Under the enveloping voice of Jacques Doucet, the ex-Expos softball tour ended Sunday afternoon in Lachine with a 16-12 victory for representatives of the defunct Montreal club against a local formation.
At 86, the venerable Claude Raymond celebrated his third win in as many starts in the last five days, following earlier victories at Sherbrooke and Lac-Mégantic. He was unanimously named last week’s MVP alongside Denis Boucher, Livan Hernandez, Bill Lee, Otis Nixon, Dave Palmer and Brian Schneider.
Photo Benoit Rioux
“When you have baseball in your blood, you want to play as long as possible,” commented Claude Raymond with a smile. Every time I’m asked to enter a pitch, I can’t refuse and it allows me to meet other players who have honored the Expos logo.
For the Kat Demes Pavilion
Over five days, the Expos Fest group raised an estimated $20,000 during the tour, which also toured Granby and Quebec. This amount will contribute to the opening of the Kat Demes Pavilion in the fall. Affiliated with Montreal Children’s Hospital, the site will house families whose child is receiving long-term treatment. This is the heart of it all!
Even if it’s a charity game, you have to be aware that there is a certain will to win on one side or the other. Claude Raymond, a former Major League Baseball pitcher between 1959 and 1971, strives to place the ball in the upper striking zone to avoid powerful shots from opposing batsmen. And he still does it in a surprisingly effective way!
It is phenomenal considering that the artilleryman from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu’s first game in Expos uniform took place 54 years ago, on August 19, 1969, at Jarry Park.
The whims of a tour
Behind the scenes, the benefit games also hide some secrets, sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing situations. In particular, there was one young player who deliberately hit through the mound during the tour to increase his chances of scoring.
When receiver Stéphane Richer, the former ice hockey player, pointed out that he could have injured Claude Raymond, the opponent replied: “It’s part of the game.”
In a charity game, that shouldn’t be the case. Richer will agree that such situations involving reckless opponents are even more common at hockey games involving former Canadiens.
“Spaceman”, perpetual teenager
Notice that pride is everywhere. For example, 76-year-old Bill “Spaceman” Lee consistently refuses to have a protective net in front of the hill when pitching. And although he plays with a larger ball than that used in baseball, he insists on throwing it over his shoulder like baseball.
Also, Spaceman doesn’t need to rely on a pinch runner to hit. Instead, he tends to turn a singles into a doubles, which he did in Granby to loud crowd applause.
Notorious stopovers
There are definitely more positives than negatives to be learned from these charity games as they allow former athletes to reconnect with the camaraderie of a sports club. And most opponents are friendly and accommodating, like this lucky pal who offered everyone a cocktail called “Doctor Pepper Bomb” at Dooly’s in Granby.
Spaceman will also have used his visit to the Eastern Townships to stuff himself with ice cream at the famous Chez Ben restaurant on S’bour la Belly. Livan Hernandez never wanted to leave Granby without trying. This is also a tour of the old Expos.