In 1981, they were a win away from the World Series.
In 1994, well, they were 48 games away from winning the National League East.
In 1981 they were felled by Rick Monday's ninth-inning homer, and 13 years later, on Aug. 12, the players' association went on strike for fear of being locked out in the spring of 1995.
What was a paradox for the Montreal fans was that Expo owner Claude Brochu was a hawk -- he wanted a salary cap at any cost. So, despite being 74-40 and six games up on the Atlanta Braves, the Expos were in the anti-settlement camp.
Meeting after meeting ended without settlement until finally an R.I.P. tombstone was placed atop the 1994 World Series.
"It's part baseball and it's part business," said Ken Hill, who went 16-5 for the Expos to lead the team in wins.
"The same thing is happening in hockey right now."
The Expos who gathered in the spring of 1995 were much different. Larry Walker left as a free agent and Marquis Grissom and John Wetteland were dealt.
DISAPPOINTING
"You look back at 1994 and it's unfinished business," Hill said. "That's the disappointment of it all. We thought we were the best, we had the best record and we never got the chance to achieve what our goal was in the spring.
"I was traded here in 1992 and we had fans. If you win, no matter what the city, they'll come."
Hill, Joey Eischen, Lou Frazier, Tim Scott and former coaches Pierre Arsenault and Claude Raymond unveiled a Best Team in Baseball 1994 banner in left field.
"We've been like a travelling team the last two years," Tony Batista said. "I don't think we spent more than 10 days in Puerto Rico, despite playing all the games there.
"Personally, I would have liked to see the team stay here," said Batista, the ex-Blue Jay.
"This is like a European city. Toronto was like the U.S. Everything moved at a quicker pace, there seemed to be more technology and they seemed to build toward the future.
"In Montreal, they protect their history. Old Montreal is beautiful."
Ottawa Lynx season's ticket holder Ken Throop made the trip for the finale last night.
"I came to the final game here last year in case that was it," he said.
"I'll shed a few tears. It's the end of a franchise. If Toronto doesn't straighten things out the same thing will happen.
"I might take a double hit this year -- the Lynx have been talking about moving to Harrisburg."
