Every country has their own version of El Clásico, which in Spain refers to any football match between its two most powerful teams: long time rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona FC. Perhaps in Canada our Clásico is the CF Montréal vs. Toronto FC rivalry, known as the Canadian Classique.
Other sports such as baseball have their own version of a classic rivalry. In MLB baseball, years ago the Dodgers vs. Yankees rivalry in the early 80’s certainly was a classic. To this day I still remember watching Fernando Valenzuela pitching against Reggie Jackson, both were baseball legends. However, there is one MLB rivalry that I cherished the most: the Toronto Blue Jays vs. the Montréal Expos. Specifically, when these two great teams would meet in the Pearson Cup a yearly contest between Canada’s two MLB teams.
Nothing could be more Canadian than watching the two Canadian teams in MLB play against one another often around Canada day. Especially, since these two teams being in different Leagues (the American and National of MLB) would not play each other day to day. To me the Pearson Cup signified the start of summer fun and relaxation after spending long days studying in high school and later university. It was also a chance to watch my idolized Dominican Blue Jays as well as several Dominican Expos led by the great Felipe Alou who was the first Dominican player in MLB and the first Dominican manager in MLB. Also, it was groundbreaking back then to see two great teams lead by two excellent Black managers: Cito Gaston for the Blue Jays and Felipe Alou for the Expos.
Montréal holds a special place in my heart. While I lived in Scarborough and Toronto for years, I did study French Immersion in La Métropole and fell in love with the City of Festivals especially the Montréal Jazz Festival to the point that I would make a pilgrimage there every summer to listen to some amazing jazz. One year, I even got to see the legendary Oscar Peterson in concert at Place des Arts.
While I love Montréal, I would always cheer for my favourite Toronto Blue Jays during the Pearson Cup. Most of all I enjoyed the friendly rivalry between these two great teams. Sadly, the move of the Montréal Expos to Washington DC in 2004 signified the end of the Expos, the end of the Pearson Cup and the end of this Canadian classic rivalry. The Pearson Cup trophy now lies in the Canadian Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Marys, Ontario.
You can’t go home again the title of the Thomas Wolfe book reminds us that while we may return to the place once called home often that place has changed so much it is unrecognizable. The people we once loved aren’t there anymore. Which means we can’t go back to the past. The Expos of our memories are gone. However, here is hoping that professional baseball returns to the City of Festivals. Felipe Alou was an outstanding ballplayer and an excellent manager who survived segregation in the US South, the Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic (DR) and the US military occupation of the DR. And the resilient and beautiful Felipe Rojas Alou just turned 90 last month. Don Felipe believes baseball will return to Montréal. I believe in him.

Baseball will be back to Montréal; I want to see it. I want it to happen before I die. I will see it.
Felipe Alou