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What basis should they return on? It’s complicated
We realize this would require either the Expos returning or the Nationals wearing them on the road. Neither is particularly likely, unfortunately.
The reason why you rarely see teams wear throwbacks on the road is that if they’re going to spend money on an alternate uniform, they want to wear it in front of their home fans. When a road team wears throwbacks, they’re typically paid for by the home team, which is also likely wearing a vintage uniform of some sort. It’s aesthetically pleasing, but probably not a financial investment that most teams are willing to make.
Washington—which relocated from Montreal and became the Nationals prior to the 2005 campaign—did wear Expos throwbacks at home on July 6, 2019. While some fans in Montreal likely didn’t appreciate it, the Nationals looked great.
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What also looked great were the Expos primary road uniforms worn for their final 10 seasons of existence. They provide a modern look, with more than enough color to spice up road grays. The fleur-de-lis above the cursive Montreal and the Expos logo on the left sleeve are the icing on the cake.
When would these throwbacks be worn? Well, we’re proposing that the next time the Nationals travel to Toronto to face the Blue Jays, they rock the Expos’ road grays. This would be a perfect way for the Blue Jays to pay homage to the only other team ever to call Canada home while advocating for another club to come back north of the border.