LADodgerTalk.com · Mar 27, 2023
Player Profile: Rick Monday: The First Draftee
Monday saves the flagRobert James “Rick” Monday was born in Batesville Arkansas on November 20th, 1945. Sometime during his youth, his family relocated to Santa Monica, California. Rick then attended Santa Monica High School. He earned All-League honors and after graduation had to decide whether to play pro-ball, or accept a baseball scholarship.
He was offered a 20,000-dollar signing bonus from Tommy Lasorda, who at that time was a scout for the Dodgers. But he decided to take the scholarship to ASU after coach, Bobby Winkle’s, himself a Arkansas native, used those roots to convince Monday’s mom that he would take care of her son.