When the Montreal Expos traded for Ron Fairly in June of their inaugural 1969 season, they gained more than just a reliable hitter—they gained immediate credibility. With over ten years on the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he secured three World Series titles, the experienced first baseman and outfielder brought playoff experience and a steady presence to an expansion team navigating the tough National League.
While some aging veterans find it difficult to shift from being perennial winners to leading a young expansion team, Fairly welcomed the challenge and made Jarry Park his personal launching pad. His elite, highly disciplined batting approach kept him a tough opponent, as he excelled at working through deep counts and maintaining the offensive flow, often walking more frequently than striking out.
His first season in Canada established a strong foundation, but he reached an elite offensive peak in 1973. At 34, Fairly delivered a remarkable performance, hitting .298, with 17 home runs, and drawing 86 walks, resulting in a .422 on-base percentage. His clutch, high-pressure performance earned him his first career All-Star selection, demonstrating that his left-handed swing remained highly effective.
During his five-and-a-half seasons with Montreal, Fairly demonstrated remarkable consistency, hitting over 15 home runs twice and regularly achieving on-base percentages near or above .400. By the time he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals late in the 1974 season, he had cemented his reputation as one of the best pure hitters in the franchise's early history.
With Montreal, Fairly amassed 623 hits, 94 doubles, 86 home runs, and 331 RBIs, with 430 walks and 257 strikeouts, posting a .276/.381/431 line—131 OPS+.
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