Remembering the Most Patriotic Play in Baseball History

I don’t say many nice things about the Chicago Cubs on this blog. However, seeing as how today is the birthday of our great nation, I feel compelled to do just that.

Why? Well, a little over 34 years ago, a Cubs outfielder named Rick Monday made what is unquestionably the most patriotic play in the history of baseball.

During a game in LA between the Cubs and the Dodgers, two men ran onto the outfield with designs on burning the American flag. They were just about to be successful when Monday swooped in and grabbed the flag, foiling their plans.

Kudos to you Rick Monday for your spontaneous and inspiring act of patriotism.

Somehow, I had never seen the highlights of this play and just caught them five minutes ago on the MLB Network.

Here is the full story:

It takes a lot for me to shower plaudits upon anyone or anything associated with the Cubs, but this certainly qualifies.

Here is Monday’s statement after the incident:

“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.”

Image source: LAPL.org

For what it’s worth, Monday was actually a pretty good player.

He was the #1 overall pick by the Kansas City A’s in 1965 and played 19 seasons, hitting .264 with 241 home runs and 775 RBI. He was a two-time All Star, 1968 and 1978.

Monday currently is a radio announcer for the Dodgers.

But he’ll always be best known for executing the most patriotic play in the long and patriotic history of America’s pastime.

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