Rick Monday's Greatest Baseball Moment

As a kid, I mostly remember Rick Monday as a guy who was tagged as an underachiever, having been a #1 pick who didn't become a superstar, although he was a solid player.

That changed 30 years ago when he rescued an American flag from an attempt to torch it on the outfield grass of Dodger stadium. I remember the story in either People or one of the newsweeklies at the time (Time or Newsweek); I remember the buzz about it well.

I didn't know of Lasorda's role in what happened until reading the linked article - would have been hilarious if one of those jerks had taken a swing at him. They would have been pounded by a dozen ballplayers, and Tommy would have talked about how he beat up guys 20 years younger than himself forever... while bleeding Dodger Blue, of course.