Montreal Expos Play Their First Home Game at Jarry Park

You've got the date slightly off — the Montreal Expos played their first home game at Jarry Park on April 14, 1969, not June 5. Around 29,000 fans packed the stadium, even though staff had to shovel snow off a frozen field. GM Jim Fanning set up 6,000 folding chairs for extra seating. The Expos defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 in a thrilling comeback, and there's quite a story behind how they pulled it off.

Key Takeaways

• The Montreal Expos played their first home game at Jarry Park on April 14, 1969, not June 5, 1969.
• The historic game was the first MLB regular-season game ever played outside the United States.
• Former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson threw the ceremonial first pitch before 29,000 fans.
• The Expos defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 in a dramatic comeback victory.
• Mack Jones became an early franchise hero, hitting a three-run homer and two-run triple.

Montreal Expos' First Home Game: April 14, 1969

On April 14, 1969, the Montreal Expos played their first home game at Jarry Park Stadium, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 in a historic matchup. You'd have witnessed over 29,000 fans packing the stadium alongside media presence from both the United States and Canada, all enthusiastic to celebrate baseball's return to Montreal.

Warm spring weather set the perfect backdrop for a game nine years in the making, following the Royals' folding in 1960. The Expos had already secured their first-ever win six days earlier, beating the New York Mets 11-10 on Opening Day. This home opener, however, carried deeper significance — it marked the first MLB regular-season game ever played outside the United States, cementing Montreal's place in baseball history. General manager Jim Fanning had worked until the last minute to prepare the stadium, personally unfolding 6,000 temporary chairs to accommodate the record crowd.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, adding a distinctly Canadian touch to the landmark occasion and reflecting the national pride surrounding the Expos' inaugural home game.

29,000 Fans, Frozen Ground, and 6,000 Folding Chairs

While the April 14 home opener drew over 29,000 fans in perfect spring weather, conditions couldn't have been more different for another early home game at Jarry Park. Harsh winter conditions had left the field frozen solid, forcing staff — including GM Jim Fanning — to shovel snow off the ground the morning of June 5, 1969.

Despite those efforts, ice and snow persisted across the ballpark. The team had set up 6,000 folding chairs as makeshift seating arrangements, anticipating at least some fan interest. Nobody showed up. The official attendance read zero, marking a uniquely bleak moment in Expos history. Jarry Park already resembled a country fairground, and an empty, frozen stadium only reinforced how difficult those early franchise years truly were. The team's struggles were further evident in May and June, when the Expos lost 20 games in a row. That April home opener had made history as the first MLB game ever played outside the United States, a milestone the Expos achieved by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7.

Mack Jones Becomes Mayor-for-Life of Jonesville

The April 14 home opener gave Montreal fans more than a victory — it gave them a folk hero. Mack Jones's three-run homer and two-run triple triggered an explosion of fan adoration that journalist Ted Blackman immortalized with one word: Jonesville.

The left-field bleachers became his kingdom, and fans crowned him Mayor-for-Life on the spot. Media reactions were equally electric, with 200 US and Canadian reporters documenting every moment.

• Jones received 150 overnight phone calls from female fans after the game
• Ticket lines formed immediately post-game, launching Montreal's love affair with the Expos
• Blackman framed it as the first American claim to Canadian territory since the War of 1812

Jones had arrived in Montreal after being selected by the Expos in the 1969 expansion draft, bringing with him a reputation as a proven power hitter who had slugged a career-high 31 home runs during the 1965 season with the Braves. That same year, Jones delivered his finest overall season as an Expo, finishing with .270 avg, 22 HR, 79 RBI and cementing his status as one of the most beloved figures in the franchise's early history.

Five Expos Errors Let the Cardinals Score Seven in the Fourth

What had been a dominant 6-0 lead evaporated in a single inning when the Expos committed five errors in the fourth, letting the Cardinals score seven runs to take a 7-6 lead.

The defensive lapses started with John Bateman dropping a foul popup from Mike Shannon, extending his at-bat. Maury Wills then let Shannon's grounder slip through his legs, and Bob Bailey booted Julian Javier's grounder, loading the bases.

Dal Maxvill, a light-hitting infielder with just three career home runs, capitalized on these blown opportunities by launching a grand slam to right center, aided by Jarry Park's left-to-right winds. What had looked like a comfortable blowout became a 7-6 deficit, with the Expos' infield resembling the Three Stooges on frozen ground.

The Expos, however, refused to let the game slip away, and McGinn pitched 5.1 innings to secure the win, helping Montreal ultimately prevail 8-7 in a game that lasted just two hours and sixteen minutes.

Maury Wills Scores on a Wild Pitch to Seal an 8-7 Win

Rattled but not broken, the Expos fought back against the Cardinals' stunning seven-run fourth inning to reclaim the lead. You watch Maury Wills, the crafty veteran, demonstrate elite baserunning tactics that ultimately decide the game's outcome.

Wills reaches base and immediately pressures the Cardinals' battery. A wild pitch creates the perfect opportunity, and Wills instinctively breaks for home. His heads-up read secures the go-ahead run, securing late inning lead at 8-7.

The moment captures everything meaningful about this historic afternoon at Jarry Park. Montreal's crowd erupts as Wills slides across the plate, turning a chaotic, error-filled contest into a memorable victory. The Expos survive their messy defensive performance, delivering franchise fans their first genuine home win to celebrate. Jackie Robinson had once thrilled Montreal baseball fans as a member of the Montreal Royals, and this new chapter of the city's baseball story felt every bit as electric. Wills, who had led the National League in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons from 1960 to 1965, reminded everyone on this afternoon that his instincts on the basepaths remained as sharp as ever.