Montreal Expos Era Ends With Bartolo Colon
Perhaps you’ve heard the saying that a person actually dies twice: once when the breath leaves the body, and again when nobody is left to speak their name. Given that, the Montreal Expos may be on the verge of their second and final death. The breath went out of the franchise in late 2004, when they played their last game against the Mets in the old Shea Stadium. Their second death, I suppose, may still be on the horizon, but also may have happened this past weekend.
The last active player to wear the tricolor uniform at the big-league level was Bartolo Colon, who started 17 games for the Expos in the last half of the 2002 season. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox before the 2003 season, and has been pitching for somebody ever since. But even Big Sexy can’t last forever, and his bid to make the Texas Rangers’ roster just came to an end.
If Bartolo Colon somehow catches on with someone this season, “Les Expos” will live on, too, if only for a little while longer. If not, then we must bid them adieu. And, yes, I know all about the Washington Nationals being the continuation of the Expos franchise; but for a kid who grew up with the Expos in the standings every day, it’s not the same thing.
Time will tell, as it always does, but the final act of an expansion franchise may have just played itself out.
UPDATE: The Expos live on! Bartolo Colon has resigned with the Rangers and will start on April 2. It may be a short-lived stay, but he’s keeping Les Expos alive for a little longer.
