Search
Missing Jarry Park
We are ten days away from the opening of the 2008 baseball season, and I am ready! There is still snow and ice in the North Country, but I'm ready for the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd.
It's too bad that we have to travel so far to enjoy a major league baseball game. Boston is the closest. We were spoiled for so many years by having the Montreal Expos just one hour away. For many years I was a regular at Expos games, but near the end I became an infrequent visitor.
The Big O, Olympic Stadium, was not a friendly place to watch baseball. To me it was just a block of cement into which they tried to pour a major league baseball team. It was no match for the Expos' original home, Jarry Park Stadium.
Ah, that's what I miss. Jarry Park. Maybe a visit to the La Canoe Tavern before, after or during the game. The fans were close to the major leaguers at Jarry Park, and that's where I struck up a friendship with Montreal's pitcher Joe Kerrigan.
Kerrigan had been called up to the major leagues in July of 1976. I had his minor league baseball card and brought it to the game, hoping to get it autographed. Early arrivals at Jarry Park could stand right by the team's dugout and take pictures of the players and easily get autographs, eyeball-to-eyeball.
Sure enough, along came Kerrigan, a relief pitcher, with not a lot to do during the Expos' pre-game warmups. I asked for his autograph, and Joe was surprised that I had his minor league baseball card, a young Joe Kerrigan with the West Palm Beach Expos. We talked about sports collecting and he was, indeed, a friendly guy. He stayed and chatted with me for almost thirty minutes, stopping intermittently to sign autographs for other fans.
Near game time he invited me back to the next night's game. I accepted his free ticket and the next night we talked some more. We shared a common interest in sports collecting as Joe was a collector of World Series programs. As the season wore on Joe and I struck up a nice friendship and a few times we hit the nightclubs of Montreal after the game. During the '77 season he spent a day off in Plattsburgh, shopping with his wife at Pyramid Mall and then visiting the "Foxy Gagnon Baseball Museum."
What a mismatch! Joe Kerrigan, 6 feet, 5 inches, from Philadelphia, and Foxy Gagnon, 5 feet, 6 inches, from good old Plattsburgh. But that's what could happen at Jarry Park, the friendliest ballpark I have ever seen. During the Jarry Park years I often talked with Larry Parrish and Jose Morales, who sometimes would take my entire folder of pictures and baseball cards, and get most of them signed by the players in the Expos' dugout.
And Jarry Park had atmosphere! There was The Dancer, who danced up and down the aisles behind home plate between innings. There were the fans in the outfield bleachers who created "Jonesville" in honor of Expos' outfielder Mack Jones, who was dubbed "The Mayor of Jonesville."
There was Mr. Peanut, the vendor who would toss bags of peanuts two or three sections away, and remember all the while who had paid and who hadn't.
Roger Savard was the director of group sales for the Expos. He arranged for the Sports Collectors Club from Plattsburgh Middle School to have a tour of Jarry Park, escorted by former major league pitcher Ron Piche. It was fun and a great experience for all of us. I still have pictures of some of students, standing in the Expos' clubhouse.
There will never be another place to watch baseball like Jarry Park. We were so lucky in those days. We had the chance to watch a young enthusiastic Gary Carter grow into a Hall of Famer. We watched "Le Grand Orange," Rusty Staub, have three of his best seasons (1969-1971). We watched a tough-as-nails pitcher named Steve Rogers take a no-hitter into the ninth inning. And we cheered for guys like Coco Laboy and John Boccabella.
In 1977 the Expos moved into the spacious Olympic Stadium, taking the closeness away and creating a gap between the fans and the players. We never saw The Dancer anymore and, shortly afterwards, Mr. Peanut was told to stop throwing his bags of peanuts. Jarry Park became a venue for tennis events and festivals.
By 1978 Joe Kerrigan was pitching for the Baltimore Orioles and in Earl Weaver's doghouse, and Jose Morales had been sold to the Minnesota Twins. A few years later Larry Parrish was traded to the Texas Rangers.
At the Big O we had the chance to see great players like Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Bill Gullickson and more, but we never found that closeness that came with Jarry Park. We had the chance to see baseball greats like Pete Rose and Tony Perez wear the Montreal uniform for a brief time, but we never had the chance to talk with them, eyeball-to-eyeball.
I'd like one more game at Jarry Park, a La Belle Fermiere hot dog in one hand and my autograph book in the other. Now that's baseball!
