Montreal Expos

Lore & Background

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this rivalry is its abrupt end. Unlike rivalries that fade due to divisional realignment alone, the Mets-Expos feud was severed by the franchise's relocation. The final years saw both teams struggling with ownership issues and financial instability, creating a shared narrative of decline before the Expos moved south to become the Washington Nationals in 2005. For Mets fans who grew up during this era, the memory of facing Montreal is tinged with nostalgia for a time when baseball felt truly international within the division, a feeling that vanished once the Expos left the National League East map.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of July hangs heavy over Olympic Stadium in Montreal as the Mets take the field. The massive retractable roof is open, letting in the Canadian summer sun that glints off the blue turf. In the on-deck circle, a young Mets batter adjusts his helmet, staring across the diamond at the Expos' pitcher, who has just thrown a blistering fastball to strike out the previous hitter. The crowd, a mix of French and English chants, roars as the two teams have battled for three straight days in this series. It is not just a game; it is a clash of two franchises that know what it means to be small-market outsiders fighting for every inch of ground in the National League East.

Reader's Guide

The Mets-Expos rivalry was characterized by its divisional intensity during the era when both teams were desperate to break through as contenders. Key head-to-head moments often occurred during critical late-season stretches where a single series could determine playoff seeding or elimination. Unlike the bitter animosity found in the Mets-Phillies or Mets-Yankees rivalries, this feud was often respectful, born from two franchises that frequently traded players and shared similar struggles with ownership. Culturally, the rivalry held significant weight for fans who appreciated the Expos' unique identity as Canada's only Major League team. The atmosphere in Montreal was distinct, offering a different flavor of baseball culture compared to New York. As the years progressed into the late 1990s and early 2000s, both teams saw periods of mediocrity, which softened the competitive edge but kept the connection alive through shared memories of past glories. The evolution of this rivalry concluded with the Expos' departure in 2005. The transition to the Washington Nationals effectively erased the Montreal chapter from the active schedule, turning a once-vibrant divisional matchup into a historical footnote. Today, it is remembered fondly by older fans as a time when the NL East felt like a true family of underdogs.

Did You Know?

• The Expos and Mets were division rivals for all 36 years that Montreal existed in Major League Baseball (1969–2004).
• Andre Dawson, a Hall of Famer who played for the Expos, later became a key figure for the Chicago Cubs but was a constant thorn in Mets' sides during his tenure in Montreal.
• The final game ever played by the Montreal Expos was against the New York Mets on September 29, 2004, at Olympic Stadium.
• Gary Carter, known as 'The Kid,' is one of the few players to have significant legendary status with both franchises, playing for the Mets later in his career after his prime years in Montreal.