The 2003 Montreal Expos season was the 35th Major League Baseball (MLB) season for the Montreal Expos, and the team's penultimate season in Canada. The team competed as members of the National League East. The Expos played most of their home games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, while also playing 22 home games at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On August 28, 2003, the Expos were tied atop the Wild Card race of the National League, with several other teams all having a .526 winning percentage. However, the team faded during the stretch and failed to make the postseason, finishing 18 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 8 games behind the Florida Marlins in the Wild Card race. The Expos' season record of 83–79 (.512) was identical to the one they finished with the previous season. This was the Expos' last winning season in Montreal, and their last overall as a franchise until 2012. When rosters expanded on September 1, MLB refused to allow the league-owned team to add any players.
Spring training After holding spring training at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, from 1998 through 2002, the Expos moved to Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida, for spring training in 2003. The move to Viera came about as the result of a deal in which Major League Baseball bought the Expos from Jeffrey Loria, who then purchased the Florida Marlins; as part of the deal, the Marlins traded spring training sites with the Expos, moving from Viera to Jupiter. The franchise, as the Expos in 2003 and 2004 and then from 2005 as the Washington Nationals, would hold spring training at Space Coast Stadium through 2016.
Regular season June 24, 2003 – Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. June 28, 2003 - Texas Rangers outfielder Juan Gonzalez rejected a trade to the Expos, exercising the no-trade clause in his contract after the teams agreed to a deal. August 26, 2003 – The Expos rallied from being down 8-0 and 10–3 to claim a 14–10 win against the Philadelphia Phillies and be within two games of the National League Wild Card. It was the second biggest comeback in Expos history. September 14, 2003 – Vladimir Guerrero hits for the cycle against the New York Mets.
On August 30, 2002, MLB signed a collective bargaining agreement with the players association, which prohibited contraction through the end of the agreement in 2006.
Ultimately, the Expos finished 8 games behind the Wild Card (and World Series Champion) Florida Marlins.
Puerto Rico Although their attendance increased from 7,935 per game in 2001 to 10,031 in 2002, MLB decided that the Expos would play 22 of their home games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2003. Despite being a considerably smaller facility (seating approximately 19,000) than Montreal's Olympic Stadium, attendance in San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium averaged 14,222, compared with 12,081 in Montreal. The Puerto Rican baseball fans embraced "Los Expos" (particularly Puerto Rican players José Vidro, Javier Vázquez and Wil Cordero, and other Latin players like Vladimir Guerrero and Liván Hernández) as their home team (as well as the Latin players from other teams), all the while hoping the team would make a permanent move to Puerto Rico. Thanks in part to the San Juan games, the Expos were able to draw over a million fans at home in 2003 for the first time since 1997. The Expos' season in Puerto Rico was chronicled in the MLB-produced DVD Boricua Beisbol – Passion of Puerto Rico.
Opening Day lineup Source Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves Box Score, March 31, 2003 at Baseball Reference
+Opening Day StartersName Position Endy Chávez Center fielderJosé Vidro Second basemanRon Calloway Right fielderWil Cordero First basemanBrad Wilkerson Left fielderOrlando Cabrera ShortstopFernando Tatís Third basemanMichael Barrett CatcherTony Armas Jr. Starting pitcher
Season standings
National League East
Record vs. opponents
+Expos vs. American LeagueTeamAL West ANAOAKSEATEXTORMontreal1–20–32–13–03–3
Notable transactions August 20, 2003: The Expos signed Todd Zeile as a free agent. Todd Zell page at Baseball Reference]
Roster 2003 Montreal Expos Roster Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
Other batters Manager
Coaches (Third base) (Hitting) (Bench) (First base) (Bullpen) (Roving) (Pitching)
Game log
Legend Expos win Expos loss PostponementBoldExpos team member
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 1 || March 31 || @ Braves || 10–2 || Armas (1–0) || Maddux (0–1) || || 40,258 || Turner Field || 1–0
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 2 || April 2 || @ Braves || 3–0 || Day (1–0) || Ramírez (0–1) || Biddle (1) || 19,116 || Turner Field || 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 3 || April 3 ||@ Braves || 4–0 || Vázquez (1–0) || Ortiz (0–1) || || 19,505 || Turner Field || 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 4 || @ Mets || 0–4 || Cone (1–0) || Ohka (0–1) || || 18,040 || Shea Stadium || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 5 || April 5 || @ Mets || 1-3 || Glavine (1-1) || Armas (1–1) || Benítez (2) || 36,817 || Shea Stadium || 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 6 || @ Mets || 8–5 || Stewart (1–0) || Benítez (0–1) || Biddle (2) || 35,093 || Shea Stadium || 4–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 7 || @ Cubs || colspan=7| Postponed (snow) Rescheduled for April 8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 8 || @ Cubs || 1–6 || Clement (1-1) || Day (1-1) || || 29,138 || Wrigley Field || 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 8 || April 9 || @ Cubs || 0–3 || Prior (2–0) || Vázquez (1–1) || || 29,966 || Wrigley Field || 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 10 || @ Cubs || 7–1 || Armas (2–1) || Estes (0–1) || || 30,225 || Wrigley Field || 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 11 || vs. Mets@ San Juan, PRGames the Montreal Expos played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during the 2003 season counted as Expos home games. || 10–0 || Ohka (1-1) || Cone (1-1) || || 17,906 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 