Mondays

A very young Rick Monday signing an autograph for me

Yet another reason I love Mondays... I loved Rick Monday... who played for my beloved L.A. Dodgers.  I had forgotten about this play that took place in Dodger Stadium way back in the early 70's. Rick Monday saved the day by retrieving the American flag from a couple of idiots who were intent on burning it midfield.


(click anywhere on the youtube link and clicagain to see the clip)

My parents would winter in Vero Beach, spring training home of the Dodgers. Every winter, we'd head to Holman Stadium to take in practice and watch the stars of baseball, old and new.  They were a pretty accommodating crew. Tommy LaSorda, the manager, would whisk Jeffrey away and take him for a spin on his golf cart.  Roy Campanella loved posing for pictures and they all loved to sign autographs.  They knew back then where their bread was buttered and where the butter came from. One winter day, during an intrasquad game, Greg Brock popped one up in the air, over the backstop and right on top of Mom's head.  The game stopped, LaSorda (among others) ran up nto the stands and checked on Mom.  She had a pretty significant knot on her head (like we could have layered those colored Fisher Price rings on it) and therefore a group decision was made for her to head to the ER.  In the meantime, they had located the ball, Brock had signed it and they saw to it that it was given to Mom.  Good PR and lawsuit prevention....although it was a harmless game day injury.

Above: mom and dad in the stands/below: being comforted by Tommy

Above: Jeff and Roy Campanella  below: Tommy

Just a couple of reasons to love America's pastime, the Dodgers and Mondays:-)

We (Jeff) loved our Dodgers