Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos Dream Team

Every sport evolves with each

passing generation -- from the

size and athleticism of players

to game strategy. 

Baseball’s evolution, however,

is both historic and unique

given the pre-integration and

dead ball eras. For the former,

full segregation took place from

1887-1947. Full integration,

which was a gradual process,

came in 1959. The Deadball

Era was a period in the early

20th century when baseball was characterized by low scoring and

emphasis on pitching. 

There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time though it

is generally assumed that the era ran from the late 1980s until the

late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered home run records

leading to exorbitant salaries. 

The Washington Nationals have been a Major League Baseball

franchise since 1969 as part of MLB expansion. After a failed

contraction plan, MLB purchased the Expos and reloaded them

to Washington D.C., where they have called home since 2005.

They became the first MLB team in the nation’s capital since the

Washington Senators moved to Texas in 1971. 

The franchise’s lone World Series came in 2019, defeating the

Houston Astros in seven games. The franchise has five National

League East titles and another playoff appearance as a wild card

team. 

Today, I formed a Nationals/Expos Dream Team that encompasses

all eras. For openers, to make this roster, four years with the

franchise are required. No exceptions. With the free agency era,

I’m not going to cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 

I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven relievers.

For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the bullpen. For

position players, I am taking what I believe is the best of the best

regardless of era. For the bench players, it’s the best of the rest

with versatility being heavily considered. Merit achievements such

as Hall of Fame, All Star appearances and Gold Gloves are

considered but not guaranteed. General impactfulness on the

franchise is also considered.

Generational reminders

If I believe you were the best at your position in the pre-integration

era, you are on the team. If you played on a World Series champion,

there is no guarantee of landing on this roster. If you played during

a bad season, that does not deter you from being on this roster.

Unlike the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, there are no

morality clauses. This is baseball, not the Boys Scouts. 

Starting pitchers

Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Steve Rogers, Pedro Martinez,

Dennis Martinez

Despite needing Tommy John surgery in the early going of his

career, Strasburg has put together an excellent resume. Entering

his 12th season with the franchise, Strasburg is a three-time All-Star.

He led the National League in strikeouts in 2014 and wins in 2019.

Also in 2019 he helped deliver the franchise's lone World Series title.

Strasburg was the World Series MVP. Since signing a free agent

contract from the Detroit Tigers in 2015, Scherzer has delivered

enormously for the Nationals. Five of his seven career All-Star

appearances have come in a Nationals uniform as has two of his

three Cy Young Awards. Scherzer has led the National League in

strikeouts three times and has pitched two no-hitters in a Nationals

uniform. Rogers is the franchise's most successful pitcher, having

been a career Expo for 13 years. Rogers was a five-time All-Star

and led the National League in ERA in 1982. He also helped

himself at the plate with 122 career hits and 101 sacrifice bunts. 

Pedro Martinez is best known for his dominance with the Boston

Red Sox. However, the greatness of his career began as an Expo.

Martinez went 55-33 with a 3.06 ERA in an Expos uniform. He also

won the first of his three Cy Young Awards in a Montreal uniform in

1997. He still holds the franchise record for lowest ERA and the

most strikeouts in a season with 305 on the way to a Hall of Fame

career. Dennis Martinez was the epitome of a durable picture and

innings-eater. Three of his four career All-Star appearances came

in an Expos uniform and he also threw the only perfect game in

franchise history in 1991 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Bullpen

Closer -- Jeff Reardon

Tim Burke, Sean Doolittle, Mike Marshall, Tyler Clippard, Chad

Cordero, Mel Rojas

Reardon could be inconsistent at times but he had six successful

seasons with the Expos on the way to becoming the franchise's

all-time leader with 152 saves. He led the Major Leagues in saves

with 41 in 1985. Reardon made consecutive All-Star appearances

in 1985 and 1986. Burke spent seven seasons with the Expos

with his lone All-Star appearance coming in 1989. Among pitchers

in franchise history that have thrown at least 500 winnings, Burke

possesses the lowest career ERA at 2.61. Doolittle was only a

National for four Seasons but he was quite impactful because one

of his two All-Star Seasons came in a Washington uniform. He also

helped the Nationals deliver their 2019 World Series. Marshall was

only an Expo for four seasons but had a sterling 1.78 ERA in 1972

and led the National League in saves in 1973. 

