GaryMrMets
10-24-2003, 01:11 AM
http://montreal.expos.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mon/news/mon_news.jsp?ymd=20031013&content_id=577061&vkey=news_mon&fext=.jsp&c_id=mon
10/13/2003 5:29 PM ET
Cromartie remembers the early days
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
There were high expectations when Montreal Expos left fielder Warren Cromartie entered the big leagues for good in 1977. Along with Andre Dawson and Ellis Valentine, many baseball experts considered the trio to be the best young outfield in baseball.
While Dawson prospered and became a perennial All-Star and injuries curtailed Valentine's career, Cromartie's performance in the big leagues ranked somewhere between those of his two outfield mates. When it was all over, Cromartie finished with a .281 batting average, 61 home runs and 391 RBIs.
"At that time, we were young. And Ellis Valentine and Andre Dawson and myself tried to make names for ourselves," said Cromartie, 50. "We just moved into Olympic Stadium. We all came from the minor leagues. We were a close-knit outfield."
After the 1979 season, Cromartie found himself splitting time between left field and first base -- his natural position -- during the next four years. In fact, Cromartie was moved to first base on a regular basis in 1980 to make room for Ron LeFlore, whose best days were with the Detroit Tigers. That year turned out to be Cromartie's best season, as he hit .288 and drove in a career-high 70 RBIs.
"The first baseman's mitt is the first glove I ever put on. I love first base," Cromartie said. "I learned to play the outfield when I signed professionally. Going to first base was like going home. I had no problems with it."
From 1979 to 1982, Cromartie played on some talented Expos teams that featured Dawson, Gary Carter, Tim Raines and Larry Parrish. They often contended for the division title during those years, but fell short of the playoffs most of the time.
The only time the Expos played in the postseason during that period was in 1981, when they lost the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cromartie is baffled to this day that the Expos never won a championship, especially with all that talent they had on the roster.
"I guess it wasn't our time to win it," Cromartie said. "We didn't have a left-handed starter during that time. We came close a couple of times. In 1981, (the championship) was taken away from us by Rick Monday on a home run and that was it. Every time I see Rick Monday I get chills."
Cromartie's career with the Expos came to an end after the 1983 season, when he joined the Yomiuri Giants of the Japan Central League. Cromartie was thinking about staying in the Majors and signing with San Francisco, but was swayed when world home run leader and Yomiuri legend Sadaharu Oh convinced him to make the trip overseas.
The decision paid off handsomely for Cromartie, who averaged 30 home runs in his first three seasons with the Giants. Even more impressive is that Cromartie learned to speak the language after a tough adjustment during the first three years.
"I'm blessed. I'm a legend over there. They still like me. They still call me to go over there to do some television work. They still see my face," Cromartie said. "It was a great experience. It's like my second home.
"I was there seven years, but the first two or three years were tough -- money-wise, making adjustments, being away from home and playing Japanese-style baseball. It took me three years to get the language, the money, the traveling (straightened out)."
Cromartie had one more stint in the big leagues, playing with the Kansas City Royals in 1991 before retiring for good.
Today, Cromartie is living in Miami and doing "a little television and radio." He wants to get back into baseball full-time as a color commentator.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://montreal.expos.mlb.com/images/2003/10/13/BREOj3iO.jpg
Warren Cromartie batted .281 in his 10-year Major League career. (Expos Gallery)
10/13/2003 5:29 PM ET
Cromartie remembers the early days
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
There were high expectations when Montreal Expos left fielder Warren Cromartie entered the big leagues for good in 1977. Along with Andre Dawson and Ellis Valentine, many baseball experts considered the trio to be the best young outfield in baseball.
While Dawson prospered and became a perennial All-Star and injuries curtailed Valentine's career, Cromartie's performance in the big leagues ranked somewhere between those of his two outfield mates. When it was all over, Cromartie finished with a .281 batting average, 61 home runs and 391 RBIs.
"At that time, we were young. And Ellis Valentine and Andre Dawson and myself tried to make names for ourselves," said Cromartie, 50. "We just moved into Olympic Stadium. We all came from the minor leagues. We were a close-knit outfield."
After the 1979 season, Cromartie found himself splitting time between left field and first base -- his natural position -- during the next four years. In fact, Cromartie was moved to first base on a regular basis in 1980 to make room for Ron LeFlore, whose best days were with the Detroit Tigers. That year turned out to be Cromartie's best season, as he hit .288 and drove in a career-high 70 RBIs.
"The first baseman's mitt is the first glove I ever put on. I love first base," Cromartie said. "I learned to play the outfield when I signed professionally. Going to first base was like going home. I had no problems with it."
From 1979 to 1982, Cromartie played on some talented Expos teams that featured Dawson, Gary Carter, Tim Raines and Larry Parrish. They often contended for the division title during those years, but fell short of the playoffs most of the time.
The only time the Expos played in the postseason during that period was in 1981, when they lost the National League Championship Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cromartie is baffled to this day that the Expos never won a championship, especially with all that talent they had on the roster.
"I guess it wasn't our time to win it," Cromartie said. "We didn't have a left-handed starter during that time. We came close a couple of times. In 1981, (the championship) was taken away from us by Rick Monday on a home run and that was it. Every time I see Rick Monday I get chills."
Cromartie's career with the Expos came to an end after the 1983 season, when he joined the Yomiuri Giants of the Japan Central League. Cromartie was thinking about staying in the Majors and signing with San Francisco, but was swayed when world home run leader and Yomiuri legend Sadaharu Oh convinced him to make the trip overseas.
The decision paid off handsomely for Cromartie, who averaged 30 home runs in his first three seasons with the Giants. Even more impressive is that Cromartie learned to speak the language after a tough adjustment during the first three years.
"I'm blessed. I'm a legend over there. They still like me. They still call me to go over there to do some television work. They still see my face," Cromartie said. "It was a great experience. It's like my second home.
"I was there seven years, but the first two or three years were tough -- money-wise, making adjustments, being away from home and playing Japanese-style baseball. It took me three years to get the language, the money, the traveling (straightened out)."
Cromartie had one more stint in the big leagues, playing with the Kansas City Royals in 1991 before retiring for good.
Today, Cromartie is living in Miami and doing "a little television and radio." He wants to get back into baseball full-time as a color commentator.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to approval by Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://montreal.expos.mlb.com/images/2003/10/13/BREOj3iO.jpg
Warren Cromartie batted .281 in his 10-year Major League career. (Expos Gallery)