MONTREAL -- Claude Raymond's eyes told the story.
Raymond, who worked for the Expos in the winter of 1968 selling tickets and was traded to them in 1969, could not conceal his sadness, bitterness and disappointment after it was announced yesterday that the Expos are leaving Montreal to go to Washington, D.C.
Raymond, a roving coach with the club, is one of the longest-serving people in the Expos organization. He came aboard in the winter of 1968 to sell season tickets along with Ron Piche.
The 66-year-old's eyes welled up as he stood in his Expos uniform along the first-base line before last night's final home game.
HAPPY TRADE
"I never thought I would see this day," the former reliever said. "When Montreal got the franchise, I was so proud of my city. I was with Atlanta then and I was telling everyone what a great city and a great baseball town it was.
"In August of '69, I got traded to the Expos. The Braves were in first place and I was going to an expansion team, but I was the happiest guy in the world."
Raymond had 20 saves for the Expos in 1970 and finished his 12-year major league career (46-53, 83 saves) with the Expos.
He said the Expos started on a downward spiral when original owner and founder Charles Bronfman sold the team in 1991.
He said "bad administration" turned off the fans.
"I'm telling you, the fans are still there," he said. "They've been burned before and I don't know what it would take to get them back, but now it's too late.
"I still can't believe it ... It's hard. I've dropped a few tears a while ago and I'm sure there will be a little more (last night).
"This has been my life. I've been in baseball for 50 years and you just don't throw them out the window like that."
Raymond said he would welcome the opportunity to continue to work with the franchise in Washington.
