News feed today listing events of this day (25th April) in history headlined the 40th anniversary of the famous "American Flag" incident. It was 40 years ago to the day that Chicago Cubs' CF Rick Monday intervened when two individuals jumped the outfield fence at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and tried to set the American flag on fire.
Monday, who had spent time in the US Marine Corps Reserves, saw a man and his (believe it or not, 11-year old) son trying to burn the flag for reasons that have never been made clear, raced in and saved the day. The miscreants received a $60 trespassing fine and probation. Monday kept (and still, apparently has) the flag following the legal proceedings.
Rick Monday is the answer to the trivia question "Who was the first player ever chosen in the baseball amateur draft (1965)." Though not a great player, he had a decent career, highlighted by the "Blue Monday" home run off Montreal ace Steve Rodgers in 1981, ending the Expos' sole post-season appearance and propelling the Dodgers, ultimately to the World Series' title.
But the former Athletic, Cub, and Dodger outfielder is probably best remembered for the play he made in shallow left field in April 40 years ago.
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