Clippard's 414 games pitched are the second-most in franchise

history and in the process he was a two-time All-Star. Cordero

recorded 128 saves in his six seasons with the Nationals. He led

the National League in saves in 2005 and made the All-Star team

that season. Rojas pitched eight seasons with the Expos

compiling a 29-23 record with a 3.11 ERA. He is fourth in franchise

history with 109 saves. 

Infield

Catcher -- Gary Carter, First base -- Andres Gallaraga, Second

base -- Jose Vidro, Third base -- Ryan Zimmerman, Shortstop --

Trea Turner

Carter began his career as an outfielder before becoming a Hall

of Fame catcher. Carter spent 11 seasons with the Expos with

seven of them being all star appearances. Carter won all three of

his Gold Glove Awards with the Expos and led the National

League in RBIs in 1984. Galarraga, known as “The Big Cat,”

played eight of his 19 Seasons with the Expos. His best season

with the franchise was 1988 when he was an All-Star and also

a Silver Slugger Award winner. Galarraga won back-to-back

Gold Gloves in 1989 and 1990. Galarraga has been considered

for the Hall of Fame. Vidro’s career overlapped both the Expos

and Nationals eras. Vidro played 10 years with a franchise and

was a three-time All-Star. He also won the Silver Slugger Award

in 2003.

Zimmerman spent all 15 of his Major League seasons with the

Nationals and is the franchise leader in four categories. He was

an All-Star and a Silver Slugger Award winner twice each. He

was also a Gold Glove Award winner in 2009 and helped the

Nationals deliver the 2019 World Series title. Turner is entering

his seventh season with the Nationals and wasted little time

becoming an impact player. He is one of 26 players in Major

League history to hit for the cycle on two occasions. He led the

National League in stolen bases in 2018 and helped deliver the

Nationals 2019 World Series. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Tim Raines, Centerfield -- Andre Dawson, Rightfield

-- Vladimir Guerrero

Hall of Fames across the board. Raines often gets overshadowed

because he played at the same time as Rickey Henderson but is

one of the best leadoff hitters in Major League history. Raines

spent 13 total seasons with the Expos and was an All-Star seven

times. He was the National League batting champion in 1986 and

led the National League in stolen bases four years in a row.

Dawson's career is most commonly associated with the Chicago

Cubs because of his 1987 National League MVP season but 11

years of his 21-year career with the Expos. Dawson was National

League Rookie of the Year in 1977 and made three of his eight

All-Star appearances as an Expo along with three of his Silver

Slugger Awards and Gold Gloves. Guerrero spent eight of his 16

seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Expos. In a Montreal

uniform, he appeared in four consecutive All Stars. He won a

Silver Slugger Award in three of those seasons. Guerrero has

the highest batting average in franchise history on the way. 

Bench

Wilson Ramos, Adam LaRoche, Anthony Rendon, Howie

Kendrick, Moises Alou, Bryce Harper

Ramos’ .268 career batting average puts him second among

catchers in franchise history behind Carter (.269). Ramos played

for the Nationals for seven seasons with one of his two All-Star

appearances coming in 2016. That season he was also a Silver

Slugger Award winner.  LaRoche played for the Nationals for four

seasons with his best campaign being in 2012 when he won

both a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award. Kendrick enters his

fifth season with the Nationals and is already an icon because of

his tenth inning grand slam to lift the Nationals to an upset over

the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and go ahead home run

in Game 7 of the World Series in 2019. Kendrick was the NLCS

MVP.

Rendon spent seven seasons with the Nationals with his best one

being his last in 2019 when he was an All-Star, All MLB first team

and Major League RBI leader in helping the Nationals to the World

Series title. He was also Comeback Player of the Year in 2016.

Alou played a mixture of both left and right field and was an Expo

for five seasons. He was an All-Star in 1994 and Silver Slugger

Award winner that season also. The younger generation may take

issue with Harper not being a starter but it's hard to beat three Hall

of Famers. Harper, who is now a Philadelphia Phillie, made his

debut at 19 years of age and immediately made an impact winning

Rookie of the Year award and an All-Star selection that season.

