A new commentary in the Los Angeles Times goes back to one of the best-known moments in Dodgers history. It also looks at the lessons Fred Claire passed along to people who worked under him.
The moment came at a 1976 game. Rick Monday ran between two men in the Dodger Stadium outfield and grabbed an American flag they were about to set on fire. Soon after that, Claire had the stadium message board show a tribute: "RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY."
The Times identifies Claire as the Dodgers' longtime publicist and general manager. According to the piece, Claire later made a point of recognizing the young message-board assistant who helped in that moment. The Times says this showed his habit of sharing credit and helping others.
The commentary also draws on Jeff Fellenzer, who says he taught students that winning franchises are built on trust, good people and accountability. The piece says Claire lived by those principles, even when it meant owning a costly mistake or putting his job at risk.
The commentary is a look back at an event from 1976, not breaking news. It shows how a quick decision about one message stayed with someone who was there.