Tales from the Dodgers Dugout
Rick Monday with Ken Gurnick
2006


















The Pitch

If there’s one thing I like about Rick Monday on the radio, it’s his story telling.  Rick played the game for 19 years, eight with the Dodgers, and as much as he lacks play-by-play ability on the radio, his stories about the game are often entertaining.  This is not say that he’s in the same arena as Vin Scully, but he is interesting nonetheless. In Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, Rick delivers story after story that place you on the field, in the dugout, and elsewhere during that magical 1981 championship season.  With plenty of first hand accounts from the likes of Tommy Lasorda, Dusty Baker, Steve Yeager, Fernando Valenzuela, and others, Rick tells tales about the 1981 Dodgers season from Spring Training, Fernandomania, the Strke, the playoffs, and of course, the World Series.



Best Quote

“How can I be diplomatic about describing Candlestick Park? 
Simply, it was a dump!” 



Things I didn’t know, or just forgot

  • Steve Yeager drilled Steve Howe in the forehead with a line drive during batting nearly knocking him unconscious.

  • Reggie Smith jump into the stands at Candlestick Park and gave “an ass-kicking” to a belligerent fan.

  • Fernando Valenzuela had plenty of rough spots during his magical season,    compiling a 6.46 ERA for a five game stretch in June.

  • It wasn’t just about Fernando (13-7, 2.48) on the mound in 1981.   Jerry Reuss (10-4, 2.30) and Burt Hooten (11-6, 2.28) had Cy Young caliber seasons as well.

  • Davey Lopes stole four bases in the 1981 World Series, but committed six errors.

  • Steve Howe pitched three innings of relief twice in the 1981 World Series.

  • Steve Garvey got decked in the head during the celebration on the mound.



Overall Rating:  Triple!

Tales from the Dodgers Dugout slugs a triple for the simple pleasure of reliving the 1981 championship season.  Not quite a home run due to lengthy introductions and some scattered thought patterns.  Tales from the Dodgers Dugout should appeal to most Dodgers fans.


-Robert Timm
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