In a Nationals uniform, Harper was the 2015 MVP of the National

League and a six-time All-Star. 

Manager

Felipe Alou

In all likelihood, Alou is keeping the seat warm for current manager

Dave Martinez, who guided the Nationals to their 2019 World Series

but has yet to manage for Major League seasons. In his 10 years

as manager Alou recorded a franchise-best 691 wins, 171 more

than Buck Rogers. The Expos reached the 90-win plateau in his

first full season and he was the Manager of the Year in 1994 during

the strike-shortened season. Alou’s strength during his time with

the Expos was developing young talent, most notably Larry Walker,

John Wetteland, Delino DeShields and his Moises Alou.

Team

2019

Coming off a disappointing 82-80 season, the franchise dismissed

manager Dusty Baker and replaced him with Martinez. They also

lost Harper as a free agent to division rival Philadelphia. The

Nationals went 93-69 during the regular season and defeated

Milwaukee in a one-game wild-card. The Nationals outlasted the

heavily-favored Dodgers in five games in the NLDS. They swept

the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS and defeated the Houston

Astros in seven games of the World Series. The Nationals became

the first team in North American professional sports history to win

all four road games in the World Series.

Philadelphia Phillies Dream Team

 

Every sport evolves with each passing generation -- from the

size and athleticism of players to game strategy. 

Baseball’s evolution, however, is both historic and unique

given the pre-integration and dead ball eras. For the former,

full segregation took place from 1887-1947. Full integration,

which was a gradual process, came in 1959. The Deadball

Era was a period in the early 20th century when baseball

was characterized by low scoring and emphasis on pitching. 

There was the Steroid Era, which has no definite start time

though it is generally assumed that the era ran from the late

1980s until the late 2000s. This era was defined by shattered

home run records leading to exorbitant salaries. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have been a Major League Baseball

franchise since 1883. Despite the franchise’s long history and

rabid fanbase, they are mostly associated with futility but like

most teams, they have had their high points. The franchise

has two World Series titles, beating the Kansas City Royals

(1980) and Tampa Bay Rays (2008). The Phillies have won

seven National League pennants and 11 National League

East division championships. 

Today, I formed a Phillies Dream Team that encompasses all

eras. For openers, to make this roster, four years as a Phillie

are required. No exceptions. With the free agency era, I’m not

going to cheapen this roster with 1-3 year rentals. 

I’m forming a 12 man pitching staff, five starters and seven

relievers. For the latter, I want at least one lefthander in the

bullpen. For position players, I am taking what I believe is the

best of the best regardless of era. For the bench players, it’s

the best of the rest with versatility being heavily considered.

Merit achievements such as Hall of Fame, All Star

appearances and Gold Gloves are considered but not

guaranteed. General impactfulness on the franchise is also

considered.

Generational reminders

If I believe you were the best at your position in the pre-

integration era, you are on the team. If you played on a World

Series champion, there is no guarantee of landing on this

roster. If you played during a bad season, that does not deter

you from being on this roster. Unlike the Major League

Baseball Hall of Fame, there are no morality clauses. This is

baseball, not the Boys Scouts. 

Starting pitchers

Robin Roberts, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Curt Schilling,

Steve Carlton, Cole Hammels

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Roberts was a seven-time

All-Star, led the Major League in wins four times and strikeouts

twice. Roberts once pitched 28 consecutive complete games.

His 199 wins in the 1950s were second in that decade only to

Warren Spahn. Roberts won 20 or more games six

consecutive seasons including 28 in 1952, becoming the first

picture to accomplish such a feat in a season since Dizzy

Dean in 1935. Alexander, on the way to a Hall of Fame career,

led the National League in wins six times, strikeouts six times,

ERA four times and was a three-time Triple Crown winner.

Alexander won 30 or more games three consecutive years

between 1915-1917. Schilling has been a lightning rod

because of various controversial comments that he has made

after his playing days but a strong case is an order for Hall of

Fame candidacy. Though Shilling has three World Series

rings for different teams, his reputation as a big game picture

began during his time with the Phillies. Schilling especially

stood out in the 1993 postseason, winning NLCS MVP. 

