This day in baseball: Monday saves the U.S. flag

On April 25, 1976, in a moment that remains iconic to this day, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday rescued the American flag from two protestors who tried to set it on fire in the outfield at Dodger Stadium.  In the bottom of the fourth inning, Monday dashed over and seized the flag from the pair while the crowd cheered. Monday ran through the outfield with the flag and, while walking towards the Dodgers dugout, he handed the flag over to Dodgers pitcher Doug Rau. When Monday came to bat in the top half of the fifth inning, he received a standing ovation and the scoreboard flashed the message, “Rick Monday… You Made A Great Play…”

Rick Monday, 1976 (National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

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