In honor of America’s Sesquicentennial celebration, let’s honor Rick Monday.
Rick Monday is celebrated in the United States for saving the American flag, the most powerful emblem of unity and liberty. He is also remembered in Canada for “Blue Monday,” a painful reminder for many Montreal Expos fans. More on why later.
Born in Arkansas, Monday began playing baseball at age 8. During high school, Monday played multiple positions, including pitcher, first baseman, and outfielder. Before beginning his college baseball career, Monday attended a Los Angeles Dodgers tryout camp run by their scout, Tommy Lasorda, who later became the Dodgers’ manager.
Lasorda offered a contract and a hefty $20,000 signing bonus, but Monday chose to continue his education and play baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils. His decision paid off, as Monday had an exceptional sophomore year at Arizona State, where he was named NCAA Player of the Year, posted a .359 batting average, and led the Sun Devils to their first College World Series title in 1965.
Monday was the first pick in the first-ever MLB draft and was selected by the Kansas City Athletics. Monday officially made his major league debut in 1966. The Athletics relocated to Oakland in 1968, his first as an All-Star. Monday played with the Athletics until 1971. Monday joined the Chicago Cubs the following year and spent five efficient seasons with the team. Monday’s watershed year came in 1976, when he produced career highs in home runs, runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging.
That day in 1976 (photo courtesy the LA Times)
On April 25, 1976, Monday was warming up between innings at Dodger Stadium when two protesters ran past him in center field and began pouring flammable lighter fluid on an American flag they were carrying. Monday sprinted over, grabbed the American flag before they set it on fire, and received a standing ovation from Dodger fans.
Monday reflected on the fans’ response by saying, “The way people reacted was fantastic, but I felt they were cheering for what the flag meant.” Not only were the fans at Dodger Stadium overjoyed, but he also got recognition from President Gerald Ford after the game. He received a congratulatory phone call from President Ford and later received an invitation to visit the White House.
In 1977, Monday joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, where they would secure the National League pennant in 1977 and 1978. In game 5 of the 1981 NLCS, Monday hit a ninth-inning home run, which gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Ironically, Monday hit a home run on a Monday afternoon.
Many Expos fans referred to the day as “Blue Monday.” Monday’s solo home run led the Dodgers to the World Series, where Monday would get his only World Series ring as they won in six games over the New York Yankees.
Monday retired in 1984 with the Dodgers. Overall, Monday finished his baseball career with a .264 average, 241 home runs, and 775 RBIs.
Monday immediately became a broadcaster for the Dodgers, starting in 1985. From 1989 to 1992, he called games for the San Diego Padres. Monday returned to the Dodgers broadcasting booth in 1993 after the tragic death of Don Drysdale. All in all, Monday has been in the Dodgers’ radio and broadcasting booth for almost 30 years.
Monday has kept the flag he saved and has also brought it out for anniversary celebrations in 2016 and 2026. During the 50th-anniversary ceremony, Monday was joined by his wife and representatives of the United States Marine Corps. Also during the ceremony, Monday announced he would donate the flag to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
It’s a gesture worth remembering, especially on Memorial Day.