Comments
Foxy,
This is a good topic, lots of memories. We used to have a First Friday club that went to Jarry Park on the First Friday of the month that the Expos were home. A little jaunt down to the Old Munich on St. Denis apres the game for the revolving band and the girl's with the "shot buckets". Then there was the night we were talking to Jim Bouton who was warming up down the right field line. We bet he could not strike out the side if he got into the game, he said that he would. Sure enough, starts the 9th inning and K's all three Expos to win the game. On the way to the locker room, we held out $5 and he took it!!! I first met Tom Cheek (should be a Ford Frick Hall of Famer) there while he was doing the radio broadcast when the Expos were on TV. Remember the promo, "Come to Jarry Park and see the Booming Bat of Bob Bailey". Well Bob Bailey had hit about 8 homeruns, and this was in August.....I still feel that the Expos would have survived if they stayed at Jarry Park.
Posted by: Ross O'Loughlin | March 26, 2008 9:53 AM
Hey - I've been reading this BLOG and I don't know how I missed the entry from Mr. Hot Pants himself - yes, I'm talking about the "Chief." Shame on you little brother - I'm telling your mother!
Always, miss d!
Posted by: miss d | March 25, 2008 10:36 PM
Foxy
Another side story on Jarry Park. My Dad was an avid Giant fan, much like the Goose. In the early 70's the Giants came to Jarry Park for an exhibition game. Cliff Sr. and some of his old cronies chose to go up to the game. At that time Allie Sherman was the coach. Well, according to dear old Dad, he started the chant "Good-Bye Allie". The next day the Giants fired Allie and Dad took all the credit as he felt the rendition of "Good-Bye Allie" was the final straw. I'm betting the boys had a few Canadian Brews in them.
Joe
Posted by: Joe Staves | March 25, 2008 4:54 PM
Foxy, You aren't the only one who looks forward to the Baseball season. Although I am a Yankees fan, and live on the Wi/Mn border these days, I have my adopted team, the Minnesota Twins, to see, about an hour away! I too saw the Expos play at Jerry Park, and the Big O, and agree that Jerry Park was much more magical. The same problem exsists here, by having the Twins play in a makeshift Metrodome, which is a Football Stadium. There is always something special about an open air stadium to watch a baseball game, and the Twins will have their new stadium in 2010. I have seen ballgames in three domes, The Houston Astrodome, The HHH Metrodome, and Montreal's Olympic Stadium, and each one of them have problems being a good place to play baseball.
Although the Minnesota Twins are not expected to be any higher than the AL Cental cellar this season, the young talent on the team, always are exciting to watch. With Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and pretty much a new infield, outfield, and new pitching starters, I have alot of new names to root for!! Good luck with your Dodgers, and the best Manager in Baseball!!
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Steve... I'm taking an open mind on Joe Torre, the Dodgers' new manager. He's no Tommy Lasorda, though, and we'll have to see if he bleeds Dodger Blue or Pinstripes.)
Posted by: Steve Peryer | March 25, 2008 9:47 AM
Jerry Parc was an awesome park to see a major league baseball game in. In retrospect, the ‘Parc” was smaller than some minor league stadiums are today. I remember going and sitting along the third base line, the visiting side, and being able to talk to pitchers sitting along the fence in the bullpen. One day we got there early for a game against the Mets and got Tom Seaver’s autograph.
I agree with Rick. The Big ‘O’ was pretty cool. No matter where you bought tickets, inclusive of the $5 upperdeck seats, you could always move to the lower seats along the outfield lines. And the biere was tres tres frois!!!
Too bad baseball didn’t survive in Montreal. Now it’s a small fortune to see a game in New York or Boston. Good for baseball, I guess, but bad for great North Country Fans!
Posted by: Kern | March 25, 2008 9:38 AM
Now, I remember a night that was not so friendly @ Jarry Park - at least for one dumb Mets fan. This guy was sloppy drunk and would NOT shup up - I think he went to Tavern la Canoe at noon that day. In 2 different trips to the men's room he was in there going on and on about the Mets. This one hometown factory worker finally said "hey, you shadup about da Met". Blah, blah, Mets this and that. "I towd you shadup about the Met" but on and on & then the factory worker, with few Molson ales in him, became George Chavalo and beat the crap out of this NYC drunk.
One night I stayed until the end although the Expos were losing 6-0 and had nothing that night. Jarry Park was almost empty, maybe 200 of us left with the Expos up in the bottom of the 9th, 2 out and the count was 0-2. Suddenly a hit! And another and another. The darn Expos won 7-6 and we went like a shot down to the Cock & Bull Pub on Ste. Catherine. Hey, the Expos won!! We drank for free having brought the astounding news to the others there who had left early. By the way, Jarry Park is where Jackie Robinson played for the Dodgers Triple A ball club, the Montreal Royals - Montreal is set around Mount Royal. I share your opinion of Olympic Stadium - I only went there once & never again. Well, the Expos - I mean the Nationals - open their brand new stadium this weekend - although the 1st pitch was thrown by a college player = George Washington University played St. Joseph's there last weekend to test out all the park's features / work the bugs out. Play ball!
