William Shatner to narrate Expos feature on MLB Network

The popular documetary series MLB Network Presents is going back in time to celebrate one of the most interesting franchise’s in league history: The Montreal Expos.

This one-hour documentary, titled “The Colorful Montreal Expos,” will premiere on MLB Network on Tuesday, January 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET. As an added bonus, the feature will be narrated by legendary actor and Montreal native William Shatner, which adds an extra dose of authenticity to an already appealing and emotional subject.

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The title is fitting too. When you think about the Expos, you certainly think about those colorful red, white and blue uniforms. Beyond that though it’s the many colorful personalities who wore that uniform during the franchise’s relatively short 35-year existence that keep the Expos foremost in our minds. Many of those personalities are interviewed during the program, including Hall of Famers Andre Dawson and Pedro Martinez and Hall of Fame hopeful Tim Raines.

Those men and many other players and personalities connected to the Expos share their special memories and their unique perspective on baseball’s place in Montreal’s history. We’re also treated to an emotional and uplifiting testimony from Sandy Carter, the widow of Expos Hall of Famer Gary Carter.

The Colorful Montreal Expos covers a lot of ground in order to tell a story that’s well worth hearing.

From the highs of the team’s birth and immediate acceptance in Montreal in 1969, along with the exciting teams of the late 70s and early 80s, to the lows of “Blue Monday” and a 1994 squad that could only be stopped by baseball’s work stoppage. It’s all chronicled, and there’s a much-needed focus on the low times, as their impact on the players and fans are still felt today.

(AP) The 1994 situation is an especially important part of the story, as the franchise never completely rebounded leading up to its relocation to Washington D.C. in 2004.

Here’s a taste of what to expect.

The episode continues with Expos Cy Young award winner and Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez highlighting the talented 1994 Expos team, who were poised for a Postseason appearance before the season was cut short by the players’ strike in August. Former Expos general manager Dave Dombrowski, longtime Expos broadcasters Dave Van Horne and Rodger Brulotte, and journalists Michael Farber, Jonah Keri and Mitch Melnick explain the once festive environment surrounding Expos games at Olympic Stadium. The relocation of the franchise to Washington, D.C. in 2004 is covered with the current Mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre describing the city’s passion for seeing a baseball team return.

Oh, and don’t you worry Youppi fans. The Expos legendary mascot has his own segment too, because no reflection on Expos history is complete without one.

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The Colorful Montreal Expos is a captivating presentation that provides a greater perspective of the relationship between Montreal and its Expos. As with any relationship, there are highs and lows, hopes and heartbreak, a beginning and an end. But this ending leaves up hoping for a new beginning.

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