The Vermont Expos are the New York-Penn League representatives of the Montreal Expos. The New-York Penn League is a short-season Class A league, so most of the players are drafted out of college, with a few high school players. Some others have been up to the higher A leagues or they were undrafted signees and have spent time in the Rookie Leagues or instructional leagues. They've been playing in Burlington since 1994 and call Centennial Field home.

Centennial Field is one of the oldest baseball parks in organized ball having hosted its first game in 1906. It has seen visits from major league and Negro League teams as well as serving as the home of the University of Vermont Catamounts baseball team and various minor league teams over the years. The current grandstand was built in 1922 and has seen players such as Tris Speaker, Larry Gardner, Ray Collins,  Jesse Hubbard,  Robin Roberts, Kirk McCaskill, Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey, Jr. The field has a natural grass field with a dirt infield and warning track. The dimensions of the field are 323 feet down  the right field line, 405 feet to straightaway center , and 330 feet down the left field line. Seating capacity is right around 4,000 fans.  If you are interested in more history click on this link.

This summer I've been attending about half of the home games for the Expos. We've been excited by a great start, followed by a lengthy losing streak and since then it's been mostly little streaks of losses and victories. Recently, though, the team played an excellent home stand and looked like they might finish on a positive note. The season runs through the first week of September.

This is the entrance to Centennial Field at the left grandstand.	The view from the left field corner looking toward home.	A closer view of the grandstand from the left field corner.	The Expos were playing the New Jersey Cardinals, a St. Louis Cardinals farm team. These are two New Jersey players.
Three more New Jersey players.	A shot of the grandstand taken from the third base dugout side.	The view from my seat at the Expos games.	Champ, the Vermont Expos mascot. Champ is a mythical sea monster who lives in Lake Champlain. I don't normally like mascots, but I've grown attached to Champ. He's a pretty funny guy.
The Vermont Expos getting in a little warmup before the game.	The Vermont Expos bullpen before the game. The starting pitcher was warming up.	The National Anthem and the Expos lined up and on the field.	The first pitch of the game.

Page last updated August 31, 2001