Three of Schilling’s seven All-Star appearances came with

the Phillies.

When it comes to dominant left-handed starting pitchers,

Carlton deserves a seat at the table along with Sandy Koufax,

Warren Spahn, Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw.

Carlton spent 15 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with

the Phillies with his most dominant coming in 1972 when he

went 27-10 with a 1.97 ERA. Carlton was a 10-time All-Star,

four-time Cy Young Award winner, four-time National League

wins leader and five-time strikeout leader. Carlton was a

member of the 1980 World Series champions. Hamels

established himself as one of the best starting pitchers in

the game in the 2000s and beginning of the 2010s. Hamels

was a centerpiece in the Phillies 2008 World Series

championship team. Hamels was the MVP of the NLCS and

World Series in 2008. Hamels was an All-Star three times in

ten years with the Phillies. 

Bullpen

Closer -- Tug McGraw

Jim Konstanty, Brad Lidge, Jonathan Papelbon, Ron Reed,

Ryan Madson, Steve Bedrosian

McGraw recording the final out of the 1980 World Series is a

memory that remains etched in Philadelphia sports fans

memories. After coming over from the Mets, McGraw

provided a stabilizing presence in the bullpen and added a

colorful personality to the team. For his career, McGraw

recorded 180 career saves but that total is deflated because

he also pitched a time when that statistic was not en vogue.

Konstanty pitched seven seasons with the Phillies. He was

an All-Star in 1950 and also that season the first relief

pitcher in Major League history to win the MVP award.

Lidge pitched four seasons for the Phillies and while three

of them were plagued with injuries, his 2008 season single-

handedly puts him on this roster. That season he converted

all 48 of his save opportunities and had a postseason ERA

of 0.96 in helping the Phillies win their first World Series in

28 years. Papelbon does not have a good relationship with

the Phillies organization based on controversial comments,

he belongs on this roster as he is the franchise's all time

leader in saves with 123. Two of his four seasons with the

franchise were All Star campaigns. 

After spending three years as an NBA player with the Detroit

Pistons, Reed became a productive relief pitcher for 19

seasons in the Major Leagues, eight with the Phillies. Reed

was a member of the franchise's 1980 World Series title team.

Madson pitched nine seasons for the Phillies and was

especially a key part of their bullpen in the 2008 World Series

season. Bedrosian pitched nearly four seasons with the

Phillies before being traded to the San Francisco Giants

late in his fourth season. Bedrosian’s 1987 season is

enough to get him on this team. That season, he was an

All-Star, National League saves leader and National League

Cy Young Award winner. 

Infield

Catcher -- Darren Daulton, First base -- Ryan Howard,

Second base -- Chase Utley, Third base -- Mike Schmidt,

Shortstop -- Jimmy Rollins

Early in his career, Daulton's primary value was defense

but he also evolved into a productive offensive catcher.

Daulton is one of four catchers in baseball history to lead

his league in RBIs joining Roy Campanella, Gary Carter

and Johnny Bench. Daulton was a three-time All-Star and

National League RBI leader in 1992. Howard  was a feast-

or-famine hitter. He hit 382 career home runs including a

franchise-record 58 and 2006 but he also holds the Major

League record for Golden Sombreros, which are the most

games with four strikeouts. Howard was a huge centerpiece

in the Phillies 2008 World Series team; he was a three-time

All-Star, National League Rookie of the Year in 2005 and

NLCS MVP in 2009. He led the Major Leagues in RBIs

three times and home runs twice. He was MVP in 2006.

Utley and Rollins were one of the best middle infield

tandems of their generation. Utley is not yet in the Hall of

Fame but a very strong case could be made that he should

be there. Utley was a six-time All-Star and four-time Silver

Slugger Award along with being a key figure on the Phillies

2008 World Series team. 

Rollins was a first-rate defensive shortstop as evidenced by

winning for Gold Gloves. He also became an outstanding

lead off hitter and is the franchise's all time leader in base

hits. Rollins was a three-time All-Star, National League MVP

in 2007 and National League stolen base winner in 2001.

