Blue Monday: The Expos, The Dodgers and The Home Run That Changed Everything

Blue Monday chronicles a pivotal moment in baseball history: the National League Championship Series game between the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers on October 19, 1981. The book focuses on Rick Monday's ninth-inning home run that determined the winner of the playoff series. Through interviews and research, Danny Gallagher reconstructs the events leading up to this crucial game and examines its impact on both teams. He provides context about the 1981 season, the players, and the distinct baseball cultures of Montreal and Los Angeles during that era. The narrative incorporates perspectives from players, managers, fans, and media who witnessed or participated in the game. Key figures include Expos pitcher Steve Rogers, Dodgers outfielder Rick Monday, and members of both organizations who saw their fortunes change that day. This account of a single baseball game serves as a lens to explore larger themes about sports, cities, and the moments that reshape trajectories - both for individuals and institutions.

Readers appreciate the book's detailed research and interviews about Rick Monday's home run that ended the Expos' 1981 playoff run. Many express nostalgia for this pivotal moment in Montreal baseball history. Readers liked: - First-hand accounts from players and staff - Context about the Expos organization and era - Previously unpublished photos - Montreal perspective on the events Readers disliked: - Repetitive writing style - Some factual errors noted by baseball historians - Focus sometimes strays from main narrative - Editing issues and typos One reader noted: "The story gets bogged down with too many peripheral details that distract from the main event." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) 49th Shelf: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) Most view it as a solid account of an important baseball moment, though not without flaws in execution.

The Victory Season by David Halberstam Chronicles baseball's pivotal 1949 season, focusing on the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees rivalry during a transformative period in American history.

Up, Up, and Away by Jonah Keri Tells the complete history of the Montreal Expos from their inception to their final game, documenting the triumphs and failures that shaped the franchise.

October 1964 by David Halberstam Examines the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees pennant race while highlighting baseball's intersection with civil rights and social change.

The Shot Heard 'Round the World by Ray Robinson Details Bobby Thomson's famous 1951 home run and its impact on the Giants-Dodgers rivalry through first-hand accounts and historical context.

If These Walls Could Talk: Montreal Expos by Danny Gallagher Presents stories and memories from players, coaches, and insiders who witnessed defining moments in Montreal Expos history.

📚 The book chronicles the story of "Blue Monday" - October 19, 1981, when Rick Monday of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a ninth-inning home run against the Montreal Expos in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, crushing Montreal's World Series dreams. ⚾ Author Danny Gallagher has written seven books about baseball, particularly focusing on Canadian baseball history and the Montreal Expos franchise. 🏟️ The Montreal Expos never reached the World Series in their 36-year history (1969-2004) before relocating to Washington D.C. and becoming the Nationals. 🔍 The book features interviews with over 100 sources, including players, coaches, and executives from both teams involved in the historic game. 🌟 The fateful home run came off Expos pitcher Steve Rogers, who was normally a starting pitcher but was brought in as a reliever in that crucial moment - a controversial decision that fans still debate decades later.