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

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. 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: Source: 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.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

Detailed records

Transactions

Roster

Player stats

Batting

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''

Pitching

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

1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Harrisburg, Vermont