Q&A: Monday on giving autographs to young fans

Rick Monday broke into the big leagues at the age of 20, and 50 years later he is still making daily trips to the ballpark. After 19 seasons in the Majors, he moved into the broadcast booth.

Monday was the first pick of the first amateur Draft in baseball history, coming out of Arizona State University to sign with the Kansas City A’s in 1965. By the end of the next season, Monday was in the big leagues.

He remains one of the most personable people in the game — always taking time for fans, never forgetting the lesson he learned at a young age, when a big league player didn’t have time for him.

Monday is the subject of this week’s Q&A:

MLB.com: I guess your big league memories go back to the Dodgers moving to Los Angeles?

Monday: Yes. First souvenir I had in a Major League game was at the L.A. Coliseum. Cubs were in town to play the Dodgers. Ernie Banks hit a line drive — and we were sitting down the left-field line, hit a line drive just foul. We were sitting just past the foul pole. The ball hit two rows behind me, came back, hit me right in the chest. I had a souvenir.

MLB.com: Excited?

Monday: After the game, I noticed a couple of Dodgers walk out. I recognized one of them, and asked if he would please sign my ball that Ernie Banks hit. He, very graciously and very calmly and very politely said, “Son, I’m sorry, but I’m in a really big hurry. I have to get somewhere.” He very gently kind of backed me up against the chain link fence.

MLB.com: Those are things you remember over time?

Monday: In my rookie year, I’m asked to pinch-hit to open the ninth of a tie game. They bring in a reliever to start the inning. It’s the guy who said to me years and years and years ago, “Son, I’m sorry but I’m in a really big hurry and I have to go somewhere” and very gently and politely, just kind of moved me out of the way, Larry Sherry. I get on base and Larry Stahl singles me to third. They make a pitching change and I’m jumping up and down and said, “That’s for not signing my ball.” I’m yelling it. I’m 20 years old. I’m in the big leagues. “That’s for not signing my ball. That’s for not signing my ball.” Everybody looked at me.

MLB.com: Did he realize what you were talking about?

Monday: Years and years go by. I am retired and doing the Dodger Fantasy Camp in Vero Beach, Fla. He and his wife were sitting next to …

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