Looking at this photo, you'd think it would be almost impossible to figure out when it was taken. And you're right -- there aren't many clues, but there are enough to at least pinpoint the date, if not the inning.
The key clue in the photo is the catcher. In the era when this photo was taken -- clearly from 1972-77, the years Jose Cardenal played for the Cubs, John Boccabella was the Expos' primary catcher.
But that's not Boccabella -- it's Terry Humphrey, who was an Expos backup catcher from 1971-74. He played in only two Wrigley Field games that Cardenal also played in -- April 7, 1973 and the second game of a doubleheader on April 13, 1974 (I was actually at that doubleheader).
So which is it? It looks cold in the photo, and I can tell you from having been at the 1974 doubleheader that I remember it as being sunny (and 61 degrees, according to the boxscore).
Thus, this photo was taken on April 7, 1973, a game in which the Cubs blew a 2-0 sixth-inning lead but won 3-2 in 10 innings on a walkoff single by Ron Santo. It's impossible to tell which of Cardenal's at-bats this is; you can't see the pitcher or anyone else on the field except plate umpire Bill Williams and Expos SS Tim Foli, wearing that red-white-and-blue Expos beanie.
0 recs | 49 comments
Call me a sucker on Xmas Eve, but...
I always liked the Expos’ uniforms.
Dan Serafini - December 24, 2009
The uniforms were OK.
They were the first team to wear light-blue (instead of gray) road uniforms like you see here.
The logo was strange — it was an attempt to make the word “Expo” into a wacky-looking “M” — and the red-white-and-blue cap scheme was bizarre.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
It took me the longest time to see the M in that logo…like until I was in my 20s.
Dan Serafini - December 24, 2009
I loved their unis
I still have a New Era Expo hat somewhere…
BigJohnAZ - December 24, 2009
Was it this logo or something else?
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
Al,
If that is the logo you’re talking about, I only now saw the “M” you referenced for the first time. To me, it always looked like “elb,” and I couldn’t figure out what that had to do with the Expos.
Unless it’s French, and stands for “Expos, Ligue de Base-ball.” But in French, the team was referred to as “Les Expos de Montreal.”
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
You see the "E" clearly, right?
The “X” is supposed to be what you’d get if you look at the middle of the “M”; it kind of “crosses” between the top and bottom of the middle portions.
The “P”? I dunno. The little blue circle at the bottom is supposed to be the “o”.
Yeah, I don’t get it either. But it’s supposed to both represent “Expo” and be an “M”.
What really didn’t make any sense was naming the team after a world’s fair that was largely forgotten a few years later. What MLB should have done was named the Montreal team the Royals, after the longtime minor league team there, and the Kansas City expansion team should have been named the “Blues” — they also had a longtime minor league team with that name, and it would have made more sense.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
Of course that makes more sense.
Hence, the reason why it was not done that way.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
And Bud Selig wasn't even commissioner then!
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
True.
I think the main reason “Expos” was chosen as a name was because of the linguistics in that area.
I live about 90-120 minutes away from Montreal by car, and the city is partly English, but mostly French-Canadian. Hence, MLB wanted a name that was the same in both French and English.
The team had public polls conducted to see which name would work best. Expos was among the names in the poll. Among other names was Royals. And, ironically enough, Nationals!
Yep, if they had chosen that name, the team would never have had to rename itself when it moved to Montreal after the 2004 season.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
or might have become the DC Expos?
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
I think a reason they changed the name
Was because if you put an “e” at the end of that name, you get a little too much detail.
Add a “d” from there, and I might have to avert my eyes.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
i was joking about a reversal of fortune
Montreal Nationals become DC Expos
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
I see it now, sorry.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
its cool
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
In all seriousness,
The team was renamed the Nationals when it got to DC because the original Washington baseball teams used the name “Washington Nationals” almost interchangeably with Washington Senators.
A minor league affiliate of the Nationals is here in Vermont. It too was called the Vermont Expos for years, until it became the Vermont Lake Monsters (there is a story behind that name). But the change from Vermont Expos didn’t happen until a few years after the Nationals were in DC.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
As a result, the "Vermont Expos"
Were the last team in all of baseball to be called “Expos.”
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
"Lake Monsters"?
OK, let’s hear the story.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
I'll make a Fanshot about it.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
If you want the story, you've got it.
