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Two-time All Star, All-Time Hero "30 years ago — on April 25, 1976, in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium — he refused to stand by and allow two protesting punks to burn the American flag on the outfield grass. “I don’t know anybody who wouldn’t have done the same thing, if they were in the same position,” Monday was saying the other day from Los Angeles, where he threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday as the Dodgers celebrated the anniversary of his heroics with a video tribute. “I’m just glad I was close enough to do something about it.'’

1960s All-Stars

In 2005, USA Today ranked the Dodgers’ radio broadcast team, featuring Vin Scully, Monday and Charley Steiner as Major League Baseball’s best, based on a technical rating, a fan rating and an entertainment rating. The trio earned 28.5 points out of a possible 30.

Monday, who joined the Dodgers’ broadcast team in 1993, began his broadcasting career as a sports anchor on KTTV in Los Angeles in 1985 while also calling play-by-play and hosting the pregame show for Dodger games on Dodger Vision and Z Channel. He was nominated for an Emmy as host of the Dodgers’ pregame show on KTTV’s “Dodger Central” in 1988. Monday was also a color commentator for CBS-TV at the College World Series championship game in 1988. He moved to San Diego in 1989 and called play-by-play for the Padres on radio and television for four seasons.

The 2006 season marks the 30th anniversary of one of the most dramatic moments of Monday’s playing career. While playing for the Chicago Cubs in 1976, he saved the American flag from being burned by two protesters in left field at Dodger Stadium on April 25. Al Campanis, former Dodger Vice President, Player Personnel, presented the flag to Monday after it was used as evidence in the case against the two protesters and former U.S. President Gerald Ford presented Monday with a Bicentennial Commendation for his service to others.

A star at Arizona State University (ASU), Monday led the Sun Devils to the 1965 College World Series Championship and earned All-America and College Player of the Year honors before the Kansas City Athletics made him the first player selected in the initial Major League First-Year Player Draft. He was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame in 1975. He also serves on the Advisory Board for ASU Baseball.

He made his Major League debut in 1966 and spent six seasons with the Athletics and five with the Cubs before joining the Dodgers as part of a five-player trade in 1977. Monday played eight seasons for the Dodgers and helped them to a World Championship and three NL pennants. Overall, he compiled a .264 career batting average with 241 home runs and appeared in five League Championship Series and two All-Star Games.

The former left-handed hitter is also known for his dramatic, game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 1981 N.L. Championship Series at Montreal, which gave the Dodgers a 2-1 victory and a berth in the World Series.

In 1977, Monday received the inaugural Humanitarian Award presented by Major League Baseball and in 1995, he was honored with the William A. Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award, which is given to a Major League Baseball player or individual who best exemplifies the spirit of the Little League Baseball program.

Monday regularly serves as an instructor at the twice-yearly Dodger Adult Baseball Camp at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.

He and his wife, Barbaralee, reside in Vero Beach during the offseason.

Left, from top: Joe Austin, John Herbst, Rick Monday, Butch Thompson, Steve Clark, Skip Hancock and Walt Peterson.   Middle, from left: Mike Stepovich, Tom Seaver, Bob Maxwell, Phil Blackwell, Graig Nettles, Dennis Smith, and Gary Sutherland.  Bottom, from left: Bud Hollowell, Curtell Motton, Buddy Bovender, H.A. (Red) Boucher, Sam Suplizio, Jimy Williams and Mike Paul.  Batboys: Tommy Alexander and Wolfgang Fischer.

Minor League Batting Stats

MLB Career Statistics 1966-1984

Batting Stats

Batting, Baserunning, Misc. Stats

Awards, Leaderboard Showing

» June 8th, 1965: Arizona star sophomore Rick Monday, selected by the Athletics, is the first player chosen in the initial ML free-agent draft of high school, college, and sandlot players. Picking 2nd, the Mets take P Les Rohr. On the 10th round they finally take Nolan Ryan. Cincinnati picks Johnny Bench in the 2nd round.

» November 29th, 1971: In 3 blockbuster deals, the Cubs trade P Ken Holtzman to the A's for OF Rick Monday; the Giants trade P Gaylord Perry and SS Frank Duffy to the Indians for P Sam McDowell; and the Reds trade 1B Lee May and 2 others to the Astros for 2B Joe Morgan, OF Cesar Geronimo, and P Jack Billingham.

» May 16th, 1972: The Cubs Rick Monday hits a single and 3 consecutive HRs, driving in 5 runs in an 8-1 win over the Phillies.

» April 25th, 1976: Cubs OF Rick Monday snatches an American flag from 2 fans who are about to set it on fire in the outfield during a game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers win 5-4 in 10 innings. The next day, the Illinois legislature unanimously approves May 4th as Rick Monday Day.

» April 25th, 1976: Cubs OF Rick Monday snatches an American flag from 2 fans who are about to set it on fire in the outfield during a game at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers win 5-4 in 10 innings. The next day, the Illinois legislature unanimously approves May 4th as Rick Monday Day.

» January 11th, 1977: In a 5-player swap, the Cubs send OF Rick Monday to the Dodgers for 1B-OF Bill Buckner and SS Ivan DeJesus.

» October 19th, 1981: In game 5 of the NLCS, Rick Monday hits a solo home run with 2 out in the top of the 9th against Montreal to give Los Angeles a 2-1 victory and a trip to the World Series.

» June 22nd, 1984: Rick Monday, baseball's first-ever first pick in the June free-agent draft (by the Kansas City A's in 1965) is released by the Dodgers, ending a 19-year ML career.

 

 

 

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