Rollins was also a vital member of the Phillies 2008 World

Series team. Schmidt deserves a seat at the table when

discussing the best third baseman in Major League history.

On the way to a Hall of Fame career, Schmidt became a

member of the 500 homerun club. He was a 12-time All-Star

and three-time National League MVP. He led the National

League in homeruns eight times and RBIs four times. He

was also a 10 time Gold Glove Award winner, six-time Silver

Slugger Award winner and member of the Phillies 1980

World Series team. Schmidt was a three-time National

League MVP. 

Outfield

Leftfield -- Sherry Magee, Centerfield -- Richie Ashburn,

Rightfield -- Bobby Abreu

Magee is often forgotten about because of the era in which

he played, 1904-1914 with the Phillies. Though he fell short

of a Hall of Fame induction, the veterans’ committee put him

on the ballot in 2008. Magee led the National League in

RBIs four times and was a batting champion in 1910. Magee

also stole 441 bases, including 23 of home plate. Magee

was also one of the best defensive outfielders of his

generation. On the way to a Hall of Fame career, nobody

accumulated more hits of the 1950s than Ashburn. He was

a six-time All-Star, two-time National League batting

champion and led the National League in stolen bases in

1948. Abreu was a Phillie for nine seasons, two of which

were All Star campaigns. He was also a Silver Slugger

Award winner in 2004 and Gold Glove Award winner in

2005. Abreu is one of only seven players to record at

least 900 extra-base hits and at least 400 stolen bases. 

Bench

Bob Boone, John Kruk, Pete Rose, Dick Allen, Greg

Luzinski, Larry Bowa

Boone is one of the most underrated catchers in Major

League history, playing 12 of his 19 seasons in a Phillies

uniform. Boone won seven Gold Gloves with the only

catchers to win more being Ivan Rodriguez, Johnny

Bench and Yadier Molina. Boone played in an era when

he was frequently overshadowed by Bench, who many

consider is the best catcher ever. Boone was a member

of the Phillies’ 1980 World Series championship. Kruk

was the epitome of the Joe Sixpack appeal. He once

authored a book titled, “I Ain’t an Athlete, I’m a baseball

player.” After being traded from the San Diego Padres,

Kruk blossomed into an All-Star performer. He made

three consecutive All-Star appearances from 1991-1993

and was a member of the Phillies 1993 pennant winning

team.  You would be hard-pressed to find a more

compelling story in franchise history than Bowa. He made

the Major Leagues as an undrafted player and last 16

seasons, 12 is a member of the Phillies. Bowa did not

make the Hall of Fame but is one of the most iconic

sports figures in Philadelphia history. He was a five-time

All-Star, two-time Gold Glove Award winner and member

of the Phillies 1980 World Series team. 

Allen is one of the best players in Major League history

that is not in the Hall of Fame. Allen was the National

League Rookie of the Year in 1964 with three of his

seven All-Star appearances coming as a member of the

Phillies. Luzinski was an All-Star in four of his 11 seasons

as a member of the Phillies. He was the National League

RBI leader in 1975 and a member of the Phillies 1980

World Series championship team. He was also the MVP

runner-up in 1975. Rose is best known as a Cincinnati

Red but four of his five Seasons and Philadelphia were

All Star campaigns. Rose also helped the 1980 team

deliver a World Series. 

Manager

Charlie Manuel

Manuel is one of only two managers to lead the Phillies to

a World Series with Dallas Green being the other. Manuel

gets the nod based on winning percentage and also

leading the franchise the five consecutive National

League East Division championships including back-to-

back pennant-winning seasons in 2008 and 2009, the

former of which translated to a world series title. 

Team

2008

This choice might be considered recency bias to some

people but it's hard to ignore the fact that this team broke

a 28 year drought between World Series Championships.

With Utley, Howard, Pat Burrell, this team could put up

big offensive numbers and led the league in several

categories. The pitching staff was led by Cole Hamels

and had a deep bullpen. In the postseason, the Phillies

defeated the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS, the Los

Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS and the Tampa Bay

Rays in the World Series.