Well, at least, you’ve got my take of it.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
not sure about the word EXPO in the logo
here is what I find
here
now if this one is true its an awesome thing, but I find it hard to believe
Al, no where can I find anything explaining the word EXPO which really I dont see in the logo as well.
I agree about the name change would have been better
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
Another reason the team should have been called "Montreal Royals"
Is because if you split the name “Montreal” in half, you get “Mont Real,” which translates from French as “Royal mountain.”
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
Which is probably why the minor league team was called the Royals.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
You mean the Dodgers' farm team?
The one that relocated shortly after the Dodgers went to Los Angeles? Makes sense.
Vermont Cubs Fan - December 24, 2009
OK, thanks for finding that link.
I had not heard the “ejb” story before, but it does make some sense.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
if the EJB is correct that is a cool thing
and makes the logo much nicer now
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
Yeah, actually, it does.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
Expo 67, the World's fair, held in Montreal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_67
copingwiththecubs - December 24, 2009
i was discussing the logo not the nams
Cubbie-Tim - December 24, 2009
Let me ask this question.
It looks like thats a called third strike. The pose of which you can see the Umpires arm looks like it has some exuberance in it, such is know with the third called strike. Did Jose strike out in that game? and if he did, was it a called third strike. That might tell you exactly what inning it was
indytaz - December 24, 2009
Cardenal did not strike out in that game.
Keep in mind that what you see as an “exuberant” umpire call, like you would see from a plate umpire today, did not exist in 1973. Umpires didn’t do that in that era.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
in the picture you see the ball bouncing in the dirt
so unless the strike zone completely changed in 30 years…
jesus christos - December 24, 2009
It still could have been a strike, even though the catcher dropped it.
Rather than bouncing in the dirt, it appears the catcher dropped the ball. You can see him (and Cardenal) both looking down.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
Only other clue
I notice a pattern that most of these pix are early in the games. Might make it the bottom of the 1st….
KedzieKid - December 24, 2009
The Chalk
line on the back side of the batter’s box seems to be fairly untouched. I would think that would indicated early innings as well.
Luigi - December 24, 2009
Good observation.
It’s likely the first-inning AB by Cardenal. He wound up hitting a ground ball to third.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
It Appears
to be overcast and the only visible shadow is directly below the catcher. That would indicate a high sun meaning midday/early innings as well.
Luigi - December 24, 2009
I concur
I think I see a slight reflection of the sun on Jose’s helmet, and basing that on the layout of Wrigley, it’s still in the south-southwestern part of the sky, IMO.
BigJohnAZ - December 24, 2009
It looks
to me like Jose might have been looking fb or something inside and got a cb or breaking pitch that locked him up. Maybe you can find that on the tracker. Just kidding
Slamdog - December 24, 2009
Foli
If I had to guess, that’s not Tim Foli in the photo but rather 3B Bob Bailey. Not that this fact adds anything to solve the mystery but I don’t think from the angle of the photo that you’re seeing the SS in the background but rather the 3B.
krummy12 - December 24, 2009
If it were Bailey...
… wouldn’t you see the foul line somewhere in the photo?
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
I don't think so
If the white “blob” above the umpires knee is the blurred image of 3B, the photo of the Expos player would be Bailey and not Foli. Remember the angle of the foul line and the fact that Bailey wouldn’t be guarding the line. I would guess you’d need to get a shot from directly behind the catcher looking towards CF in order to get the SS into the shot.
krummy12 - December 24, 2009
You're right.
I didn’t see the blob at first glance, but that does appear to be third base.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
Am I crazy?
Or does the Cubs logo on Cardenal’s chest look backwards?
gauchodirk - December 24, 2009 via mobile
You're crazy.
The photo is obviously printed properly. Not sure what you think you’re seeing.
Al Yellon - December 24, 2009
I did a double take too...
The thumb of the batting glove kind of blocks the “C” on his jersey, making it look like the patch is reversed. Obviously it isn’t, but it was enough to make me give it a closer look.
Ross - December 24, 2009
It actually does look like that
but his finger is shading the "C’ logo, giving it a ‘strange’ look. The pic is fine — as everything else is fine.
San Diego Smooth Jazz Man - December 24, 2009
Looks like Jose's trying to play with a stuck eyelid
Mike Vails Evil Twin - December 24, 2009
Love me some Jose Cardenal!
Stuck eyelid or not!
Thanks for the sweet pic.
BucknerKongCardenal - December 27, 2009
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