Athletes - Rick Monday

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	Athletes - Rick Monday

Robert James (Rick) Monday, Jr. (born November 20, 1945 in Batesville, Arkansas) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a Centerfielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City & Oakland Athletics (1966-71), Chicago Cubs (1972-76) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1977-84). He batted and threw left handed.

In a 19-season career, Monday compiled a .264 batting average with 241 home runs and 775 RBI. He was selected an All-Star in 1968 and 1978.

A star at Arizona State University, Monday led the Sun Devils to the 1965 College World Series championship and earned All-America and College Player of the Year honors. Monday was selected with the 1st Overall selection in the 1966 Major League entry draft.

Monday started his major league career with the Athletics. He then spent several productive years with the Cubs, and was traded to the Dodgers just in time to join a team that won the National League pennant in 1977 and 1978.

The two most famous moments of Monday's career were both associated with the Dodgers. During a 1976 game at Dodger Stadium, two spectators ran into the outfield and tried to set fire to an American flag they had brought with them. Monday, then playing with the Cubs, dashed over and grabbed the flag out of their hands, to thunderous cheers, after which the ballpark police arrested the two intruders.

By 1981, Monday was mostly a utility player. In Game 5 of the NLCS at Montreal's Olympic Stadium, he smashed a late-inning home run that defeated the Expos, breaking the hearts of Montreal fans, in what would prove to be the closest they ever came to winning a pennant in their 36-year history in the National League. The Dodgers went on to win the 1981 World Series over the New York Yankees, 4 games to 2.

Monday's finest season as a professional came in 1976 as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Batting in the leadoff position, Monday hit .272, establishing career highs in Homeruns (32), Runs (107), Rbi's (77), Total Bases (271), Slugging Percentage (.507) and OPS (.853), finishing 18th in the MVP voting.

Soon after his retirement as a player, Monday became a broadcaster for the Dodgers. He began in 1985 by hosting the pregame show and calling play-by-play on cable TV. From 1989-92, Monday moved further south to call San Diego Padres games. In addition, he served as a color commentator for CBS-TV at the College World Series championship game in 1988. Monday rejoined the Dodgers in 1993 (replacing the late Don Drysdale), and as of 2004, is one of the primary play-by-play announcers.

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