Article content continued

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

The YouTube clip shows Rick Monday walking toward home plate from the on-deck circle, around to the right of home-plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt and Expos catcher Gary Carter, to stand in the batter’s box.

Steve Rogers had retired the first two batters of the inning before Monday hit a 3-1 pitch over the right-centre field fence as Andre Dawson looked on in desperation at about the 385-foot mark.

Oh, no. Aw, shoot. Son of a bee. Many Expos fans attending the game at Olympic Stadium in Montreal or watching on television sets somewhere in Canada muttered those words on a cold, cold Monday afternoon.

Some people were crying, many held their heads in their hands, disbelieving. The Expos’ chances at the World Series were erased by a Monday home run in the top of the ninth inning.

The 35th anniversary of Blue Monday on Oct. 19, 1981 just brings more grief and groaning for Expos fans.

“I don’t think the mayor of Montreal will have a celebration,’’ Monday told me in a recent interview.

Many people I know can’t stand Monday. “Don’t even mention Rick Monday’s name,’’ one said.

Rogers has always been courteous in fielding questions about that home run. He’s never shied away. He faces the music every time reporters or fans talk to him about it. He wasn’t available for an interview for this story, but he told me years ago that he was full of “adrenaline’’ both in the bullpen and when he came into the game.

Oh, no. Aw, shoot. Son of a bee. Many Expos fans muttered those words on a cold, cold Monday afternoon

Without Rogers, the Expos would not have made it to a fifth game against the Dodgers. He had approached manager Jim Fanning and pitching coach Galen Cisco to tell them he was prepared to come on in relief, if needed, in Game 5.