Rick Monday
Robert James Monday (born November 20, 1945) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1966 to 1984 for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers.[1] Selected as the first overall pick by the Athletics in the inaugural 1965 MLB amateur draft out of Arizona State University, he compiled a career batting average of .264 with 1,619 hits and 241 home runs over 2,009 games.[1] Monday earned All-Star selections in 1968 and 1978, and contributed to the Dodgers' 1981 World Series championship.[1] He achieved lasting recognition for thwarting an attempt to burn an American flag by two protesters who invaded the outfield during a Cubs-Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium on April 25, 1976, an act that prompted fans to sing "God Bless America" and elicited widespread patriotic acclaim.[2] Monday's early career highlighted his status as a top prospect, debuting with the Athletics at age 20 and posting a .241 average with 24 home runs in his 1967 rookie season, earning a spot on the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.[3] Traded to the Cubs in 1971, he enjoyed power surges including a career-high 32 home runs in 1976, the year of his flag-rescuing play amid the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations.[1] Joining the Dodgers in 1977 via trade, he provided veteran leadership and clutch hitting, batting .273 in the 1981 postseason to help secure the franchise's first World Series title in 16 years.[1] Post-retirement, Monday transitioned to broadcasting, serving as a Dodgers radio analyst for over three decades.[3]Early Life and Amateur Career
Family Background and Relocation
Robert James Monday Jr., known as Rick Monday, was born on November 20, 1945, in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas.[1][4] He was the only child of Robert James Monday Sr. and Nelda Marie Monday.[4] The Monday family relocated from Arkansas to Southern California when Rick was young, where he spent the remainder of his childhood and adolescence.[4] The move positioned him in Santa Monica, enabling his attendance at Santa Monica High School.[5] When Monday was twelve years old, around 1957, his father departed the family, leaving Nelda to raise him as a single mother.[4] This circumstance shaped his upbringing, with his mother emphasizing the importance of education alongside athletic pursuits.[6]High School Baseball in Santa Monica
Rick Monday attended Santa Monica High School, where he emerged as a prominent baseball player for the Vikings, earning All-League honors during his tenure.[5] His skills as an outfielder drew attention from professional scouts, including Tommy Lasorda, who at age 17 dined with Monday to pitch a professional future.[6] Upon graduating in 1963, Monday faced a pivotal choice between immediate professional baseball and college, receiving a $20,000 signing bonus offer from the Dodgers.[5] Ultimately, he accepted a full athletic scholarship to Arizona State University, swayed by Sun Devils coach Bobby Winkles' personal assurance to his mother regarding his care and development at the program.[5] This decision postponed his pro debut but positioned him for national prominence in collegiate baseball.College Performance at Arizona State University
Rick Monday enrolled at Arizona State University after graduating from Santa Monica High School and joined the Sun Devils baseball team as a center fielder. During the 1965 season, his sophomore year, Monday emerged as a standout performer, batting .359 while hitting 11 home runs, two of which came in the College World Series.[7] His contributions were instrumental in leading Arizona State to its first NCAA College World Series championship that year, defeating Miami 3-1 in the final on June 26, 1965. Monday's offensive prowess and defensive skills in center field earned him consensus All-American honors and selection as the Western Athletic Conference All-Star.[3][8] Monday was recognized as the College Player of the Year by The Sporting News for his 1965 performance, highlighting his power hitting and leadership on a championship squad under coach Bobby Winkles.[9][3]Minor League Development
Draft Selection and Initial Assignments
