Rick Monday
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| Rick Monday | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Rick Monday |
| Birth date | 26 November 1945 |
| Birth place | Temple, Texas |
| Position | Outfielder |
Rick Monday (born November 26, 1945) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, military reservist, and longtime sportscaster. He played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers between 1966 and 1977, won the 1974 World Series with the Dodgers, and is widely remembered for preventing the burning of an American flag on the field during a 1976 game at Dodger Stadium. Monday later became a prominent broadcaster for the Dodgers and an advocate for veterans' causes.
Early life and amateur career
Monday was born in Temple, Texas and raised in Santa Barbara, California, where he attended Santa Barbara High School. He was a standout athlete in high school baseball and American football and went on to play college baseball for the UCLA Bruins at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA he earned All-American honors and played under coach Bobby Winkles before being selected by the Kansas City Athletics in the 1965 Major League Baseball draft (amateur draft). During his amateur career he competed in Pacific-8 Conference competition and was noted for his speed, throwing arm, and power, drawing interest from Major League Baseball scouts and contributing to UCLA Bruins baseball successes in college baseball tournaments.
Professional baseball career
Drafted by the Kansas City Athletics organization, Monday debuted in MLB with the Kansas City Royals after the franchise's expansion in 1969. He later played for the Chicago Cubs following a trade and finished his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, appearing in the 1974 World Series where the Dodgers defeated the Oakland Athletics. Known for clutch hits and steady defense, Monday recorded multiple seasons with 10-plus home runs and contributed to playoff rosters during the 1970s. Teammates and opponents from his era included Steve Garvey, Don Sutton, Tommy Lasorda, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, Joe Torre, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, Fernando Valenzuela, Bill Buckner, Lou Brock, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Randy Jones, Gaylord Perry, Bobby Bonds, Ken Holtzman, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins, Billy Martin, Al Kaline, Tom Seaver, Rollie Fingers, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Vida Blue, Jim Palmer, Carlton Fisk, Tony Perez, Reggie Cleveland, Jim Wynn, Lee May, Rusty Staub, Mets (New York Mets), Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers players across the decade.
The flag-saving incident
On April 25, 1976, during a game at Dodger Stadium against the Cincinnati Reds, two protesters attempted to set fire to an American flag on the field. Monday retrieved the flag and returned it to the dugout, an act captured by television cameras and reported widely by outlets covering the United States Bicentennial year. The incident involved local law enforcement response and invoked reactions from public figures including commentators on national television and representatives of veterans' organizations. Monday's action led to appearances on television talk shows and recognition from civic groups and influenced discussions in Congress and among leaders of the Republican Party and the Democratic Party about patriotism during the 1970s.
Post-playing career and broadcasting
After retiring as a player, Monday served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and pursued a broadcasting career, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers radio and television broadcast teams as a color commentator and analyst. He worked alongside prominent broadcasters such as Vin Scully, Jaime Jarrín, and Ross Porter and contributed to coverage of regular season games, National League Championship Series, and World Series broadcasts. Monday's media career extended to appearances on ESPN, Fox Sports, TBS (American TV network), and regional sports networks, and he participated in charity events and public speaking for organizations including USO, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and American Legion chapters.
Personal life and legacy
Monday is married and has family ties in California; he has been active in veterans' advocacy, community service, and youth sports development programs. His flag-saving moment became part of popular culture, referenced in news media, documentaries, sports histories, and public commemorations, and he has received awards from veterans groups and civic organizations. Monday's legacy is preserved in Dodger Stadium lore, baseball retrospectives, and collections at institutions such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and regional sports halls of fame. His name appears in discussions alongside other players turned broadcasters and civic figures from the 1970s and 1980s American sports landscape.
Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:Los Angeles Dodgers announcers