Rick Monday Rescues the American Flag at Dodger Stadium

On April 25, 1976, two men ran onto the outfield grass at Dodger Stadium during the bottom of the fourth inning, spread an American flag on the ground, and doused it with lighter fluid. Before they could strike a match, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday sprinted over, scooped the flag off the grass with his right hand, and ran it to safety.

Monday had been tossing a warm-up ball with left fielder Jose Cardenal when the two men appeared in left-center field. The lighter fluid was already on the flag. Monday acted on instinct, grabbing the flag before the flame could catch, and delivered it to Dodgers pitcher Doug Rau near the dugout.

The crowd of 25,167 responded with a sustained standing ovation. When Monday came to bat in the top of the fifth inning, the Dodger Stadium scoreboard displayed a message that has followed him for fifty years. "Rick Monday... you made a great play!"

Monday also had a strong day at the plate, going three for five with two runs scored and an RBI. His efforts helped the Cubs rally from a three-run deficit and tie the game, though Los Angeles won 5-4 in ten innings.

The two trespassers, William Thomas and his eleven-year-old son, were from Eldon, Missouri. They were arrested and charged with trespassing. Monday was given the flag after the legal proceedings concluded. He kept it for decades before announcing in 2026 that he would donate it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The moment remains one of the most recognizable images in baseball history, a play that had nothing to do with a ball or a bat.