Gallagher: Spinal-cord operation a setback for Cromartie

April 14, 2025

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

Warren Cromartie is facing one of the greatest battles of his life.

The former Expos player and a great promoter of baseball's possible return to Montreal is in a wheelchair and partially paralyzed in the legs following spinal-cord surgery done in 2023, a procedure he kept private for a long time until just recently.

Cromartie, 71, confirmed to me in an email he had the surgery and that he's ''getting better'' with the help of extensive therapy sessions he undergoes five days a week in Japan, where he has been living off and on since 1984 as a player or broadcaster.

"I have a small case of paralysis, meaning weakness in my legs from the surgery. I am walking in therapy,'' he said, adding he's not paralyzed from the waist down.

Cromartie wasn't involved in a recent accident but was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Without getting into detail, Cromartie told me the diagnosis and surgery stemmed from something that happened to him when he was 12 years old in Miami.

Many of Cromartie's teammates with the Expos had never been told about his predicament. Some people in Japan have known about his situation but not many in North America do.

"Warren mentioned to me he caught Covid and contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome. I never knew anything about spinal surgery,'' said Andre Dawson, Cromartie's long-time amigo and friend.

"Damn sad news. Thanks for letting me know,'' said Chris Speier, another teammate.

"I was not aware of that. Sad to hear that,'' Larry Parrish added.

Spinal stenosis occurs when the space inside the backbone is too small. This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine. Online reports say the most common cause of spinal stenosis is wear-and-tear damage in the spine related to arthritis.

Guillain-Barré is a syndrome that develops when a person's immune system attacks the nerves.

Cromartie began playing for the Expos in 1974 and then enjoyed a long run with the team from 1976-83, developing a reputation as one of the franchise's most popular players.

At the end of his emails to me, he has the hashtag #GiveUsOurTeamBack.