On June 8, 1965, the Kansas City Athletics selected Rick Monday, a 19-year-old sophomore outfielder from Arizona State University, as the first overall pick in Major League Baseball's inaugural amateur draft, held in New York City.[1][10] The Athletics, who had earned the top selection due to their last-place finish in the 1964 American League standings, chose Monday over other top prospects, recognizing his power hitting and defensive skills demonstrated in college.[11] This draft marked the end of the unregulated signing of amateur players, establishing a structured selection process to curb exorbitant bonuses.[12] Monday signed with the Athletics shortly after the draft, receiving a reported $104,000 signing bonus, one of the largest for an amateur at the time.[13] As the top pick, he bypassed typical negotiation delays, reflecting the Athletics' eagerness under owner Charles O. Finley to build around high-upside talent despite the team's struggles.[5] The Athletics assigned Monday directly to their Class A affiliate, the Lewiston Reds, in the short-season Northwest League, where he began his professional career in 1965.[3] In 72 games with Lewiston, Monday batted .271, hit 13 home runs, drove in 44 runs, and slugged .490, showcasing the raw power that justified his draft status while adapting to professional pitching and travel demands.[5] This initial stint emphasized outfield defense and on-base skills, with Monday drawing walks at a solid rate amid the league's hitter-friendly conditions.[14] His performance earned quick promotion considerations within the Athletics' system, setting the stage for further advancement in 1966.Progression and Key Statistics
Following his selection as the first overall pick in the inaugural Major League Baseball amateur draft on June 8, 1965, by the Kansas City Athletics from Arizona State University, Rick Monday reported to the organization's Class A affiliate, the Lewiston Broncs of the Northwest League.[1] In 72 games that season, he recorded a .271 batting average, 13 home runs, and 44 runs batted in, showcasing early professional promise with consistent contact and power.[14] Promoted to Double-A for 1966 with the Mobile A's of the Southern League, Monday adapted to higher competition, appearing in 127 games while batting .267 with 23 home runs and 72 RBI.[14] His performance, marked by improved plate discipline and extra-base production, accelerated his ascent through the Athletics' system, culminating in a late-season call-up to the major leagues on September 4, 1966.[1] Overall, Monday's minor league tenure spanned just two seasons, totaling 199 games, a .269 batting average, 36 home runs, and 116 RBI, reflecting a rapid progression from rookie ball to major league readiness.[14]| Year | Team | League | Level | G | AVG | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Lewiston Broncs | NORW | A | 72 | .271 | 13 | 44 |
| 1966 | Mobile A's | SOUL | AA | 127 | .267 | 23 | 72 |
Major League Career
Oakland Athletics (1967–1971)
Monday made his major league debut with the Kansas City Athletics on September 3, 1966, appearing in 17 games that season with a .098 batting average.[1] In 1967, his first full season, he established himself as the team's center fielder, playing 124 games and leading the Athletics in home runs (14) and RBIs (58) while batting .251.[1] [15] During that year, he suffered a facial injury after being struck by a pitch from Chicago White Sox pitcher Gary Peters on June 3.[16] The Athletics franchise relocated from Kansas City to Oakland prior to the 1968 season, with Monday serving as the opening center fielder.[1] [17] He hit the first home run in Oakland Coliseum history on April 17, 1968, a solo shot in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles.[18] That year, Monday earned his first All-Star selection, batting .274 with 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases over 148 games.[1] Monday's performance remained consistent in subsequent seasons. In 1969, he batted .271 with 12 home runs and 54 RBIs in 122 games.[1] His batting average peaked at .290 in 1970, accompanied by 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a career-high 17 stolen bases in 112 games, though injuries limited his play.[1] In 1971, his final season with the Athletics, he hit 18 home runs and drove in 56 runs while batting .245 over 116 games.[1]| Year | Team | Games | Batting Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | KCA | 124 | .251 | 14 | 58 | 3 |
| 1968 | OAK | 148 | .274 | 8 | 49 | 14 |
| 1969 | OAK | 122 | .271 | 12 | 54 | 12 |
