Federal Baseball Talks Stephen Strasburg, Walter Johnson And Montreal Expos' History With Filmmaker Ken Burns.
by Patrick Reddington on Jun 10, 2010 1:00 PM EDT
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PrintDocumentary filmmaker Ken Burns was in the nation's capital on Tuesday night to throw out the first pitch before Stephen Strasburg's first pitch, and the "Baseball" director is promoting the September (28th/29th) release on PBS of "The Tenth Inning", the next "inning" in his so far 9-part baseball-history-spanning documentary which picks up where the original series left off in 1992 and chronicles the nearly two decades of baseball that have passed since the ninth episode of the film aired. Mr. Burns was kind enough to take a few minutes after Strasburg struck out Pirates' outfielder Lastings Milledge to end his first scoreless frame, to talk to Federal Baseball about the Nats' newest starter, the uniqueness of his situation and the history of the team that currently calls the nation's capital home...
Federal Baseball (FB): You've spent years watching and studying archival footage of baseball's history, is the hype surrounding Stephen Strasburg's debut completely unique, or do you recall anything that can compare with the circus surrounding Strasburg's debut?
Ken Burns: "I think it is completely unique, I mean we know football players because we've seen them in college, we know basketball players cause we've seen them in college, but a baseball player doesn't have that kind of exposure, but we've sort of followed [Strasburg] since high school and we've been aware that there's this 'second coming' arriving here and tonight is so spectacular, and that last pitch to [Lastings] Milledge was a pretty nice indication."
FB: I was looking for comparisons throughout DC baseball history, and Walter "Big Train" Johnson...
Ken Burns: "Well certainly with the Nationals, the Washington Senators' history it's gotta be Walter Johnson in terms of having someone with that spectacular command, but I was thinking in terms of hype, maybe Ted Williams, we knew about him in the Pacific Coast League and he was going to be promoted and came up and was everything we thought he would be."
FB: The new films picks up in 1994, if I read correctly?
Ken Burns: "In 1992, our series came out in 1994...the last bit of action we did in the series was the 1992 World Series, we back up to the NLCS and Barry Bonds' last throw as a Pittsburgh Pirate and sort of start the story there..."
FB: Cause as an Expos fan, 1994 is really a big turning point for us...
Ken Burns: "Well we do a big huge, huge section on the Montreal Expos...
FB: What do you think about the first international team leaving Montreal and coming back to the nation's capital?
Ken Burns: "It's bittersweet is it not? You think about that team Felipe Alou had, ahead of those impressive Braves by 6.0 games I think it was, and they never get to find out if they were the best in baseball and it looked like they were the best team, with Pedro Martinez, Marquis Grissom, Moises Alou...it's a really great team, John Wetteland I think was with that team..."
FB: [That season] really changed the whole history up there, changed the whole franchise..."
Ken Burns: "It just pulled the air out of the tire, and they never found a way to inflate it."
FB: What do you think about the way the Nationals have kind of ignored Montreal history and not carried it on here?
Ken Burns: "I've been unaware of that, so I wouldn't like to comment...you know it's, when you start anew in a new place, particulary with a place that has had such a storied but also as complicated history as the Senators have had in Washington and any pro team in this nation's capital, I think it's maybe not excusable but understandable that you would link to what the historical vibes are here, this is the place of American history, it would be hard to start celebrating the Canadian past. I mean, I understand it how it could be frustrating for an Expos fan..."
...that was it. I mentioned to Mr. Burns that I've tried my best to keep the Expos' history alive, mentioning the possibility of a Montreal Expos Day at every opportunity, but the five minutes between innings he had to talk were over that quickly.
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Thank you for bringing up the Expos and I'm surprised at Burns' response....
Looking forward to the “big huge, huge section on the Montreal Expos…”
"...eyeblack-oozing baseball cyborg" - Bryce Harper, masked like #3...
Don't Be A "Crow"... - P.R., Draft Day 2010
"It's bittersweet, is it not?"
Thanks for this, Patrick. Too bad you didn’t have an extra 15 minutes…
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
I can hear his voice saying that......
