The Washington Nationals are headed back to the post-season as a wild card for the first time.
A four-time winner of the National League East since relocating prior to the 2005 season, Washington has lost in the NL Division Series in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
At 51 seasons old, the franchise has never been to the World Series and made it to the National League Championship Series just once.
Back in 1981, the team was known as the Montreal Expos when the franchise won its only post-season series.
The year would be a double-edged sword for the Expos because it featured some of the greatest moments in the history of the organization and one of the worst.
Steve Rogers was one of the best pitchers for the Expos from 1973 to 1985 after getting drafted in the first round by the team in 1971.
A five-time all-star, Rogers ended his career with a 158-152 record. That may not seem like a great mark, but Rogers joined the team when the Expos were in their fifth year.
The righthander was 10-5 in his first season and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Gary Matthews of the San Francisco Giants. He was named the Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News.
With the Expos being celler dwellers in their early years, it’s not a surprise that Rogers was an all-star in 1974 despite posting a 15-22 mark.
However as the 1970s progressed, the Expos improved as did Rogers. In 1979, he was 13-12 with a NL best five shutouts. Montreal also was second in the NL East for the first time
A year later as the Expos were second in the division again, Rogers was 16-11 as he topped the NL with 14 complete games a finished fifth in the voting for the Cy Young Award.
Summer of 1981 Strike
The Expos would reach the post-season for the first and only time in 1981.
With the player’s going on strike during the middle of the season, the Expos would win the second half division title for the NL East. The led to baseball’s very first division series.
Montreal would battle the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Rogers drew the start in the opener of the best of five series that would be in Montreal’s Olympic Stadium against future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Steve Carlton.
The Expos posted a 3-1 win over the Phillies as Rogers would get the win. He got help from Jeff Reardon, who got the final out to secure the victory.
In the fifth contest, the two pitchers would meet for the second time.
Rogers was the star as the Expos clinched the series with a 3-0 win as they beat Carlton for the second time.
With a complete game effort, Rogers limited the Phillies to six hits. At the plate, Rogers had two hits and drove in two runs in the fifth inning.
Rick and the Blues
Next up was the Los Angeles Dodgers, who would go on to win the world championship.
After the two teams split the first two contests in Los Angeles, Rogers was one the mound for game three in Montreal.
Rogers tossed another complete game as the Expos won 4-1 with Jerry White‘s three-run homer in the sixth being the big hit.
Although Rogers had won three games in the post-season, it’s his last appearence that many remember and Expos fans would like to forget.
Montreal’s Ray Burris and Dodgers rookie phenom Fernando Valenzuela were hooked up in duel that was tied 1-1 heading into the ninth on Monday, Oct. 19.
Rogers got the first two outs in the ninth before his date with history collided with the bat of Rick Monday.
Monday’s solo homer would give the Dodgers a 2-1 win and clinch a spot in the World Series. The game would come to be known as “Blue Monday” and be comparable to the 1994 strike season that ended without a post-season as bad memories for Expos fans.
1982 and Beyond
Despite the bad ending for Rogers in 1981, the following season would the best in the 13-year career for the Missouri native. He made his seventh of eight straight starts for the Expos on Opening Day and went on to post a 19-8 record with a league best 2.40 ERA. He was also second behind Carlton.
After making the all-star team again in 1983 and going 17-12, Rogers struggled in his final two seasons before retiring in 1985.