1996 Montreal Expos season

The 1996 Montreal Expos season was the 28th season in franchise history. An 88–74 finish was good enough to put them in second in the National League East, 8 games behind the National League Champion Atlanta Braves and 2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card standings.

Offseason

 * October 13, 1995: Butch Henry was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the Montreal Expos.
 * December 1, 1995: Wally Whitehurst was signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos.
 * December 4, 1995: Jalal Leach was drafted by the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees in the 1995 minor league draft.
 * December 15, 1995: Omar Daal was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Montreal Expos for Rick Clelland (minors).
 * December 20, 1995: Andy Stankiewicz signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos.
 * March 13, 1996: Rick Schu was signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos.
 * March 13, 1996: Sherman Obando was traded by the Baltimore Orioles to the Montreal Expos for Tony Tarasco.

Spring training
The Expos held spring training at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium in West Palm Beach, Florida – a facility they shared with the Atlanta Braves. It was their 20th season at the stadium; they had conducted spring training there from 1969 to 1972 and since 1981.

Regular season
Opening Day (April 1) – Seven pitches into the first game of the season, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, home plate umpire John McSherry collapses on the field and dies of a massive heart attack. The game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Expos is postponed, along with the rest of the games scheduled for that day. Reds owner Marge Schott later comes under fire for wanting the game in Cincinnati to continue despite the tragedy (and against the wishes of the players on both teams), saying that she felt "cheated" when it was canceled.

The Expos set an MLB record with six grand slams before May 1, a feat not equaled until the 2018 Boston Red Sox.

Ultimately, the Expos finished two games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League wild card race.

Opening Day lineup
Source:
 * April 1 (game postponed)
 * Mark Grudzielanek
 * Mike Lansing
 * Rondell White
 * Pedro Martínez, P
 * Pedro Martínez, P
 * Pedro Martínez, P
 * Pedro Martínez, P
 * Pedro Martínez, P
 * Pedro Martínez, P

Source:
 * April 2
 * Mark Grudzielanek, SS
 * Mike Lansing, 2B
 * Rondell White, CF
 * Moises Alou, LF
 * David Segui, 1B
 * Sherman Obando, RF
 * Darrin Fletcher, C
 * Shane Andrews, 3B
 * Jeff Fassero, P

Note: sources do not list the complete Expos lineup for April 1, although it was likely the same (other than the pitcher) as for April 2, as the Reds use the same starting pitcher, left-hander Pete Schourek, on both days.

Game log

 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Expos team member
 * Legend:      = Win       = Loss Bold = Expos team member

Transactions

 * June 4, 1996: Milton Bradley was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 2nd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed July 1, 1996.
 * June 12, 1996: Wally Whitehurst was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Montreal Expos.
 * June 25, 1996: Jon Habyan was signed as a free agent with the Montreal Expos.
 * July 11, 1996: Jeff Juden was selected off waivers by the Montreal Expos from the San Francisco Giants.
 * July 30, 1996: Kirk Rueter was traded by the Montreal Expos with Tim Scott to the San Francisco Giants for Mark Leiter.

Starters by position
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed

Award winners

 * Jeff Fassero, National League Pitcher of the Month, June
 * Jeff Fassero, National League Pitcher of the Month, July

1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Harrisburg, Vermont