Blue Monday - when Rogers gave up that famous blast

   Yes this is that awful moment, Blue Monday, the cold and damp October 19, 1981 at Montreal's Olympic Stadium when Dodger Rick Monday cracked a homer off Steve Rogers in the top of the ninth in front of 36,491 Expos fans to clinch a victory that eliminated a fantastically talented Montreal Expo squad from the world series chase. The Expos could only muster doubles from Tim Raines and Larry Parrish along with a single from Gary Carter as a way of attack. Slugger Andre Dawson went 0 for 4 against Fernando Valenzuela. Expos hurler Ray Burris had matched him, scattering five hits and the score had been notched him one before the fateful swing.
   I recall my dread when Manager Jim Fanning call on Rogers - a starter - to relieve Burris. Rogers was the ace and an excellent competitor and great pitcher but had gone through a very hittable late-season spell, so the manager should have known better and found some junk baller in the pen to toss a few curves that Monday would have tapped harmlessly to the right side on a check swing. That's what was supposed to happen. Woody Fryman would have been the obvious choice to come in as he had another amazing year in the tricoloured beenie. Jeff Reardon was no slouch either but I'm not sure if they were injured or whatever.
   Carter and Parrish walked with two outs in the ninth but Bob Welch came on to get Jerry White to ground out to end the game.
   Charles Bronfman lost interest in owning the club soon after and sold the team to a buncha spendthrifts who failed to invest in the club. He eventually moved to New York with his two billion dollar trust.
  The 1994 season was the real nail in our beloved Expos' coffin as the ballplayers went on strike just as the 'Pos were enjoying their dream season, winning virtually every game.