well, as a fourth-grade, nine-year-old kid, that's easy -- the logo,'' Sarkees said. "The Expos logo is one of the most unique, in all of sports. Every other boring logo seems to align logically with the city they represent or their mascot --- but the Expos didn't and that's what made it so great.

“It was mysterious and it baffled people. But mostly, it just looks cool. The best part was most people couldn't recognize it, so as a kid, it was always a great feeling, when teachers or classmates would have to ask you, 'What team is that?' You'd stump them. It made you feel proud to tell them the 'Montreal Expos.'

"So as an added bonus, in Niagara Falls, New York, there are no other Expos fans. So whether it was 1990 or 2020, I was and still am the only guy in the city donning Expos gear,'' Sarkees said.

"Jerseys, jackets, baseball hats, winter hats -- heck my three licence plates on my vehicles are: 1EXPOS, 2EXPOS and 3EXPOS. To most people, I'm the only Expos fan they've ever met. The uniqueness of being a life-long Expos fan, as a kid and now, never gets old.''

Eric Bagley of Las Vegas is one of many from that metropolis in Nevada, who have purchased my Expos book Always Remembered and is full of love for the franchise.

"Long story short is that I grew up in Northern Iowa and I am a big fan of the Minnesota Twins,'' Bagley told me. "In the early 2000s when they talked contraction, they said they were gonna get rid of the Twins and the Expos.

"It broke my heart and ever since then, I thought I was a fan of both. My love for the Expos and Twins has never wavered, even after the Expos left.''

Christopher Bickley, born and still residing in Australia, became fascinated with the Expos in 1976 when his father was appointed to head up the ICAO, a specialized United Nations aviation agency.

Bickley got to spend a few years in Montreal and even though the team has gone to Washington, he remains a diehard fan.

"My Australian family adored the Expos from 1976 onward,'' Bickley said. “I saw 20-30 games live and many more on television and radio. Warren Cromartie, Steve Rogers, Ellis Valentine, Larry Parrish, Tim Raines, Gary Carter, Andres Galarraga, Larry Walker, Bill Lee, Wallace Johnson, Chris Speier and others were household names along with Duke Snider and Dave Van Horne.''

"Some of the things you read in this book will make your eyes pop,'' said Burton Peck, a business education teacher in Brushton, New York. "Man, this book answers a lot of questions.''

Peck only wishes the Expos were still in town.

"My reward for over 30 years as a fan was that they moved my team,'' Peck said.

You can purchase Danny Gallagher’s latest book about the Expos called Always Remembered by contacting via email at exposbook2020@yahoo.com.