Hall of Fame nod for Tim Raines keeps Montreal in 'consciousness of Major League Baseball'

Montreal Expos fans are celebrating one of their heroes, Tim Raines, being elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

And some, including WarrenCromartie, a former teammate of Raines and founder of the Montreal Baseball Project, are hopeful the honour will stir up moreinterest in bringing theExposback.

"He definitely was the kind of person who changed the game,"Cromartie said.

• TimRaines: HallofFamer'one of the greatest leadoff hitters'

Rainesspent 13 of 23 big league seasons with the MontrealExpos, whichleft tobecome the Washington Nationals for the 2005 season.

Hejoins Andre Dawson and Gary Carter as the only players to enter the Hall representing theExpos.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, who has also pushed to bring back a team, was thrilled after hearing Raineswas elected in his 10th and final year of eligibility.

"I'm thrilled. I'm freaking out," he said.

"It's great for baseball. It's great for sports. It's great for Montreal."

The baseball analytics communityplayed a key role in changing the perception of Raines,underscoring hiscareer record of808stolen bases, 1,571 runsscored and.385 on-base percentage.

Stats aside, former Expos colour commentator and current TVA sport analyst Rodger Brulottesaid he was amazing to watch.

"Out in the field, his speed was unbelievable. Every time he was on base it was a double."

ExposNation, another group hoping to bring backMajor League Baseball, was also among those not-so-subtly nudging votes in favour ofTimRaines.

"TimRaineswas essentially Mr. Expo. His career spans from RustyStaubin 1979 to playing with VladimirGuerreroin 2001," said the group's president, Matthew Ross.

WithRainesin the Hall of Fame, andGuerreropulling high numbers in his first year on the ballot, Ross said it's going to be hard to ignore the call to bring big league baseball back to Montreal.

"It continues to keep Montreal in the consciousness of Major League Baseball," he said.

"It's just a great overall boost to the efforts."