Florida State League (1969-1997)
Tombstone
Born: 1969
Moved: August 31, 1997 (Jupiter Hammerheads)1Trontz, Ian. “Expos are now Hammerheads”. The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL). September 1, 1997
First Game: April 17, 1969 (W 4-1 vs. Cocoa Astros)
Last Game: August 31, 1997 (L 4-1 vs. Vero Beach Dodgers)
Florida State League Champions: 1974 & 1991
Stadium
West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium
Opened: 1963
Demolished: 2002
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1969-1971: Montreal Expos
- 1971-1976: Fred Whitacre
- 1977-1985: Bob Sowers
- 1985-1988: Ann Sowers
- 1989-????: Montreal Expos
Sale (1977): $50,000 (Fred Whitacre to Bob Sowers)2Otterson, Chuck. “Sowers sells Expos; Alou set to return”. The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL). December 3, 1988
Sale (1988): $500,000 (Ann Sowers to the Montreal Expos)3Otterson, Chuck. “Sowers sells Expos; Alou set to return”. The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL). December 3, 1988
Major League Affiliation: Montreal Expos
Background
The West Palm Beach Expos were the Class A Florida State League farm club of the Montreal Expos for nearly 30 seasons, starting with Montreal’s expansion debut in the National League in 1969.
West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium was also Montreal’s spring training for two stints during this era, from 1969 to 1972 and again between 1981 and 1997. The Atlanta Braves also held their spring training at Municipal Stadium from the ballpark’s opening in 1963 until its final year of operation in 1997.
On The Field
West Palm Beach won two Florida State League titles in 29 seasons. The 1974 club knocked off the pennant-winning Fort Lauderdale Yankees 2 games to 1 in the finals.
In 1991, West Palm Beach swept the Clearwater Phillies in a two-game championship series. In a fitting Class A ball episode, the Expos’ bus broke down in the middle of the night on the way home from the 1991 title-clinching game in Clearwater.4George, Dave. “Stadium’s glory days not forgotten”. The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL). August 31, 1997
Move To Jupiter
The Baby Expos played their final season in West Palm Beach during the summer of 1997 in lame duck fashion. The town of Jupiter, 20 miles to the north, broke ground on a $28 million new ballpark that March. Both the Expos and the St. Louis Cardinals would move their spring training operations to Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium in February 1998 and the Expos’ Florida State League franchise would relocate there as well.
Meanwhile, Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach would close on the final day of the 1997 season and was slated for the wrecking ball.
Immediately after the Baby Expos played their final game at Municipal Stadium on August 31st, 1997, team officials announced the results of the franchise’s name the team contest for the upcoming move north. The club would be known as the Jupiter Hammerheads when the Florida State League opened its 1998 season.
Trivia
Bob Reece, starting catcher for the 1974 Florida State League champion Expos, caught every inning of every game that summer.
West Palm Beach Expos Shop
WPB's OTHER BALL CLUB
WPB Tropics Logo T-Shirt
West Palm Beach’s Municipal Stadium was the long-time spring training home of the Montreal Expos and their Florida State League farm team, the WPB Expos.
But during the winter of 1989-90, it was also the home of the Tropics. The Tropics were part of the Senior Professional Baseball Association, a league for players age 35 and over that attracted big name ex-Major Leaguers during its brief existence. The Tropics won the league’s only championship in 1990 with a core of former Expos, including Ray Burris, Rodney Scott, Jerry White and manager Dick Williams.
This Tropics design is available in Coral, Turquoise and White from Royal Retros today!
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
In Memoriam
WPB Expos owner Bob Sowers died suddenly of a heart attack on July 11th, 1985 at age 55. His widow, Ann Sowers, would continue to run the team for three-and-a-half more seasons.
Links
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5 Responses
I’m looking for a team picture on the 1972 squad and pictures of Michel Dion when he was a catcher for them. Thank you.
Hello, I have lots of stuff from the team.
Al
[email protected]
I was a batboy in early 80s drove the go cart around for the give away.Grest times RIP Beatle Bailey
I was a relief pitcher for the west palm beach expos in 1974, spring training held@Daytona baseball training fields, located, across the Holiday Inn hotel. Began the season @West Palm Beach municipal stadium ,Fred Whitaker was the manager of the stadium, I’m thinking I was the only player from the state of Hawaii, Oahu, town of Waianae. Started career in 1973@ Jamestown NY. The NY. Penn League rookie league, can you guess my name??
Would like to know where 73,74 class A ball players with addresses, phone info so I can write and call to see who’s and what doing today, is there an web or site that I can visit!? Mahalo nui loa, and a big ALOHA!!! From paradise!!!!!.