Elliott: Van Horne to pick all-time 5 best Expos in Cooperstown

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseball Network

Hey Google: “Who is the best Montreal Expos Hall of Famer to have his plaque in Cooperstown?”

Google assist: “That is a very difficult question ... the Expos have had more players inducted into Cooperstown than the Blue Jays.”

It is not difficult question for Dave Van Horne. He was honoured with the Ford C. Frick Award in Cooperstown in 2011, after starting as the lead play-by-play broadcaster for the Expos starting on opening day 1969 ... and lasting for the next 32 years. Van Horne got better each year ... like a fine wine.

A Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductee. Van Horne has worked Miami Marlins games since 2001. Van Horne was named the 1996 Jack Graney award winner and in 2014 was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys.

Van Horne, who helped spread a love of the game coast to coast as the Expos reached post-season play in 1981, had six Hall of Famers to chose from. He also impacted the Toronto Blue Jays audience hiring a young buck from Burlington, Vermont. His name was Tom Cheek.

Expo draft Randy Johnson made his debut on Sept. 15, 1988 at Stade Olympique facing the Pirates. He appeared in 11 games with the Expos and was dealt to the Seattle Mariners as part of the Mark Langston trade. Then, his career took off well after his days as an Expo. His plaque is in Cooperstown.

Working Expos games, Van Horne called the first appearances -- in chronological order -- of five Hall of Famers in Cooperstown. Van Horne saw:

_ Gary Carter debut on Sept. 16, 1974 at Parc Jarry against the New York Mets.

_ Andre Dawson make his first appearance Sept. 11, 1976 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh facing the Pittsburgh Pirates.

_ Tim Raines debut Sept. 11, 1979 at Stade Olympique facing the Chicago Cubs.

_ Pedro Martinez, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, when they came to Montreal April 20, 1993. Martinez broke in the year before with the Dodgers on Sept. 24, 1992. He saw Martinez make his Expos debut April 8, 1994 as the Cubs visited Stade Olympique.

_ Vladimir Guerrero on Sept. 19, 1996 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium against the Atlanta Braves.

Van Horne ranks his top five all-time Expos Hall of Famers, beginning Friday.