| 1970 | OAK | 112 | .290 | 10 | 37 | 17 |
| 1971 | OAK | 116 | .245 | 18 | 56 | 6 |
Chicago Cubs (1972–1976)
Monday joined the Chicago Cubs via trade from the Oakland Athletics on November 29, 1971, in exchange for pitcher Ken Holtzman.[19] As the Cubs' primary center fielder from 1972 to 1976, he benefited from Wrigley Field's dimensions more conducive to power hitting compared to Oakland's Coliseum, resulting in improved home run output.[3] Batting primarily from the leadoff spot in later years, Monday delivered consistent production, with his statistics reflecting steady on-base skills and growing slugging power.[1] The following table summarizes Monday's batting performance during his Cubs tenure:| Year | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 138 | 520 | 434 | 68 | 108 | 22 | 5 | 11 | 42 | 78 | 102 | .249 | .362 | .399 | .760 |
| 1973 | 149 | 651 | 554 | 93 | 148 | 24 | 5 | 26 | 56 | 92 | 124 | .267 | .372 | .469 | .841 |
| 1974 | 142 | 617 | 538 | 84 | 158 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 58 | 70 | 94 | .294 | .375 | .467 | .842 |
| 1975 | 136 | 583 | 491 | 89 | 131 | 29 | 4 | 17 | 60 | 83 | 95 | .267 | .373 | .446 | .819 |
| 1976 | 137 | 601 | 534 | 107 | 145 | 20 | 5 | 32 | 77 | 60 | 125 | .272 | .346 | .507 | .853 |
Los Angeles Dodgers (1977–1983)
Monday was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Chicago Cubs on January 11, 1977, along with pitcher Mike Garman, in exchange for first baseman Bill Buckner, infielder Iván DeJesús, and minor leaguer Jeff Albert.[19] Upon joining the Dodgers, he transitioned into a platoon and reserve outfielder role, providing left-handed power off the bench while sharing time in center, right, and left field with starters like Reggie Smith, Dusty Baker, and Pedro Guerrero.[1] His tenure coincided with the team's competitive years under manager Tommy Lasorda, including National League pennants in 1977, 1978, and 1981, though the Dodgers fell short in the World Series those first two seasons against the New York Yankees. Monday's batting statistics during his Dodgers years reflected his utility status, with limited at-bats but consistent extra-base production:| Year | Games | At Bats | Hits | Home Runs | RBI | Batting Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 118 | 392 | 90 | 15 | 48 | .230 |
| 1978 | 119 | 342 | 87 | 19 | 57 | .254 |
| 1979 | 12 | 33 | 10 | 0 | 2 | .303 |
| 1980 | 96 | 194 | 52 | 10 | 25 | .268 |
| 1981 | 66 | 130 | 41 | 11 | 25 | .315 |
| 1982 | 104 | 210 | 54 | 11 | 42 | .257 |
| 1983 | 99 | 178 | 44 | 6 | 20 | .247 |
Iconic Moments and Incidents
American Flag Rescue at Dodger Stadium (1976)
On April 25, 1976, during the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, two protesters—a father and his juvenile son—intruded onto the outfield grass from the left-field pavilion.[2][21] They unfurled an American flag, doused it with lighter fluid, and attempted to ignite it using matches, but the breeze repeatedly extinguished the flames before the act could succeed.[2][22] Chicago Cubs center fielder Rick Monday, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, observed the disturbance from his position approximately 275 feet away and sprinted toward the intruders.[2][23] He seized the flag before it could be lit, preventing its desecration, and carried it off the field, handing it to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Doug Rau near the first-base dugout.[2][21] The attending crowd of 25,167 responded with a standing ovation, and the stadium scoreboard displayed the message: "Rick Monday ... you made a great play!"[2] Fans spontaneously sang "God Bless America" as prompted by the stadium organist.[2][22] The protesters were promptly arrested by security personnel.[2] Monday later explained his instinctive reaction stemmed from respect for the flag, stating, "If he's going to burn a flag, he better do it in front of somebody who doesn't appreciate it. I’ve visited enough veterans hospitals and seen enough guys with their legs blown off defending the flag."[2][22] The game resumed, with the Dodgers rallying to win 5-4 in 10 innings despite Monday's strong performance of three hits, two runs scored, and one RBI.[2] The incident, occurring amid the U.S. Bicentennial celebrations, garnered national attention and was later recognized as one of baseball's classic moments by the National Baseball Hall of Fame.[2][24]Blue Monday Home Run in NLCS (1981)
