OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Baseball Comes to Montreal -- A Saga of the Expos

mjj55409 · 01-25-2019, 03:21 PM

Montreal still lost over 100 games, but kept it under 110, finishing with a 55-107 record.

C - Fran Healy (.206/.306/.291, 3 hr, 7 stolen bases). Healy takes over as primary catcher this season with Donald Hickey (.258/.310/.361, 3 hr, 19 rbi) sliding into the backup role.

1B - Tom Robson (.259/.299/.416, 14 hr, 37 rbi) and Doug Howard (.254/.296/.404, 6 hr, 34 rbi). Robson was a waiver claim from the Cubs in December of 1968. He received his most extensive playing time in 1972.

2B - Rick Burleson (.278/.328/.349, 6 hr, 5 stolen bases, 76 runs). Burleson moved from SS to 2B after Tim Foli was acquired from the Mets for RP Frederick Berg in an off-season trade.

3B - Jim Essian (.217/.324/.297, 7 hr, 63 runs). Primarily a catcher in the minor leagues, Essian may not have the bat to stick at 3B. But he showed very good glove-work in his first season at the hot corner.

SS - Tim Foli (.241/.277/.291, 11 stolen bases, 57 runs). As mentioned, Foli was acquired from the Mets for Frederick Berg (who was a Rule 5 selection in 1968 from the Yankees organization). Foli's bat might have some question marks, but his glove does not. He finished 3rd in the 1971 NL Rookie of the Year voting, and he won the 1972 Gold Glove. Foli, Burleson, and Essian are each just 21 years old, giving Montreal a pretty solid and young infield core.

LF - Jim Rice (.252/.291/.386, 7 hr, 45 rbi in 78 games) and Deron Johnson (.196/.285/.248 in 48 games). Johnson's miserable 1971 season carried over into an even worse start in 1972. When Rice was hitting .321/.384/.610 with 22 HR after 80 games with Peninsula (AAA), Johnson was released and Rice called up and given the LF job.

CF - Jim Breazeale (.227/.299/.420, 22 hr, 59 rbi). Breazeale is a 1B/LF who was given a chance to play CF. It was an experiment that failed miserably as Breazeale was brutal defensively.

RF - Robert Cole (.244/.348/.377, 11 hr, 64 rbi). Cole and Rice have the potential to give the Expos a solid OF corner pairing for quite a while. Both players need to cut down on the number of strikeouts to have staying power.

On the Farm

P Joaquin Andujar (1-1, 4.50 in 3 starts for West Palm Beach (A)). Andujar tore a muscle in his shoulder in late April, missing the remainder of the season. We're hoping for a full recovery.
OF James Buckner (.314/.399/.468, 21 stolen bases, 57 runs in 74 games in West Palm Beach (A)). Buckner, a 4th round selection last June, has really opened some eyes with his play. A speedy CF with a good glove.
P Dennis Eckersley (6-2, 3.58, 75 innings, 64 Ks for Jamestown (rookie)). 17 year-old Eckersley was selected 3rd overall in the 1972 June draft.

1972 June Draft

1. C Gary Carter, San Diego
2. OF Lyman Bostock, Milwaukee
3. P Dennis Eckersley, Montreal
4. P Dennis Leonard, Kansas City
5. P Burt Hooton, Texas
6. OF Chet Lemon, Minnesota
7. IF Larry Parrish, Cleveland
8. P Scott McGregor, Cincinnati
9. OF Leon Roberts, Detroit (did not sign)
10. P Frank Tanana, Cubs

News From Around the League

The Mets won 100 games and easily topped the NL East over St. Louis (90 wins). In the NL West, San Francisco (96 wins) took the division back from Atlanta (93 wins).

Hal McRae (.327/.391/.506, 19 hr, 96 rbi, 18 stolen bases) of the Cubs was named NL MVP. New York's Tom Seaver (18-11, 2.15, 259 innings) was awarded his 2nd consecutive NL Cy Young. Houston's Rick Reuschel (11-5, 2.00, 180 innings) took home the NL Rookie of the Year.

In the American League it should come as no surprise that both New York (111 wins) and California (93 wins) won their divisions, but it was much closer this season. Boston (107 wins) and Baltimore (97 wins) gave the Yankees fits in the East, while Oakland (92 wins) and Texas (90 wins) pushed the Angels to the very last day.

Baltimore's Al Oliver (.347/.396/.541, 23 hr, 101 rbi, 23 stolen bases) won the AL MVP. California's Mike Strahler (18-8, 1.96, 257 innings) won the AL Cy Young. The AL Rookie of the Year was Texas' Dan Ford (.261/.343/.512, 38 hr, 116 rbi).

The post-season was all about the brooms. New York and San Francisco both won their league championship series 3-0, and New York then topped San Francisco 4-0 for the World Series victory.

Don Drysdale (LA) picked up his 250th win and his 3000th strikeout. Jim Kaat (NYY) won his 200th game. Orlando Cepada (SF) hit his 400th HR, and Boog Powell (BAL) hit his 300th. Carl Yastrezemski (BOS) collected his 2000th hit, and both Ernie Banks (SD) and Al Kaline (DET) joined the 2500 hit club.

