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Rick Monday Flag Rescue Photo Gallery
The Cubs’ Rick Monday Rescues the American Flag!
“If you’re going to burn the flag, don’t do it around me. I’ve been to too many veterans’ hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it.” -Rick Monday
It happened fifty years ago yesterday…
At Dodger Stadium on April 25, in the Bicentennial year 1976, two protesters ran into left-center field and tried to set fire to an American flag. Rick Monday, the Cubs’ center fielder, had been tossing a practice ball with left fielder Jose Cardinal. After Steve Stone of the Cubs threw a pitch that made Ted Sizemore pop out, Monday dashed over and rescued the flag before it could be set afire. Monday ran through the infield with the flag and handed it over to Dodgers pitcher Doug Rau. Monday had served a commitment with the Marine Corps Reserve as part of his ROTC obligation after leaving Arizona State.
The ballpark police arrested and escorted the two intruders, William Thomas and his 11-year-old son, off the field. The father was fined, charged with trespassing, and put on probation. When Monday came to bat in the next inning, he got a standing ovation with thunderous cheers from the crowd, and the message board flashed:
“RICK MONDAY… YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY”
The game was played in front of 25,167 fans, with the Dodgers winning the game 5-4 in ten innings. Lead-off hitter Monday went 3-5. The winning pitcher was Charlie Hough in relief, and the loser was Mike Garman for the Cubs. Our senior readers will remember the umpiring crew that day: Dutch Rennert, Ed Vargo, Andy Olsen, and Satch Davidson.
In later years, on August 25, 2008, Monday was presented with an American flag flown over Valley Forge National Historical Park in honor of his 1976 bicentennial flag rescue. Monday still has the flag he rescued from the protesters. He has been offered up to $1 million to sell it, but has declined all offers. During a Dodger Stadium game on September 2, 2008, Monday was also presented with a Peace One Earth Medallion and a medallion lapel pin from the organization Step Up 4 Vets, for his valor and patriotic actions on April 25, 1976.
A two-time All-Star, Rick Monday played 19 seasons for the Athletics (1966–71), Cubs (1972–76), and Dodgers (1977–84). He compiled a lifetime .264 batting average, with 1,619 hits, 241 home runs, 775 RBIs, .361 on-base percentage, and .443 slugging average. His 125 OPS+ places him well above the average of his major league contemporaries.
So today we gladly salute Rick Monday as we recall his great act of patriotism that still resonates with baseball fans, fifty years later.
Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All found on Google search
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I’m grateful to him and to all who served.