Former Expos Players Brian Schneider and Livàn Hernàndez Join Expos Alumni Softball Tour

Fans in their thirties will especially recognize Brian Schneider and Livàn Hernàndez (yes yes!), who moved on to “Nos amours” at the start of the millennium.

“Montreal will always have a special place in my heart. This is the place where I was given the chance to realize my dream: to play in major league baseball, “said Schneider in an interview with La Voix de l’Est on Wednesday morning, as he was driving towards Sherbrooke. .

Of course, all was not rosy during his time in Quebec. Far from there. In fact, Schneider remained both a former Expos and an early Washington Nationals.

“As players, we tried above all to do our job, but it was not always easy. Even if many were going to leave a beautiful city for another beautiful city, we knew that many people around the team were about to lose their jobs. The last days of the season (2004) were extremely difficult,” admitted the 46-year-old former receiver.

But obviously, Schneider was able to draw something positive from this experience. Otherwise, the former receiver would not have embarked on a journey of some 2,500 km from his Florida home!

Livàn Hernàndez was clearly the best starter for the Expos in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. (La Presse archives, Robert Skinner)

Hernández in the spotlight

Several Tour regulars will be back at Stade Napoléon-Fontaine on Friday, including Denis Boucher, Marc Griffin and Bill “Spaceman” Lee. Solicited by the TVA Sports channel, the legendary Claude Raymond will unfortunately be absent.

The organizers, however, have to attract Dave Cash and Livàn Hernàndez, who have appeared in three and two Major League Baseball All-Star Games respectively. Hernàndez even led the National League in innings pitched from 2003 to 2005.

“Livàn had a very complete arsenal. He could surprise hitters with an extremely slow curve. He was also able to place his shots in the right place, ”said Brian Schneider, a privileged witness to the Cuban’s exploits.

“We have developed a great bond and it will be a pleasure to see Livàn again over the next few days.”

Hernàndez was also known for his defense on the mound and we guess that even at 48 years old, he still manages on a ball field!

Georges Laraque and Stéphane Richer, two outstanding figures in the history of junior hockey in Granby, will also wear the blue-white-red uniform for the occasion.

As always, the opposing roster will be made up of local personalities from different backgrounds.

A worthy cause

The Expos Alumni Softball Tour is part of a series of initiatives that have so far raised over $1 million for the Kat D DIPG Children’s Hospital Foundation. from Montreal.

“Kat D” is the diminutive for Catherine “Kat” Demes, who was swept away at the age of 5 by infiltrating protuberant glioma, a malignant tumor that generally wreaks havoc in less than 12 months. She was the niece of the main Expos Fest Events executive, Perry Giannias.

The 2023 version of the Tour will pass through Sherbrooke and Lac-Mégantic before stopping in Granby. The alumni will also be in Quebec and then Montreal this weekend. Individual tickets are available for $10, but admission is free for ages 12 and under.

Friday evening, the first pitch is scheduled for around 7 p.m. at the Stade Napoléon-Fontaine. It will be preceded by a “tailgate party” from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., weather permitting.

2023-08-16 20:07:43
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