“We have always been so proud of our dad for everything he did, but bringing the Expos, the first Canadian major league baseball team ever to Montreal, Quebec, in Canada, we all agree must have been one of the proudest moments of our lives, our mother’s, and his.
Our dad would have been so very happy to have received this phenomenal news! He was determined that whatever it took to achieve his dream of promoting Canadian baseball, he would do. I’m sure he never thought that he would receive this important recognition from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He loved his sports and was extremely passionate about promoting baseball in Canada. Thank you on behalf of a man who believed in perseverance being a pathway to success.
To all his friends, colleagues, journalists, players and fans who knew and supported him, thank you from the entire Snyder family.” Arlene Kenrick, Gerry Snyder’s daughter on behalf of the Snyder family.
Born on February 14, 1920 in Montreal, Que., Gerry Snyder played a crucial role in bringing Major League Baseball to Canada. As a city councillor and passionate sports ambassador, Snyder worked tirelessly to secure a big-league franchise for Montreal. He first met with MLB commissioner Ford C. Frick in 1962 but the meeting lasted just 10 minutes after he admitted to the commissioner that Montreal didn’t have a viable big-league stadium.
Snyder left the meeting dejected but pressed on, and after the National League announced in 1967 that it planned to expand by two teams, Snyder started travelling to National League meetings to ensure that Montreal was on the radar for their expansion plans. Along the way, Snyder befriended Dodgers’ owner Walter O’Malley who could vouch for Montreal as a strong market because the Dodgers had maintained a successful Triple-A affiliate in the city until 1960.
Snyder also convinced Seagram owner Charles Bronfman to come on board as a financial backer and eventually as the club’s primary owner. The relentless Montreal politician’s efforts were finally rewarded when the National League announced that the city of Montreal would be awarded Canada’s first major league franchise on May 27, 1968.
Another of Snyder’s excellent decisions was convincing John McHale to leave his post as MLB’s deputy commissioner to become the Expos’ first president. The much-respected McHale became the architect of the Expos, transforming them from bottom-dwellers into perennial contenders during his 18-year tenure as an executive with the team.
After the Expos began play, Snyder returned to his role as city councillor for the district of Snowdon, a capacity he’d serve in for 25 years.
Throughout his political career, he continued to be a tireless sports ambassador for Montreal and helped the city land the 1976 Olympics and a Formula One Grand Prix race in 1978. Snyder was also enlisted by the Toronto Blue Jays to assist them in finding a spring training home in 1976 and he recommended Dunedin, Fla., to Blue Jays president Peter Bavasi.
In 1977, Snyder was named one of the first recipients of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal, which is awarded to Canadians who have made significant contributions to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada.
Snyder passed away on November 26, 2007 in Montreal.