Posted by: Miney Rowlson | March 25, 2008 7:51 AM
Foxy;
Even though we live in Tucson, AZ, my wife Dorothy and I read your blog everyday and love it. Dorothy is from a great Plattsburgh family, one of the 11 Brennans. Your posting on Jarry Park brought back memories of years past. You're right, what a great ball park. Being from Philadelphia, and thus a rabid Phillies fan, we used to always get seats right behind the visting team dugout. Nothing like a cold LaBatt and baseball. Fans were so close to the field you could hear the players swear when they were thrown out. And Craig is right, I'll never forget the park announcer announcing John Boccabella when he came up to bat. My most memorable game there was one that the great Phillies lefthander, Steve Carlton was pitching and he hit Tim Foli. Foli stormed up to the mound while Carlton calmly waited for him. Foli went to take a swing, but Carlton beat him to the punch. It was a two hit fight. Carlton hit Foli and Foli hit the ground. Although Tim Foli was kind of a hot head, he was a real good ball player. By the way, I've been to the Foxy Gagnon Baseball Museum. You probably don't remember but quite a few years ago, Dorothy and I ran into you and Goose at one of the fine drinking establishments in Plattsburgh. We had a late, or early breakfast (depending on your perspective of time) at your house and you showed me your museum of memorabilia. At the time Johnny Podres, one of your heroes, was the Phillies pitching coach. (I was very saddened at his passing, as he was one of the greatest). We talked about Pods and baseball until it was almost light.
Anyway, sorry for the long write up, but I had been wanting to write for quite awhile. Keep up the great blog, And by the way, Dorothy says "Hi."
Tim
(Foxy's note: Great to hear from you, Tim, and thanks for sharing some Jarry Park memories. I do remember you and that long night. You married one of Plattsburgh's beauties -- I would never forget that part! Next time you hit the North Country give me a call.)
Posted by: Tim Horn | March 24, 2008 11:58 PM
I remember that tour quite well, we all got a baseball from the clubhouse and you and I ended up with boxes of all star ballots.
I am probably the only person that liked the Big O. It was easy to get to. You never had a hard time getting good seats. Canadian hot dogs were plentiful and cheap. The game I remember most was an cold October afternoon when Rick Monday took Steve Rogers deep sending the Dodgers onward and eliminating the Expos. Our seats were in the right field bleachers and the ball landed just to our right. That's why Monday is still known as Canada'a version of Bucky "@#$%^&!" Dent.
(Foxy's note: I had to teach that day, Rick. But I was listening to the game on the radio as I drove up the Military Turnpike towards my home on the Jersey Swamp Road. I tooted my horn all the way home after Monday's home run!)
Posted by: Rick K | March 24, 2008 12:10 PM
Jarry Park... ahhh yes, what a place. Over the years I've been to many of the ballparks all over the country... walked on the fields of some... had a few conversations with some of the great ones. But one thing they can't take the place of... and that's the place I watched my very first major league game. I was a young whipper snapper from Malone, and one night rode a bus sponsored by St Josephs Academy, back when that was the second high school in Malone... to a game at Jarry Park. Now, to be honest, I don't recall much of the game, who the Expos played, who won..etc.... but the bus ride home was worthy of an ESPN "Top Ten Plays"... seems those gals from St Joes had a thing for us boys from Franklin Academy. And the story stops there... since I have family that reads this here blog. :) ahhh yes, Jarry Park.. .wasn't it in Canada?
(Foxy's note: Sounds the stuff blogs are made of, Chief!)
Posted by: Chief | March 22, 2008 10:53 PM
Foxy,
What great memories you've stirred up again. Here are some of mine from Jarry Park.
Many future Hall Of Famers I got to see. Mays, Aaron, Seaver, Clemente, Stargell, Bench, Rose, Banks, Williams, Jenkins,Gibson, Schmidt, and others.
I watched Mays last regular season game in September 1973.
The pool in right field.
Rusty Staub playing in short sleeves in 32 degree April weather.
Heckling Expos left fielders from the bleachers. I remember once getting on Don Hahn while he was an Expo, then he was traded to the Mets and changing my tune.
$5.00 box seats.
The PA announcer Claude Moton announcing John BoccaBELLLLLLLLLLLa
Gil Hodges as the Mets manager. What a big man. Now there's a manager who commanded respect.
Craig Mathews
Posted by: Craig Mathews | March 21, 2008 5:10 PM