Chicago Cubs: ‘Rick Monday…You made a great play’

Chicago Cubs: Patriotism is the way

The 1976 regular season was only two weeks old when the Dodgers faced off against the Cubs in a home day game. Rick Rhoden got the nod for Los Angeles, and Steve Stone, who many Cubs fans have come to revere in recent years, took the ball for Chicago.

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Each starter pitched well. Stone left after just 1 2/3 innings and was relieved by Ken Crosby, who did not fare as well. Rhoden finished off a quality start but did walk five batters, striking out zero, and allowing a home run.

Monday, who finished that day three-for-five with an RBI, brought his average on the young season up to an impressive .365, but that is not what mattered most. The Sunday afternoon game in Los Angeles happened to be the 100th anniversary of the Cubs’ first game.

That afternoon, following the start of the bottom of the fourth, a father and son jumped the wall. They proceeded into left-center field where they attempted to light the American flag on fire as a protest against what he claimed was the “imprisonment” of his wife at a mental institution.

Monday, who was patrolling the outfield, immediately made a beeline for the two individuals, grabbing the flag to thunderous applause and cheers before they could light the flag on fire. Monday then made his way to Doug Rau, a pitcher for the Dodgers, where he handed the flag off.