Incredible that PR scored the interview!
"...eyeblack-oozing baseball cyborg" - Bryce Harper, masked like #3...
Don't Be A "Crow"... - P.R., Draft Day 2010
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 10, 2010 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Awesome, quick interview.
Good call on the Expos questions, looking forward to the big bit on the Expos.
He's a historian and he needs novelty and drama.
The Expos are an outstanding prism through which to view the 90s and 2000s and a complete new phenomenom in MLB. The Nats on the other hand are interested in trying to build a DC brand and have greater desire to connect to the Senators understandably.
I’m actually starting to read “National Pastime”, Svruluga’s (aka the Blogfather) on the 2005 transition year. You’d think that as potential Expos get Hall of Fame consideration they’d be more likely to hook on to that than to Ripken and the Orioles.
Even in ’94, I was starting to grown greater sympathy toward the Expos as my alternate division team for when the Mets determined to run around in circles.
You really have to speak the language of the Nats in this one. The Wizards are going to change their colors because it’s obvious that it will lead to more season ticket holders. The Nats would be more likely to hook onto the Expos if they felt that those kind of events would be destination, memorable events that led to increased ticket sales and season ticket stuff.
OT: Did anybody here Ted Leonsis’ press conference? Impressive stuff.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
I should also add that the Homestead Grays are a higher priority for me than the Expos, though.
Griffith’s racism alienated a lot of black fans that likely persists to this day in old time black Washington. I wanted the team to be named the Grays, not that I expected it. I know they will continue to do the once a year kind of thing, but I am concerned that the Nats seem alienated from PG/Southeast/and classic downtown Washington.
One thing that would be really classy for the new Wizards would be to have some kind of jazz connection or Ellingtonian connection for the old school basketball heads around.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
+1
I wanted the Nats to be the Grays but didn’t expect it.
I have also thought that an Ellington connection for the Wizards would be cool (great minds SoulD, great minds!:)
How do you like that ring of “The Washington Black and Tan”?
It doesn't necessarily have to be Ellington...
…but it would be nice to have some kind of classier music kind of thing associated with the Wizards. The NBA is all bombast and nonsense for the in-game experience. You don’t have to have it every night, but sometimes you could do like an unplugged experience that was more classic maybe more family friendly. I don’t know.
What I do know is that I have great faith in Ted’s ability to be responsive to the people. He has been world class with the Caps. Half the reason I hate the NBA in the product of the league. I believe in Ted’s stuff so much that if he helped to make the Wizards so much he might be able to help turn the tide of the league somewhat for that great day in the sky when David Stern rides off into the sunset.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
black&tans?
You want to name a team the black & tans?? We already have the redskins, a name that’s incredibly insulting to native americans, Now you want to throw dirt in the faces of the irish?
+2.......I also wanted the team to be named the Grays...
"...eyeblack-oozing baseball cyborg" - Bryce Harper, masked like #3...
Don't Be A "Crow"... - P.R., Draft Day 2010
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 10, 2010 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool alternative
would have been to adopt the colors and design of the grays uniforms with the Nationals or Senators name on it. But yeah the Grays would have been really cool….. it would have been a statement …..
by NewJerseyAveSE on Jun 10, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't know how the copyright stuff works.
I remember at the time they came to town I was in a real radical phase, wanted them to be named the Grays, and hoped they could be a franchise that encouraged black fans across the country to embrace their baseball roots from a club based in the nation’s capital.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
Montreal History
Do you know if there is a precedent for teams that relocate carrying attempting to bring its honoring the past of their former home?
For instance, does Texas or Minnesota honor it’s former connection to Washington DC?
(I don’t know but perhaps Atlanta is unique in this regard having kept the name Braves and the fact that Aaron played in both Atlanta and Milwaukee.)
As a life long resident of the DC area, and despite the fact that the Nationals are a relocated franchise playing in the NL vs the AL, I think of them as being connected to the Senators not the Expos.
Generally, except for TBTC games, I don’t think teams acknowledge the franchise’s past if they go with a rebrand. You never hear about Browns history in Baltimore for example. Although the much more national nature of media nowadays might be a factor in the “keep the Expos alive” thought.