Game 5 of the 1981 National League Championship Series, played on October 19, 1981, at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, pitted the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Montreal Expos with the series tied 2–2.[25] The Dodgers, managed by Tommy Lasorda, had staged comebacks in Games 3 and 4 to force the decisive matchup, while the Expos sought their first pennant under manager Dick Williams.[26] Conditions were chilly and damp, with the day game starting at 1:05 p.m. local time on artificial turf before an attendance of 36,491.[27] The contest remained tight through eight innings, tied 1–1 after Montreal's Tim Raines scored on a sacrifice fly and Los Angeles answered with a run in the sixth.[26] In the top of the ninth, with two outs and Expos starter Steve Rogers on the mound, reserve outfielder Rick Monday—then 35 and batting as a platoon player—stepped up on a 3–1 count.[26] Monday, who had started Games 4 and 5 and collected a single earlier in the game, drove a solo home run to left-center, providing the Dodgers a 2–1 lead.[27][26] "I wanted a ball I could handle," Monday later recalled of the pitch he fouled off initially before capitalizing.[26] Bob Welch preserved the victory by retiring the Expos in the bottom of the ninth, securing a 2–1 win in a game that lasted 2 hours and 41 minutes.[27] This home run clinched the NL pennant for the Dodgers, who advanced to defeat the New York Yankees in the World Series, marking Monday's second championship after 1974.[26] For Expos fans, the loss—Montreal's sole NLCS appearance—earned the moniker "Blue Monday," symbolizing dashed hopes in their inaugural postseason series victory opportunity.[26][28] Monday's unlikely heroics, as a part-time contributor with limited regular-season power that year, underscored his value in high-stakes moments.[26]Achievements and Statistical Legacy
All-Star Appearances and Awards
Rick Monday earned his first Major League Baseball All-Star selection in 1968 as a member of the American League's Oakland Athletics, during a season in which he batted .274 with 20 home runs and 65 runs batted in over 152 games.[1] He appeared in the July 9 contest at the Houston Astrodome, starting in center field for the American League in a 1-0 loss to the National League, where pitchers dominated with no RBIs recorded league-wide.[29][30] Monday's second All-Star nod came in 1978 with the National League's Los Angeles Dodgers, following a resurgent campaign after a midseason trade from the Chicago Cubs the prior year; he hit .295 with 13 home runs in 119 games that season.[1] In the July 11 game at San Diego Stadium, he started in right field and went 0-for-2 at the plate as the National League defeated the American League 7-3.[31][32] Beyond All-Star honors, Monday was named the National League Player of the Month for April 1978, recognizing his strong start with the Dodgers after batting .385 with seven home runs and 20 RBIs in 25 games.[32] He also received NL Player of the Week recognition for the period ending April 22, 1978.[32] As a 1967 rookie, the first overall draft pick in MLB history, he was selected to the Topps All-Star Rookie Team.[3]World Series Contribution and Career Totals
Monday appeared in the World Series three times with the Los Angeles Dodgers, in 1977 against the New York Yankees (Dodgers lost 2–4), 1978 against the Yankees (Dodgers lost 2–4), and 1981 against the Yankees (Dodgers won 4–2).[33] In these appearances, he played in 14 games, accumulating 38 at-bats, 7 hits, 2 doubles, 3 runs scored, 7 walks, and a .184 batting average, with no home runs or RBIs.[33] Defensively, primarily in center field early and right field in 1981, Monday recorded 19 total chances without an error, achieving a 1.000 fielding percentage over 252 innings.[33] His postseason role was often as a reserve outfielder and late-inning defensive replacement, contributing to the 1981 championship team through reliable fielding amid modest batting output.[3]| Year | Team | G | AB | H | 2B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | LAD | 4 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .167 |
| 1978 | LAD | 5 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | .154 |
| 1981 | LAD | 5 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | .231 |
| Total | 14 | 38 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | .184 |