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Parc Jarry (AGCX (grandstands))

$15.00

Product Description

PARC JARRY

AGCX (grandstands)

Montreal Expos (MLB) (1969-1976)

Jarry Park Stadium is a former baseball stadium in Montreal which served as home to the Montreal Expos, Major League Baseball's first Canadian franchise, from 1969–1976. It served as a temporary home (for 8 seasons) until the domed Olympic Stadium was finished and made available to the Expos. The ballpark was typically called simply (and incorrectly) "Jarry Park" within baseball circles.

The stadium began as a ballfield in Montréal's north end (Villeray) in a public park known as Jarry Park. The only structure was the small unroofed grandstand behind the home plate and backstop area, that sat maybe 3,000.

When the Expos were announced as an expansion franchise in 1967, finding a site proved to be a challenge. Delorimier Stadium, home of the old minor-league Montreal Royals was rejected as too small to be even a suitable temporary facility (capacity 20,000); it was eventually demolished in 1971. Initially it looked like the Expos would be using the Autostade from Expo 67, a fair which had inspired the new club's nickname. However, the city balked at the cost of adding a dome and 12,000 seats, forcing the Expos to find another site quickly. In August 1968, National League President Warren Giles and Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau visited Jarry Park. Giles liked the site's location—less than a mile from a highway and 200 yards from a commuter railroad. The Expos decided to convert the Jarry Park ballfield to something approaching major league standards.

Once the ballfield was announced as the home of the expansion club, the site was likewise expanded. Unroofed extensions were built from the original stand to the left and right field corners, a large bleacher was constructed across left field, and a scoreboard was built behind the right field fence. This work brought the park's capacity to a serviceable 28,500, and the park was deemed ready for the Expos.

Beyond right field was a pre-existing swimming pool in the city park. Long before the "splash hits" at AT&T Park in San Francisco, there were occasional "splash hits" here. One of those was hit by Willie McCovey, during a 6-4 win over the Expos on August 24, 1969. The idea of the swimming pool itself was later replicated in Chase Field in Phoenix).

The stadium was rather sparse, given that it was intended to be only a temporary home for a maximum of four years. The clubhouses were located along the left field line behind the stands. Due to its orientation, the setting sun often shone right in the faces of first basemen. It was completely exposed to the elements, which was a particular problem at the beginning and end of the season, given the short Montreal summers. The Expos frequently had to postpone early- and late-season games because there was no protection for the fans. However, a strike delayed the completion of Olympic Stadium, forcing the Expos to stay in Jarry until 1976.

Unused 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" standard size chrome postcard.

Dist. by George Tinker

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AGCX (grandstands)
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