01-25-2019, 03:21 PM	#7
mjj55409 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,166	1972 Recap Montreal still lost over 100 games, but kept it under 110, finishing with a 55-107 record. C - Fran Healy (.206/.306/.291, 3 hr, 7 stolen bases). Healy takes over as primary catcher this season with Donald Hickey (.258/.310/.361, 3 hr, 19 rbi) sliding into the backup role. 1B - Tom Robson (.259/.299/.416, 14 hr, 37 rbi) and Doug Howard (.254/.296/.404, 6 hr, 34 rbi). Robson was a waiver claim from the Cubs in December of 1968. He received his most extensive playing time in 1972. 2B - Rick Burleson (.278/.328/.349, 6 hr, 5 stolen bases, 76 runs). Burleson moved from SS to 2B after Tim Foli was acquired from the Mets for RP Frederick Berg in an off-season trade. 3B - Jim Essian (.217/.324/.297, 7 hr, 63 runs). Primarily a catcher in the minor leagues, Essian may not have the bat to stick at 3B. But he showed very good glove-work in his first season at the hot corner. SS - Tim Foli (.241/.277/.291, 11 stolen bases, 57 runs). As mentioned, Foli was acquired from the Mets for Frederick Berg (who was a Rule 5 selection in 1968 from the Yankees organization). Foli's bat might have some question marks, but his glove does not. He finished 3rd in the 1971 NL Rookie of the Year voting, and he won the 1972 Gold Glove. Foli, Burleson, and Essian are each just 21 years old, giving Montreal a pretty solid and young infield core. LF - Jim Rice (.252/.291/.386, 7 hr, 45 rbi in 78 games) and Deron Johnson (.196/.285/.248 in 48 games). Johnson's miserable 1971 season carried over into an even worse start in 1972. When Rice was hitting .321/.384/.610 with 22 HR after 80 games with Peninsula (AAA), Johnson was released and Rice called up and given the LF job. CF - Jim Breazeale (.227/.299/.420, 22 hr, 59 rbi). Breazeale is a 1B/LF who was given a chance to play CF. It was an experiment that failed miserably as Breazeale was brutal defensively. RF - Robert Cole (.244/.348/.377, 11 hr, 64 rbi). Cole and Rice have the potential to give the Expos a solid OF corner pairing for quite a while. Both players need to cut down on the number of strikeouts to have staying power. On the Farm P Joaquin Andujar (1-1, 4.50 in 3 starts for West Palm Beach (A)). Andujar tore a muscle in his shoulder in late April, missing the remainder of the season. We're hoping for a full recovery. OF James Buckner (.314/.399/.468, 21 stolen bases, 57 runs in 74 games in West Palm Beach (A)). Buckner, a 4th round selection last June, has really opened some eyes with his play. A speedy CF with a good glove. P Dennis Eckersley (6-2, 3.58, 75 innings, 64 Ks for Jamestown (rookie)). 17 year-old Eckersley was selected 3rd overall in the 1972 June draft. 1972 June Draft 1. C Gary Carter, San Diego 2. OF Lyman Bostock, Milwaukee 3. P Dennis Eckersley, Montreal 4. P Dennis Leonard, Kansas City 5. P Burt Hooton, Texas 6. OF Chet Lemon, Minnesota 7. IF Larry Parrish, Cleveland 8. P Scott McGregor, Cincinnati 9. OF Leon Roberts, Detroit (did not sign) 10. P Frank Tanana, Cubs News From Around the League The Mets won 100 games and easily topped the NL East over St. Louis (90 wins). In the NL West, San Francisco (96 wins) took the division back from Atlanta (93 wins). Hal McRae (.327/.391/.506, 19 hr, 96 rbi, 18 stolen bases) of the Cubs was named NL MVP. New York's Tom Seaver (18-11, 2.15, 259 innings) was awarded his 2nd consecutive NL Cy Young. Houston's Rick Reuschel (11-5, 2.00, 180 innings) took home the NL Rookie of the Year. In the American League it should come as no surprise that both New York (111 wins) and California (93 wins) won their divisions, but it was much closer this season. Boston (107 wins) and Baltimore (97 wins) gave the Yankees fits in the East, while Oakland (92 wins) and Texas (90 wins) pushed the Angels to the very last day. Baltimore's Al Oliver (.347/.396/.541, 23 hr, 101 rbi, 23 stolen bases) won the AL MVP. California's Mike Strahler (18-8, 1.96, 257 innings) won the AL Cy Young. The AL Rookie of the Year was Texas' Dan Ford (.261/.343/.512, 38 hr, 116 rbi). The post-season was all about the brooms. New York and San Francisco both won their league championship series 3-0, and New York then topped San Francisco 4-0 for the World Series victory. Don Drysdale (LA) picked up his 250th win and his 3000th strikeout. Jim Kaat (NYY) won his 200th game. Orlando Cepada (SF) hit his 400th HR, and Boog Powell (BAL) hit his 300th. Carl Yastrezemski (BOS) collected his 2000th hit, and both Ernie Banks (SD) and Al Kaline (DET) joined the 2500 hit club. __________________ FABL -- Chicago Chiefs