0208 - Josée Tellier
Josée Tellier is an illustrator and Expos connoisseur from Montréal. During our conversation, she referenced a handful of things and people upon which you may want to do more research. Consider this page to be your “liner notes” for the episode so you can follow along.
Josée Tellier and I at Graig Kreindler’s art exhibit at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City
Wolfpack
Josée Tellier, Graig Kreindler, and me at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri on February 13, 2020. 100 years to the day after Rube Foster founding the Negro National League.
Graig Kreindler stands proudly in front of his Black Baseball In Living Color exhibit
Gates
When you’re in Kansas City, you have to get barbecue. You can’t go wrong at Gates.
These huge murals by Alexander Austin grace the walls of the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center, which is the former Paseo YMCA.
For Scale
These murals are so huge and incredible. Here is Josée standing next to Jackie Robinson.
Winstead’s
I don’t know what compelled me to order a banana milkshake, but I had trust in this old school diner. Thankfully, that proved to be an incredible decision.
Maurice Richard
“Rocket” Richard played 18 seasons in the for the Montreal Canadiens. He was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season, accomplishing the feat in 50 games in 1944–45, and the first to reach 500 career goals. He retired in 1960 as the NHL's all-time leader in goals with 544.
Andre Dawson
Josée’s favorite player of all time, Andre Dawson had a Hall Of Fame career which took off in Montréal as a member of the Expos.
Gary Carter
Josée posted the first card of her 50 Expos project on January 5, 2019. Beloved former Expos player Gary Carter brought her some incredible attention.
Rusty Staub
Could you imagine running in to your favorite player, asking him to come to your wedding, and they actually show up?! That’s what Rusty Staub did for one lucky fan.
City of Murals
There are murals all over Montréal, many of which are dedicated to former Royal Jackie Robinson, who played minor league ball in the city.
Graig Kreindler
A truly incredible artist. An even better human being. A friend for life.
Card Template
Somehow modern and classic at the same time, Josée’s card design is beautiful.
Bobbleheads
Josée has tried to acquire every Expos bobblehead she can find.
Andre
I’ve always loved Andre’s signature, even if it looks a little more like Clyde than Andre. There’s just something so beautiful about it. It fits perfectly on this card.
“Spaceman” Bill Lee
One of the game’s most colorful figures, Bill Lee is remembered just as much for his entertainment as he is for his pitching performance.
Le journal d'Aurélie Laflamme
Josée is the illustrator of a popular book series, as well.
Perry Giannias
Perry Giannias first fell in love with the Expos when his Greek immigrant parents started taking him to games in the 1970s. Today, he has the world's largest private collection of Expos' memorabilia.
Tim Raines
If it weren’t for playing at the same time as Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines (who is also in the Hall of Fame) would have his name mentioned much more often in discussions as the best leadoff hitter and base stealer of all time.
“Safe At Home”
This incredible piece by artist Kadir Nelson is part of a collection of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City's Jackie Robinson is depicted sliding under the tag of Cleveland's Quincy Troupee.
As an artist, it would be pretty hard NOT to be jealous of Graig Kreindler’s talent. I mean, look at these!
Superhero
He may not have actually been one, but he sure looked like one and played like one.
First Game
Josée carries the ticket stub from her first ever Expos game with her wherever she goes.
1994 World Champions?
Many Expos fans, including Josée, think they would have been.
Robbed?
Many Expos fans, including Josée, still remember the exact date the 1994 season was cancelled, and the Expos’ record at the time. They were on pace for 105 regular season wins.
1994 White Sox
Yeah, the Expos were good in 1994, but I have a feeling this guy would have done all he could to prevent them from winning the World Series had it been played in 1994.
Larry Walker
Larry Walker was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2020.
Darrin Fletcher
Fletcher helped guide the 1994 Expos pitching staff to lead the league in winning percentage and ERA, and tied for the league lead in shutouts with 8. But many Expos fans don’t have such fond memories of him for how the 1994 strike went down.
Pedro Martinez
If Josée could have kept one Expos player from leaving, forcing him to stay in Montréal and play his whole career for her favorite team, she’d have liked for Pedro Martinez to have stayed. Imagine if that dominant run had happened in Canada, instead of in Boston.
Vladimir Guerrero
The Expos have lost a number of perennial All-Stars, and even some Hall of Famers. Vladimir Guerrero is another player who left Montréal before his career was over, becoming a superstar for another team.
Tom Brady
Drafted by the Expos, Tom Brady has gone on to be a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer. In the NFL, that is.
Could he have had the same Hall of Fame career if he had stuck with baseball? Former Expos General Manager Kevin Malone certainly thinks so.
Film Adaptation
The book series for which Josée is the illustrator has sold more than 2.2 million copies, and has been adapted into multiple film releases.
