The Kid, The Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, Le Grand Orange, Youppi!: The Crazy Business Of

Baseball has always been more than just a sport. It has captured the hearts of millions, created legends, and given birth to iconic characters. In the history of Major League Baseball, few teams have had a lineup of players that could match the sheer star power of The Kid, The Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, Le Grand Orange, and Youppi! Each of these players brought something unique to the game and etched their names in baseball lore.

Let's start with The Kid. Gary Carter, known as The Kid, had a smile that could light up a stadium. He was a catcher for the Montreal Expos and later played for the New York Mets. Carter was known not just for his skills behind the plate but also for his leadership and contagious enthusiasm. He was a 11-time All-Star and had a career batting average of .262.

Andre Dawson, or The Hawk, was a true power hitter. He played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. Known for his cannon-like arm and incredible athleticism, The Hawk won eight Gold Glove Awards and was an eight-time All-Star. He finished his career with 438 homers and a batting average of .279.

Up, Up, and Away: The Kid, the Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, le Grand Orange, Youppi!, the Crazy Business of Baseball, and the Ill-fated but Unforgettable Montreal Expos

by Jonah Keri(Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6805 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	427 pages

FREE

Rock Raines, Rickey Henderson's contemporary, was nicknamed The Rock. He played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, and several other teams. Raines was a formidable leadoff hitter and a nightmare for opposing pitchers on the base paths. Rock finished his career with a .294 batting average and is considered one of the greatest leadoff hitters in baseball history.

Vladimir Guerrero, often referred to simply as Vladi, possessed breathtaking talent. He played for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels, and other teams. Vladi was known for his ability to hit pitches outside the strike zone and turn them into hits. He had a career batting average of .318 and hit 449 home runs. Guerrero was the American League MVP in 2004.

Pedro Martinez, known as Pedro, was a dominant pitcher for the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, and other teams. Pedro recorded a staggering 3,154 strikeouts in his career. He had an electric fastball and an arsenal of devastating breaking pitches. Martinez won three Cy Young Awards and finished his career with a sparkling 2.93 earned run average (ERA).

Le Grand Orange, Rusty Staub, was a beloved figure both in Montreal and New York. He played for the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, and other teams. Le Grand Orange was a consistent hitter and a fan favorite. Staub had a career batting average of .279 and hit 292 home runs. He was a six-time All-Star and became a revered figure in the city of Montreal.

Youppi! is not a player, but a mascot that holds a special place in the hearts of Montreal Expos fans. Youppi! is a big orange, furry creature that brought life and entertainment to the stadium. When the Expos moved to Washington and became the Nationals, Youppi! was adopted by the Montreal Canadiens hockey team as their official mascot. The baseball fans of Montreal may have lost their beloved team, but the memory of Youppi! will forever remain.

The Kid, The Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, Le Grand Orange, and Youppi! each played their part in the history of the Montreal Expos and left a lasting legacy in the hearts of baseball fans. Their unique talents, personalities, and contributions to the game will never be forgotten. Baseball brings people together, and these players and mascot have done just that.

Baseball is more than a game; it is an experience. The Kid, The Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, Le Grand Orange, and Youppi! are all part of the rich tapestry that makes baseball a beloved sport. Their stories will continue to be passed down through generations, keeping the spirit of the game alive. So, let's remember and cherish the crazy business of baseball and the remarkable characters that have made it what it is today.

Up, Up, and Away: The Kid, the Hawk, Rock, Vladi, Pedro, le Grand Orange, Youppi!, the Crazy Business of Baseball, and the Ill-fated but Unforgettable Montreal Expos

by Jonah Keri(Kindle Edition)

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6805 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	427 pages

FREE

The definitive history of the Montreal Expos by the definitive Expos fan, the New York Times bestselling sportswriter and Grantland columnist Jonah Keri.
     2014 is the 20th anniversary of the strike that killed baseball in Montreal, and the 10th anniversary of the team's move to Washington, DC. But the memories aren't dead--not by a long shot. The Expos pinwheel cap is still sported by Montrealers, former fans, and by many more in the US and Canada as a fashion item. Expos loyalists are still spotted at Blue Jays games and wherever the Washington Nationals play (often cheering against them). Every year there are rumours that Montreal--as North America's largest market without a baseball team--could host Major League Baseball again.
     There has never been a major English-language book on the entire franchise history. There also hasn't been a sportswriter as uniquely qualified to tell the whole story, and to make it appeal to baseball fans across Canada AND south of the border. Jonah Keri writes the chief baseball column for Grantland, and routinely makes appearances in Canadian media such as The Jeff Blair Show, Prime Time Sports and Off the Record. The author of the New York Times baseball bestseller The Extra 2% (Ballantine/ESPN Books),Keri is one of the new generation of high-profile sports writers equally facile with sabermetrics and traditional baseball reporting. He has interviewed everyone for this book (EVERYONE: including the ownership that allowed the team to be moved),and fans can expect to hear from just about every player and personality from the Expos' unforgettable 35 years in baseball. Up, Up, and Away is already one of the most anticipated sports books of next year.