"Yes, but Rimmer Directive 271 states just as clearly, 'No chance you metal ba****d.'"
The A's pay attention to their roots,
and of course the Giants and Dodgers do as well. They didn’t “change their brand” as you put it though. Still, changing the team name doesn’t mean changing the team. The Wizards still honor the accomplishments (such as they were) of the Bullets.
Rob
"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."
—Connie Mack
The Ravens don’t acknowledge the Browns because of agreement that was made with the relocation to Baltimore — the expansion Browns were to be considered a continuation of the original Browns and the Ravens were to be considered an expansion team insofar as team histories were concerned.
The Washington Post had an article on the Nationals and what they consider their franchise history a few years ago. It also covers the Browns/Ravens, the Twins, and the Rangers as examples and counter-examples.
Don't know if I've seen you around.
Thanks for the good look.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
by souldrummer on Jun 10, 2010 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions
The Brewers do kind of acknowlege the Braves of Milwaukee era a little...
because of civic pride. But they ignore the Seatlle Pilots. Not that I blame them. The Pilots only existed a year before relocating to Milwaukee.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
Just tell Stan and the Lerners they can make more money if they mix in an Expos throwback.
Also, the Nats are wearing Senators uniforms I believe for one of the games in Baltimore.
At least they played their rainout........Phillie didn't want a DH....
"...eyeblack-oozing baseball cyborg" - Bryce Harper, masked like #3...
Don't Be A "Crow"... - P.R., Draft Day 2010
by cat daddy3000 on Jun 10, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Expos Part Deux? No, Senators/Nationals part 3
I don’t mind an Expo day but the Nationals should be a Washington connection, not Montreal. Washington’s professional baseball history goes back to the 1871 Washington Olympics. The Twins don’t recognize the Senators, nor do the Rangers (except on rare occassions). I also am glad they Nats were not named the Grays. The HOMESTEAD Grays were a Pennsylvania team, they just happened to play a few games in DC, but they were from the Pittsburgh area. They played the vast majority of their “home” games at Forbes Field and some at Griffith Stadium. BTW is Guzman the last Expo still on the team? I believe Livan came over also, but he hasn’t been here the whole time.
You trying to bring back the curse, man?
Beware the mal des Expos! Guzman didn’t start with the team until 2005, when they were already in DC. Livan came over from Montreal, but he’s traveled away and back since, as you point out. The last Expo was Nick Johnson.
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
How many of the players currently in the Nationals system were drafted by the Expos, a la Ian Desmond?
Bernadina was, too.
I can’t think of any others, but there are probably one or two.
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Balester
Your voice of doom and gloom. Read more at natsnewsnetwork.blogspot.com
by Dave at District Sports Page on Jun 10, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Bergmann
Be still my heart, be still.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
The Grays
They played more that a few games in at Griffith Stadium.
In the early part of there existence they were a Pittsburgh team, but later they played most of their games in DC.
DC has every right to claim them as a proud part of their baseball heritage, as does Pittsburgh (or to be more exact Homestead Pa.)
Here’s a interesting short documentary about them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt4VmaUnZwI
You're right that they were part of both cities.
But I would imagine they were part of both cities is that the Senators treated them like garbage. Good chance they probably would have moved to DC full-time with better treatment.
There’s a great book on the Homestead Grays that I really enjoyed reading.
Hey Patrick, any kick back for Fed Ball when people buy books of an Amazon link?
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
Hey, welcome Jeffersonian.
Thanks for the link. Classic stuff.
Souldrummer stands alone for Miguel Batista. Many want to see Capps save games. Dream big! MOAR RUNZ!!! MOAR BATISTA!!!!
by souldrummer on Jun 10, 2010 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks
I owned that certificate for a little while , until I “got an offer I couldn’t refuse”. Note the signature of the President of the ball club is A.G. Mills. He was the head of the Mills Commission, the group that made up the story about Abner Doubleday inventing baseball. He was also one of the founders of the National League. There’s a LOT of early baseball history surrounding Washington.
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