Monday’s day

                                                                                                                      (James Roark photo)          

Happy 79th birthday today to former All-Star outfielder Rick Monday, whose finest play in a highly acclaimed career comes on April 25, 1976 as he prevents two protesters from setting ablaze the American flag on the field during the fourth inning of a game at Dodger Stadium.

At the time, Monday is playing center field for the Chicago Cubs.

Los Angeles eventually wins the game 5-4 in 10 innings and then trades for Monday in the offseason, acquiring him from Chicago for outfielder Bill Buckner and shortstop Ivan DeJesus.

Monday plays another eight seasons for the Dodgers before joining the team as a broadcaster.

“What they were doing was wrong then. In my mind, it’s wrong now,” Monday later tells the Los Angeles Times. “It’s the way I was raised.

“My thoughts were reinforced with my six years in the Marine Corps Reserves. It was also reinforced by a lot of friends who lost their lives protecting the rights and freedoms that flag represents. I still feel that way and very happy that I was geographically close enough to stop those guys from desecrating the American flag.”