Nine uniform numbers retired for Expos 21 years later

ExposFest Gala in Laval pays tribute to many of team’s former stars

Regarded as the most impactful manager in Montreal Expos’ 36-season, major-league history, Felipe Alou remains a deeply spiritual man. Virtually everything in the Canadian Baseball Hall-of-Famer’s life relates to his faith and what he sees as God’s master plan, giving him reason and, therefore, inner peace for every twist and turn in a life well-lived.

Thus it was, that Alou, the revered, 89-year-old with his mortality now staring him directly in the eye, addressed a crowd of over 1,000 supporters of Canada’s first MLB team. Remaining seated due to physical restrictions, he was the cleanup speaker of the nine honourees at a Gala dinner in Laval, a suburb of Montreal on Saturday night.

Felipe, wearing his emotions on his sleeve, described his personal journey of serendipitous circumstances that led him to his first coaching positions in the Expos organization, rather than where he thought that he had been headed, to Double-A coaching with the Yankees. However, some 62-years after a small 1973 trade to the Expos in the twilight of his playing career, he credited God’s plan and offered his thanks and appreciation to Laval, Montreal, to his family, Quebec, Canada and his players he had always regarded as family.

Alou spoke about the distinct chance that this appearance would be his final one in public, as his health has deteriorated and his frail body, in a life well-lived, has failed to keep up with an alert mind, that has remained as sharp as when he managed Canada’s only National League team, from 1992-2001.

Alou, the eldest of three brothers who all played in the majors, with Jesus and Matty, was born in the Dominican Republic in 1935, played 17 seasons as a first-baseman/outfielder in the majors and now lives, loves and fishes in South Florida. He has been married to his wife, Lucie, who is from Laval, for the past 40 years. He has a special attachment to the area.

Felipe’s Saturday night speech, as his No. 17 was being retired, was the final one of the night delivered in a softer version of his normal Stentorian tones. He was interrupted four times by the appreciative crowd, who stood and cheered at appropriate moments, as he took the long and winding road through his career and his love of the Expos. The spiritual essence of Alou shone through, bringing tears to the eyes of many, including his former second-baseman Jose Vidro and Felipe’s nephew and the Expos’ one-time bullpen closer, Mel Rojas.

Many in the crowd were equally affected and teared up, as it felt like a communal blessing being delivered by a special leader to his flock. When Felipe was finished and handed the mic back to the event’s MC, Marc Griffin, he received another, sustained, standing ovation, with chants of “A-loo, A-loo, A-loo” it would not have been a surprise to see “white smoke” rising from a small chimney sequestered somewhere in the back of the room, as the Papal conclave at the Vatican remains on the immediate horizon. It had that feel.

From a personal standpoint, I had been asked to introduce former closer Jeff Reardon at the podium leading into his own tribute video and number retirement. As I left the stage, following the photos, even before Felipe had spoken, playing our emotions like a banjo, I had the chance to lean in and whisper, “Felipe, I have told you this before, but you remain one of my five favourite men of all time.” He remembered when I had first told him back in 1994 and he looked up and smiled.

The purpose of the annual dinner was as a fundraiser in support of the Pavillon Kat Demes, a yet-to-be-built wing of the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The charity’s organizer, Perry Gee, has raised over $2.2-million via his Expos-centric efforts, through the years, including over $330,000 from this Saturday evening dinner and its surrounding events. Kat, the young girl to whom the Children’s Hospital project is dedicated, was Perry’s niece and died from the insidious disease at an early age. Perry’s background as an event promoter includes bringing Eminem to Canada on one of his first tour of this country in the summer of ’99.

ExposFest 2025 Gala:

The nine uniform numbers that were retired at the Gala on Saturday night, included: #83 Charles Bronfman (owner); #45 Steve Rogers (RHP, 1973-85); #29 Tim Wallach (3B 1980-92); #27 Vlad Guerrero (RF 1996-2003); #33 Larry Walker (RF 1989-94); #16 Claude Raymond (RHP 1969-71); #3 Jose Vidro (2B 1997-2004); #41 Jeff Reardon (RHP 1981-86); #17 Felipe Alou (OF-CCH-MGR 1974-79-80-84-92 to 2001).

Other former Expos that gave up some of their time to come and support the effort for Pavillon Kat Demes, include 1B-Al Oliver, LHP-Bill Lee, 2B-Dave Cash, RHP-Mel Rojas, RHP-Ray Burris, PxP Dave Van Horne, PxP Rodger Brulotte, UT Wilton Guerrero, IF Brad Fullmer, C Nelson Santovenia, LHP Ross Grimsley, LHP Denis Boucher and OF Marc Griffin. Other special guests were Habs Hall-of-Fame winger, Yvan Cournoyer and Sandy Carter Snell, widow of the late Gary Carter. Sandy had been asked to introduce Steve Rogers for his moment. It was well done and great to see so many I had worked with from 1973-95.

There is one familiar phrase that sums up the departed Expos and their grip on fans in the city and province, 21 years after the franchise shifted to D.C? “Je me souviens!”