April 24, 2013
PDF on the day
Sun Devil Baseball and the Arizona State University ROTC commemorated the 37th anniversary of former Sun Devil great and former active duty Marine Rick Monday's flag-saving play at Dodgers Stadium at Wednesday’s home game against UNLV. Twenty-eight ROTC cadets unfurled a 30' by 60' American Flag on the outfield prior to the game, and there was also a public address recognition that included the audio from Vin Scully’s famous radio call.
On April 25, 1976, two protesters ran onto the field at Dodger's Stadium just before the bottom of the fourth inning carrying lighter fluid, matches, and the American flag with a plan to burn it in front of all 25,167 fans in attendance.
As the two poured lighter fluid over the mangled flag, then-current Cubs center fielder Monday took exception and grabbed the relic away from the duo to complete what some still call to this day, "the greatest play ever performed on a baseball field."
Sun Devil Athletics and the ROTC are involved in numerous ways across several varsity sports. Members of the ROTC serve as the Victory Bell honor guard at all events, the annual Army-Navy ROTC game is held at the Sun Devil Sports Performance facility, and football, softball and men’s basketball hold Military Appreciation Nights.
Twenty-plus Purple Heart Marines attended a mid-week ASU baseball game on March 5, 2009, and Marine Nick Kimmel, who is a triple amputee, has thrown out the first pitch at a game at Packard Stadium the past two seasons. (/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30300&ATCLID=207847023)
Rich Williams brought a number of injured Marines out for Cactus League Spring Training in February and was able to spend several hours with Monday, who was the group’s guest speaker.
“He's a very proud American,” Williams said. “Proud of his time with ASU, proud of his time playing professional baseball, extremely proud of his Marine service and exceptionally proud of what he did on April 25, 1976. To him, it was very instinctive to save that US Flag from being desecrated.”
Williams says Monday is still very passionate about the United States Flag and has raised several million dollars for military causes. He even still proudly displays the flag that he saved from being burned.
“Although Rick Monday is currently the TV and radio announcer for the LA Dodgers, he's a Marine who happens to be an announcer with the LA Dodgers,” Williams said.
Monday’s on-field heroics have been recognized by a wide range of people and organizations over the past 37 years, including by Congress in 2006, when they passed a senate resolution honoring Monday for his courage and patriotism.
He has also received a number of prestigious awards over the years, including a Presidential Commendation by President Gerald Ford, the United States Marine Corps “Lifetime Achievement Award,” the United States Navy League “Service to Others,” the Military Order of Purple Hearts “Patriotism Award” and the USO Bob Hope Award, among others.