is Rick Monday A baseball legend?

Answer 1

No, not a legend. He had a very average career with several teams with a career 264 average and 241 homeruns. He is most remembered when a fan came out to right field, when he was with the Dodgers, and tried to burn the American Flag and Monday stopped him before he set the flag on fire. You might want to say he is a legend because of this act.

Answer 2

A legend? No. But his name pops up in some enduring bits of baseball lore.

In 1965, he was the first amateur entry draft pick (#1 overall, by the Athletics).

Hit the "Blue Monday" home run that ended the Expos' dreams of the World Series in 1981. (NLCS, best of five back then, tied at 2-2, Game 5 in Montreal, played on Monday (yes, really) 19-October, tied 1-1 going into the ninth. Monday smacked a 2-out home run to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Valenzuela got two quick outs, then walked two, and finally left the game, 8.2 IP, and Bob Welch got Jerry White to ground out and end it; bye-bye, Canada World Series. The Dodgers went on to defeat the Yankees, and our good neighbors to the north had to wait 11 years to get the big show. Box: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1981/B10190MON1981.htm )

Saved an American flag from being set ablaze while he was WITH THE CUBS PLAYING IN DODGER STADIUM. Yes, I realize his career tenure with the Dodgers is better remembered, and it happened in LA, but he was a CUB at the time, and it is worth getting this right. Box: http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1976/B04250LAN1976.htm

Answer 3

No, alas, but he ought to be. I think the act (saving that flag) will be remembered, but years and years from now no one will remember Monday and the act will be attributed to a variety of big names. Some researcher will find out it was Monday and people like me will think, "Hey, cool. I gotta remember that!" And then not be able to.