The Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds are playing a pair of exhibition games at Olympic Stadium in Montreal this weekend. On Friday night Montreal native Russell Martin -- now a catcher with Toronto -- received a long standing ovation from the crowd before his first at-bat in the first inning.
Montreal native Russell Martin receives standing ovation at Olympic Stadium
Montreal native Russell Martin received a huge standing ovation before his first at-bat Friday in the exhibition game at Olympic Stadium between the Blue Jays and Reds
Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Martin spent the majority of his childhood in Montreal, where his dad was a musician. Russell Martin, Sr. played both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems on saxophone before Friday’s game, and his son was fighting back tears during the pregame introductions.
"A lot of memories attached to that building over there," Martin said of Olympic Stadium to MLB.com on Tuesday. "My first Major League game, going with my dad and seeing the Expos play, watching Marquis Grissom, Tim Wallach and so forth -- it was a lot of fun."
Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002 and began his major league career in 2006, two seasons after the Expos moved from Montreal to Washington D.C., changing their name to the Nationals. The 32-year-old signed a five-year, $82 million contract with the Blue Jays in November.
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