Jarry Park Stadium
| Jarry Park Stadium | |
|---|---|
| Stade Parc Jarry | |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 45°31′58″N 73°37′37″W / 45.53278°N 73.62694°WCoordinates: 45°31′58″N 73°37′37″W / 45.53278°N 73.62694°W |
| Opened | April 14, 1969 (Baseball) |
| Closed | September 26, 1976 |
| Owner | City of Montréal |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 28,456 (1969) |
| Field dimensions | Left Field - 340 ft (103 m) Left-Centre - 368 ft (112 m) Centre Field - 420 ft (128 m) Right-Centre - 368 ft (112 m) Right Field - 340 ft (103 m) Backstop - 60 ft (18 m) |
| Tenants | |
| Montreal Expos (MLB) (1969-1976) | |
Jarry Park Stadium (English pronunciation: /ˈdʒæri/; French: Stade Parc Jarry, IPA: [stad paʁk ʒaʁi]) 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 was host to two American football preseason games in 1969; August 25 (Detroit Lions vs Boston Patriots) and September 11 (New York Giants vs Pittsburgh Steelers).
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.
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[edit] History
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.
[edit] Features and dimensions
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.
Although the centre field distance was posted as 420 feet, it was actually 417 feet to straightaway centre, and 420 feet to the deep left and right centre field corners.
[edit] Baseball moments at Jarry
April 14, 1969: In the first Major League Baseball regular season game in Canada, the Montreal Expos defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 8-7.[1]
September 29, 1971: Batting against Milt Pappas of the Chicago Cubs, Ron Hunt is hit by a pitch for the 50th time during the season. The Expos win, 6-5, on Hunt's game-winning single in the ninth inning.[2]
May 9, 1972: Willie Mays plays in his final game as a member of the San Francisco Giants. As a pinch-hitter, he gets a single in the ninth inning of a 7-1 Giants' loss to the Expos.[3]
October 2, 1972: In the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, the Expos' Bill Stoneman pitches the first MLB no-hitter outside the United States. Montreal wins, 7-0, but the Mets win the second game, 2-1.[4][5]
September 9, 1973: A year and a half following his last appearance as a member of the San Francisco Giants, Willie Mays plays the final regular season game of his career as the Mets defeat the Expos, 3-0, despite 13 Montreal hits.[6]
September 15, 1973: An attendance of 34,331 (the largest ever at Jarry Park Stadium) watches the Expos defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4. Bob Bailey singles home Ron Woods with the winning run in the 10th inning.[7]
September 28, 1974: Gary Carter hits his first major league home run off Phillies' pitcher Steve Carlton. The Expos win, 3-1.[8]
September 26, 1976: In the last baseball games played at Stade Parc Jarry, the Phillies win both games of a doubleheader, 4-1 and 2-1 (the second game shortened to seven innings due to rain), over the Expos. The win in the first game gives the Phils' their first National League East Division title.[9][10]
[edit] After the Expos
The stadium was used for various civic events in the years after the Expos moved out. It was gradually converted into a tennis stadium, with one corner of the court located at the old backstop. The stadium was renamed in honor of Pope John Paul II to mark his visit to Montréal and the park on September 11, 1984. The venue was renamed 'Du Maurier Stadium' in 1987. It has since been renamed again, to 'Stade Uniprix'.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "April 14, 1969 St. Louis Cardinals at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON196904140.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 29, 1971 Chicago Cubs at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197109290.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "May 9, 1972 San Francisco Giants at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197205090.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "October 2, 1972 New York Mets at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197210021.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "October 2, 1972 New York Mets at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197210022.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 9, 1973 New York Mets at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197309090.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 15, 1973 Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197309150.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 28, 1974 Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197409280.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 26, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197609261.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ "September 26, 1976 Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MON/MON197609262.shtml. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
[edit] External links
- Stade Uniprix official site
- Jarry Park Today
- Expos Historical Society: Jarry Park
- Baseball Chronology: Jarry Park
- Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes: Jarry Park
| Preceded by None |
Home of the Montreal Expos 1969 - 1976 |
Succeeded by Olympic Stadium |
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