12 || vs. Mets@ San Juan, PR || 5–4 || Hernández (1–0) || Seo (0–1) || Biddle (3) || 18,264 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 13 || vs. Mets@ San Juan, PR || 2–1 (10) || Biddle (1–0) || Stanton (0–2) || || 16,332 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 13 || April 14 || vs. Mets@ San Juan, PR || 5–3 || Smith (1–0) || Strickland (0–1) || Biddle (4) || 13,155 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 9–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 15 || vs. Braves@ San Juan, PR || 1–2 (10) || Bong (1–0) || Smith (1-1) || Smoltz (4) || 13,339 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 16 || vs. Braves@ San Juan, PR || 2–3 || Ramírez (1–2) || Okha (1–2) || Smoltz (5) || 15,571 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 9–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 17 || vs. Braves@ San Juan, PR || 8–14 (10) || Bong (2–0) || Biddle (1–1) || || 13,170 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 9–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbbbbb" | – || April 18 || vs. Reds@ San Juan, PR || colspan=7| Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for April 19 as part of a doubleheader |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 17 || April 19 (1) || vs. Reds@ San Juan, PR || 8–7 (10) || Ayala (1–0) || Williamson (2–1) || || 10,296 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 10–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 18 || April 19 (2) || vs. Reds@ San Juan, PR || 9–5 || Vázquez (2–1) || Anderson (1–2) || || 13,109 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 11–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 20 || vs. Reds@ San Juan, PR || 5–7 || Sullivan (1–0) || Ayala (1–2) || Williamson (3) || 11,619 || Hiram Bithorn Stadium || 11–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 20 || April 22 || Diamondbacks || 4–0 || Ohka (2-2) || Good (1-1) || || 36,879 || Olympic Stadium || 12–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 23 || Diamondbacks || 2–6 || Dessens (2-2) || Hernández (1-1) || || 6,380 || Olympic Stadium || 12–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 22 || April 24 || Diamondbacks || 1–0 || Vázquez (3–1) || Kim (1–4) || Biddle (5) || 5,954 || Olympic Stadium || 13–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || April 25 || Astros || 10–2 || Day (2–1) || Robertson (1–3) || || 6,863 || Olympic Stadium || 14–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 24 || April 26 || Astros || 3–2 (10) || Biddle (2–1) || Wagner (1–1) || || 8,492 || Olympic Stadium || 15–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 27 ||Astros || 3–6 || Redding (2–2) || Ohka (2–3) || Dotel (7) || 52,900 || Olympic Stadium || 15–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 26 || April 29 || @ Brewers || 3–2 || Stewart (2–0) || DeJean (0–2) || Biddle (6) || 10,044 || Miller Park || 16–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 27 || April 30 || @ Brewers || 10–4 || Hernández (2–1) || Sheets (2–3) || || 10,945 || Miller Park || 17–10
|- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 28 || May 1 || @ Brewers || 5–0 || Day (3–1) || Franklin (1–3) || || 13,180 || Miller Park || 18–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 2 || @ Cardinals || 1–8 || Simontacchi (1–1) || Ohka (2–4) || || 41,810 || Busch Memorial Stadium || 18–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 3 || @ Cardinals || 1–3 || Stephenson (2–2) || Vargas (0–1) ||Calero (1) || 36,176 || Busch Memorial Stadium || 18–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 31 || May 4 || @ Cardinals || 2–6 || Morris (3–2) || Vázquez (3–2) || || 39,605 || Busch Memorial Stadium || 18–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 6 || Padres || 4–2 || Hernández (3–1) || Peavy (4–3) || Biddle (7) || 5,841 || Olympic Stadium || 19–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 33 || May 7 || Padres || 12-9 (10) || Biddle (3–1) || Orosco (0–1) || || 5,111 || Olympic Stadium || 20–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 8 || Padres || 12-5 || Ohka (3–4) || Lawrence (2–4) || || 5,274 || Olympic Stadium || 21–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 9 || Dodgers || 5-9 || Mota (2–1) || Stewart (2–1) || || 10,675 || Olympic Stadium || 21–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 36 || May 10 || Dodgers || 6-5 || Ayala (2–1) || Martin (0–1) || Biddle (8) || 8,084 || Olympic Stadium || 22–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 11 ||Dodgers || 4-3 || Pérez (2-2) || Hernández (3–2) || Gagné (12) || 14,488 || Olympic Stadium || 22–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 38 || May 12 || @ Giants || 4-3 || Day (4–1) || Moss (5–1) || Biddle (9) || 33,071 || Pacific Bell Park || 23–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 39 || May 13 || @ Giants || 6-4 || Smith (2–1) || Ainsworth (3-3) || Biddle (10) || 32,991 || Pacific Bell Park || 24–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 40 || May 14 || @ Giants || 6-3 || Vargas (1-1) || Foppert (2–3) || || 38,963 || Pacific Bell Park || 25–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 15 || @ Rockies || 2-4 || Jones (2–0) || Tucker (0–1) || Jiménez (11) || 23,197 || Coors Field || 25–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 42 || May 16 || @ Rockies || 4-1 || Ayala (3–1) || Cruz (3–4) || Biddle (11) || 27,117 || Coors Field || 26–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 43 || May 17 || @ Rockies || 6-4 (10) || Ayala (4–1) || Jones (1–2) || || 30,052 || Coors Field || 27–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 18 || @ Rockies || 0-4 || Chacón (5–2) || Ohka (3–5) || || 30,720 || Coors Field || 27–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 45 || May 20 || Marlins || 6-4 || Vázquez (4–2) || Willis (1-1) || Biddle (13) || 5,435 || Olympic Stadium || 28–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 46 || May 21 || Marlins || 7-2 || Vargas (2–1) || Pavano (3–5) || || 5,282 || Olympic Stadium || 29–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 22 || Marlins || 8–2 || Hernández (4–2) || Tejera (0–3) || || 6,249 || Olympic Stadium || 30–17