From 1979 - 1983 (I know, using multiple endpoints is a bad idea), the Expos were the best team in the National League record wise. All they had to show for it was a loss in the 1981 NLCS. Bill Virdon, an experienced manager was brought in to turn the team around after a disappointing 1982 season. They had several solid all-stars and hall-of-famers. On paper, this team should've blown away the Phillies. The problem was a lack of starting pitching beyond the first three and a thin bench that was rarely used. The team of the 1980s was never to be.
Best Player: I can't decide between Tim Raines or Andre Dawson...so I will award co-MVPs for this team.
Best Pitcher: Steve Rogers...Rogers and Bill Gullickson had identical 17-12 records, but Rogers had a better ERA and led the team in strikeouts.
All-Stars: Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Al Oliver, Tim Raines, Steve Rogers
Hall-of-Famers: Gary Carter, Andre Dawson
Rookie Card of the Year: Bryn Smith...I probably have a slightly different definition of a rookie card than most collectors (hey, it is my collection) as I have always hated those multi-player rookie cards. Bryn Smith gets his first solo card in the Topps set. Smith didn't have much of a season in 1983, but would go onto win 18 games in 1985 and wrap up his career as a member of the inaugural Colorado Rockies team in 1993.
Other Rookie Cards: Mike Gates (listed under retired players), Roy Johnson, Bryan Little
First Expo Cards: Terry Crowley, Doug Flynn, Randy Lerch, Dan Norman (listed under retired players), Mike Vail, Bill Virdon, Chris Welsh, Jim Wohlford, Joel Youngblood (listed under players on new teams)
Most interesting non-Topps card: Roy Johnson...wasn't really on the Expos roster in 1983, as he played for the AA Wichita Aeros, not a very interesting career either, as he cups of coffee with the Expos in 1982, 1984, and 1985 and that was it.
Other notes: Wallace Johnson is shown as an Expo in the Fleer set, but logged more playing time with the Giants in 1983, so he will be listed on the Giants checklist. Manny Trillo played on the Phillies in 1982 and had three cards in the regular Topps set (his regular card, all-star, and a record breaker card) showing him as a Phillie. Trillo was sent to the Indians in the trade that sent Von Hayes to the Phillies. He is shown as an Indian in the 1983 Traded set. He even started the 1983 All-Star game for the American League. The Expos acquired Trillo in August of 1983, to late for the Traded set...so his regular Phillies card is listed on this checklist.
Starters
| __ | TO | 370 | C | Gary Carter | MON |
| __ | TO | 420 | 1B | Al Oliver | MON |
| __ | TO | 169 | 2B | Doug Flynn | MON |
| __ | TO | 768 | SS | Chris Speier | MON |
| __ | TO | 552 | 3B | Tim Wallach | MON |
| __ | TO | 595 | LF | Tim Raines | MON |
| __ | TO | 680 | CF | Andre Dawson | MON |
| __ | TO | 495 | RF | Warren Cromartie | MON |
| __ | TT | 62 | MI | Bryan Little | MON |
| __ | TO | 320 | SP | Steve Rogers | MON |
| __ | TO | 31 | SP | Bill Gullickson | MON |
| __ | TO | 629 | SP | Charlie Lea | MON |
| __ | TO | 717 | SP | Scott Sanderson | MON |
| __ | TO | 290 | CL | Jeff Reardon | MON |
| __ | TO | 447 | RP | Bryn Smith | MON |
| __ | TO | 474 | RP | Ray Burris | MON |
| __ | TO | 189 | RP | Dan Schatzeder | MON |
| __ | RP | Bob James |
| __ | TO | 267 | RF | Terry Francona | MON |
| __ | TT | 128 | RF | Jim Wohlford | MON |
| __ | TO | 535 | 2B | Manny Trillo | PHI |
| __ | TT | 93 | C | Bobby Ramos | MON |
| __ | TT | 119 | UT | Mike Vail | MON |
| __ | TT | 22 | 1B | Terry Crowley | MON |
| __ | TO | 214 | OF | Jerry White | MON |
| __ | UT | Mike Stenhouse | |||
| __ | SS | Angel Salazar | |||
| __ | TO | 744 | CI | Brad Mills | MON |
| __ | TO | 57 | C | Tim Blackwell | MON |
| __ | OF | Gene Roof | |||
| __ | PH | Mike Fuentes | |||
| __ | PH | Wallace Johnson | |||
| __ | LF | Razor Shines | |||
| __ | IF | Mike Phillips | |||
| __ | C | Tom Wieghaus | |||
| __ | TT | 125 | RP | Chris Welsh | MON |
| __ | TO | 686 | RP | Randy Lerch | MON |
| __ | RP | Greg Bargar | |||
| __ | RP | Rick Grapenthin | |||
| __ | RP | Tom Dixon | |||
| __ | TO | 137 | RP | Woodie Fryman | MON |
| __ | DO | 492 | MN | Roy Johnson | MON |
| __ | TO | 164 | MN | David Palmer | MON |
| __ | TO | 516 | MG | Bill Virdon | MON |
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