B4
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, June 22, 2019
MLB COLUMN
We’re all part of
Umatilla County history.
Baseball is doomed on
Florida’s Gulf Coast
SHARE
YOUR
PHOTOS
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Columnist
B
aseball is doomed on
Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Sure, they’ll still
have spring training, not to
mention sparkling beaches
and early bird specials.
But the Tampa Bay Rays
will become the Montreal
Expos (Version 2.0) in the
not-too-distance future.
Or, if that doesn’t pan
out, there are potential
backup plans in Portland,
Charlotte and Nashville
— maybe even Las Vegas,
the once-scorned city of
sin that every league now
wants to be in.
The Rays formally
became lame ducks with
word that Major League
Baseball is allowing the
team to explore the pos-
sibility of playing part of
its schedule in Montreal, a
jarring but not really sur-
prising development that
is almost certainly the pre-
cursor to this long-troubled
franchise fi nding a perma-
nent home far away from
Tampa Bay.
There is much work to
be done, for sure.
A pesky lease at the
Tropicana Field that runs
through 2027. The lack of a
new stadium in Montreal.
Not to mention the more
immediate issues that are
sure to crop up from a team
playing “home” games in
two cities that are roughly
1,300 miles apart.
But, rest assured, there
won’t be a team in Tampa
Bay a decade from now —
and, in all likelihood, the
end will come several sea-
sons earlier.
There was a giddy reac-
tion north of the border,
where the original Expos
resided from 1969-2004
before moving to Wash-
AP Photo/Paul Chiasson, File
Starved for fans despite success on the fi eld, the Tampa Bay
Rays have been given the go-ahead by MLB to look into play-
ing a split season in Montreal. An idea under consideration is
for the Rays to play early in the season in Tampa Bay and later
in Montreal at Olympic Stadium (above).
ington and becoming the
Nationals. Montreal still has
a devoted base of baseball
fans and deserved a better
fate the fi rst time around.
Another version of the
Expos would have a strong
shot at long-term success
under the right circum-
stances — most notably,
deep-pocketed ownership
and a new ballpark.
Both requirements are
moving toward reality.
Stephen Bronfman,
son of the Expos’ origi-
nal owner, Charles Bron-
fman, is spearheading the
drive to bring baseball back
to Montreal. He appears to
be far enough along in his
efforts that MLB agreed to
the extraordinary step of
exploring a two-city solu-
tion for the Rays’ fi nancial
woes.
“I think we’re close,”
Bronfman told reporters in
March before the Toronto
Blue Jays played an exhi-
bition game at Montreal’s
Olympic Stadium, which
has become a well-attended
tradition in recent years.
“There’s a feeling in the
air.”
Bronfman has moved
to acquire a prime parcel
of land that would be the
centerpiece of a new sta-
dium in Montreal. While
he’s continually preached
patience, no doubt mind-
ful of how the Expos failed
in their numerous attempts
to replace the Big Owe,
it’s clear that a path is
being cleared for baseball’s
return.
The Expos, let’s not for-
get, drew over 1 million
fans their fi rst six years
even while playing at tiny
Jarry Park. After moving to
Olympic Stadium in 1977,
they drew more than 2 mil-
lion fans four times and
were one of the more pop-
ular teams in the National
League through much of
the 1980s.
“It was a destination
spot,” said Steve Rogers, a
fi ve-time All-Star pitcher
for the Expos. “I have no
doubt that the city of Mon-
treal would go over the top
now to embrace a major
league team.”
The Expos’ fortunes
turned after Bronfman sold
the team in 1990.
The East Oregonian is proud to announce its partnership with Athena
Public Library, City of Echo, Milton-Freewater Area Historical Society,
Pendleton Round-up, Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Umatilla County
Historical Society and our readers on a new pictorial history book,
“Umatilla County Memories: The Early Years.”
YOU’RE INVITED
We are excited to invite you, our readers, to participate in this unique project. Please
bring your photos to one of our scanning sessions listed here — and be sure to check
our submission guidelines. Photos will be scanned on-site and given right back to
you. In order to keep things speedy, please fill out our simple photo submission form
prior to the session. Forms can be downloaded at Umatilla.PictorialBook.com.
Please plan to fill out one form for each photo you’d like to submit.
Download submission forms and pre-order at
Umatilla.PictorialBook.com
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
General interest photos, such as: commerce, industry, transportation, rural life,
public service, etc.
Photos taken between the 1800s and 1939.
Photos only — preferably original (no newspaper clippings or photocopies).
Photos taken in Umatilla County.
P E N D L E T O N
Limit 10 photos per family. No appointment necessary.
If you’re a private collector, call 360-723-5800 to set up an appointment.
th
of
july
HOSTED BY THE PENDLETON VFW “LET’ ER BUCK” POST 922
SCANNING SESSIONS
10 AM Thursday, July 4, 2019
THEME:
Saturday, June 22 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Tribal images only
Tamástslikt Cultural Institute
“Only in America”
47106 Wildhorse Boulevard, Pendleton
Sunday, June 23 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Echo Bank Building and Historical Museum
230 W. Main Street, Echo
Horse Staging Area: Western Auto/Baxter Parking Lot
Line-Up Area: SW Dorion Street
Monday, June 24
3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Athena Public Library
418 E. Main Street, Athena
From City of Pendleton building on SW Dorion to
Main Street to SW Court to the Convention Center
Wednesday, June 26
10 a.m. – noon
Umatilla County Historical Society
Heritage Station Museum
108 SW Frazer, Pendleton
Any Individual, Organization or Business - ALL ARE WELCOME
Thursday, June 27 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Milton-Freewater Area Historical Society
and Frazier Farmstead Museum
All Entries will receive a participation ribbon.
Trophies will be awarded in the following 14 Categories:
MOTORIZED - Best ClubMOTORIZED - Judges’ Choice
BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL • FIRST RESPONDERS & ARMED FORCES
PEOPLE WITH PETS • BAND / DRUM & BUGLE • YOUTH DANCE &
DRILL GROUPS • FLOATS • CIVIC GROUPS & SERVICE CLUBS
YOUTH GROUPS • EQUESTRIAN (2 riders or less)
EQUESTRIAN GROUPS • EQUESTRIAN GROUPS - Royalty
HORSE & BUGGY/WAGON
In Addition, the VFW will award the
“Patriot Trophy” to the entrant with the most overall votes
1403 Chestnut Street, Milton-Freewater
(Winner of Patriot Trophy not eligible for additional trophies)
May be picked up at the Pendleton Chamber of Commerce,
Dean’s Athletic, DG Gifts, Elite Guns &
Tactical and the Pendleton Downtown Association
You may also mail requests to VFW Post 922 • PO Box 787 • Pendleton,
OR 97801 or email requests to: fbradbury@yahoo.com
Questions? Call Fred Bradbury at 541-377-7474
MASTER PRINTERS
N
W
Printing • Copy Center • Graphic Design
Not all photos submitted or used in
ads will appear in the final book.