Anthony Arroyo
April 25, 1976, Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles.
Baseball is full of legendary moments, walk-off home runs, no-hitters, and game-saving catches. But one of the most iconic plays in Dodgers history didn’t involve a bat, glove, or ball. It came from a man in center field wearing an opposing uniform, and it had nothing to do with the box score.
Forty-nine years ago today, Rick Monday of the Chicago Cubs became an American hero.
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The crowd of over 25,000 had settled in for what they thought would be just another day of National League baseball. But in the fourth inning, something shocking unfolded in center field.
Two protesters leapt out of the left field stands and ran onto the outfield grass, carrying with them an American flag. As players and fans looked on in confusion, the intruders unfurled the flag, doused it with lighter fluid, and prepared to set it ablaze.
Enter Rick Monday.
Without hesitation, the former Marine Corps reservist and longtime baseball man sprinted toward the scene. Just as one of the men struck a match, Monday swooped in and snatched the flag from the grass, a moment of instinct, patriotism, and sheer guts. He didn’t flinch. He just acted.
The crowd erupted. Dodger Stadium, divided by team loyalties a moment ago, rose in unison to cheer Monday’s act of courage. He was greeted with a standing ovation as he returned the flag to safety.
The image of Monday running with the flag in hand became an instant classic, immortalized on the front pages of newspapers across the country and later in baseball lore. It was more than a gesture. It was a statement that reminded fans that baseball, America’s pastime, was still deeply intertwined with the country’s values.
Ironically, the Dodgers would acquire Rick Monday later that same year. He would go on to wear Dodger Blue for the rest of his career, delivering several clutch hits and serving as a veteran leader. Still, his legacy in Los Angeles was already sealed before he ever stepped into the Dodgers’ clubhouse.
Today, on the 49th anniversary of that moment, Rick Monday remains a part of the Dodgers family, now serving as a beloved broadcaster for the team. His voice continues to echo through the stadium, while his actions on that April afternoon in 1976 remain etched in American sports history forever.
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