Ever since she was a little kid, Josée has been obsessed with uniforms. This display at the NLBM really caught her eye.
Expos Everything!
Even when making desserts, the Expos are never far from Josée’s mind. She is always doing whatever she can to love and support the team.
Cowboy Hat
Do you have a cowboy hat of YOUR favorite team? No. Of course you don’t. But Josée does.
Field of Dreams
One of Josée’s early inspirations was this award-winning music video from 1986.
Always Positive
Sometimes it’s hard to be positive online, but Josée does her best to always be a good influence on and role model for her young fans.
Jeff Reardon
Not only was Jeff Reardon a pretty great pitcher for the Expos, but his beard was mostly all one color, which Josée appreciated as she illustrated his card.
Blues Brothers
The simple purchase of a novelty coffee mug led to one of the best days of Josée’s life.
Blues Sister
“Absolute perfection” is how Josée described the Bluesmobile she got to ride around in when she visited Chicago.
“We had a ton of fun. We went to Joliet prison.”
Elvis
Josée is passionate about a lot of things, but her love for Elvis gets her … All Shook Up … I’m sorry I’ll show myself out.
Mickey Mantle
If Josée could play catch with one person from baseball history, it would be with Mickey Mantle. Here is one of Graig Kreindler’s many paintings of America’s hero.
Wrigley Field
Josée’s favorite baseball stadium of all time is Wrigley, especially as someone who prefers the vintage stadiums to those with all of the modern amenities.
Of course, when she was there, she rocked her Andre Dawson Expos jersey.
Prized Possession
A simple gift from her mother stays with Josée at all times.
Jacques Doucet
Jacques Doucet was the man who created much of the French terminology used during baseball broadcasts. He was the voice of the Expos, and is Josée’s favorite broadcaster.
Felipe Alou
Briefly an Expos player and then later their manager, Felipe Alou had some great years in Montréal.
Youppi!
In one of the most famous mascot moments in the history of sports, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda had Youppi! ejected from a game.
Josée LOVES Youppi!
Like… a lot.
Josée’s Philosophy
“When you’re positive and have fun ideas, it attracts other fun people.”
Charles Bronfman
The original owner of the Expos, his son is now heading the effort to bring a team back to Montréal. Even if it’s only for part of a season.
Field of Dreams
One of our many trips to Dyersville, Iowa during my childhood.
“Finding Big Country”
Documentarian Kat Jayme’s film about her search for former Grizzlies center Bryant “Big Country” Reeves showed what it was like for another Canadian fan who lost her favorite team to relocation.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
If you haven’t read this book before, do yourself a favor and read it.
Cards by Josée
In the past year, Josée’s feelings toward cards have shifted as she has learned more about the hobby and studied the beauty in the design of vintage card sets.
Now, she is making her own cards in limited quantities. You can buy them (and her other artwork) HERE.
Graig Kreindler
Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 3) by clicking HERE
Andy Brown
Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 8) by clicking HERE
Tim Carroll
Listen to his episode of My Baseball History (Season 1, Episode 10) by clicking HERE
The San Diego Chicken
One of the most famous mascots in the history of sports, the man inside the costume became a kind of celebrity in his own right.
Chicago Bulls Mascots
For years, Benny The Bull (left) was a big, red, fluffy mascot. In the mid-90s, during the Bulls’ second 3-peat, they added another, more athletic mascot named Da Bull.
Eventually, the two merged, and the current version of Benny is slimmed down, very athletic, and entertaining.
Montréal Royals
Jackie Robinson played his minor league ball in Canada.
Branch Rickey knew that the Dodgers would often times put their best prospects up in Montréal, because it was something he had done as the GM of the club. When he later became the GM of the Pirates, some speculate that Rickey knew to look at the talent stashed away in Canada, and that’s how Roberto Clemente ended up in Pittsburgh.
Tim Wallach
No, I’m not related to him. But if you are, help me get him on the podcast.
Yogi Berra
The winner of this episode’s trivia contest will win this Yogi Berra card by Josée, signed and numbered out of 50 by the artist, herself.
1977 NL Rookie Of The Year
Andre Dawson shows media his already-crowded trophy room at home in Miami.
“Blank Contract”
After owners colluded in the offseason before 1987, Andre Dawson found himself without a team. In a wild move, he offered the Cubs a “blank contract,” saying they could decide how much he was worth.
It, uhh… worked out pretty well for both sides.
Olympic Stadium Turf
A decade of playing on this thin layer of carpet over a field of concrete in Montréal ruined Dawson’s knees. He had 12 knee surgeries in his career, and somehow he still wound up with 400 home runs and 300 steals.
Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2010, Dawson is absolutely deserving of having a plaque in Cooperstown. Whatever hat he’s wearing on it.
