Up, Up, and Away

Up, Up, and Away chronicles the history of the Montreal Expos baseball franchise from its 1969 inception through its final season in 2004. Author Jonah Keri, who grew up as an Expos fan in Montreal, documents the team's journey through interviews with players, executives, broadcasters, and fans. The book covers key moments in Expos history, including the team's early struggles, their rise to prominence in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the what-if season of 1994. Keri examines the ownership changes, stadium issues, and management decisions that shaped the franchise's trajectory. The narrative tracks the Expos' notable players and personalities, from Rusty Staub and Gary Carter to Andre Dawson and Vladimir Guerrero. The book details how the team developed talent through its farm system while operating under financial constraints in a unique baseball market. Through the story of the Expos, Keri explores themes of cultural identity, the economics of baseball, and the complex relationship between a city and its sports teams. The book serves as both a historical record and an examination of how external forces can determine a franchise's fate.

Readers describe this history of the Montreal Expos as detailed and comprehensive, appealing to both hardcore baseball fans and casual readers interested in Montreal sports culture. Likes: - In-depth research and interviews with players, executives, and fans - Balance of baseball statistics with human stories and cultural context - Coverage of the team's unique bilingual identity - Behind-the-scenes details about the franchise's rise and decline Dislikes: - Some found the writing style repetitive - A few readers wanted more focus on gameplay/on-field moments - Minor factual errors noted by longtime Expos fans Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (487 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (157 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Keri captures the special relationship between the city and its lost team" - Goodreads "Could have used tighter editing but delivers on telling the full Expos story" - Amazon "The definitive account of baseball in Montreal" - LibraryThing

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🌟 Author Jonah Keri grew up in Montreal as a devoted Expos fan, attending countless games at Olympic Stadium and developing a deep personal connection to the team he would later chronicle. ⚾ The book's title comes from the Expos' theme song "Les Expos sont là" ("The Expos are here"), which included the English phrases "up, up and away" and was played after every home victory. 🏆 The Montreal Expos came tantalizingly close to reaching the World Series in 1981, and the book reveals how the 1994 MLB strike likely cost them another serious championship opportunity when they had the best record in baseball. 🌎 The Expos were the first Major League Baseball team based outside the United States, paving the way for international expansion and the later success of the Toronto Blue Jays. 💫 Despite the team's relocation to Washington D.C. in 2005, the book highlights how the Expos developed future Hall of Famers like Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, and Pedro Martinez during their 36-year run in Montreal.