Rick Monday Recalls Saving American Flag 50 Years Ago Fifty years ago on Saturday, an ordinary moment during a baseball game at Dodger Stadium became a defining moment in American history. The event unfolded during a crucial game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, which served as the deciding game of a three-game series. In the bottom of the fourth inning, two fans breached the left-center field fence and rushed onto the outfield grass. Chicago center fielder Rick Monday, who had served six years in the U.S. Marine Reserves during his 19-year MLB career, noticed an unusual sound and turned to see the trespassers engaged in an act that would forever alter the game’s narrative. The fans had unfurled an American flag, but their intentions were far from patriotic. One of them pulled out a can of lighter fluid and began dousing the flag, preparing to set it ablaze. Monday, recognizing the danger, sprinted toward the intruders. Reflecting on the incident in a 2016 interview with the LA Times, Monday recalled, “I didn’t know if it was on fire or not, but I did know one of the guys was not a [baseball player].” The trespasser attempted to throw the lighter fluid at Monday but missed, prompting Monday to intervene. “I may have been thinking about bowling them over,” Monday said, “but if they don’t have the flag, they cannot burn it. So I scooped down and got the flag.” His quick action prevented the desecration of the national symbol. The crowd at Dodger Stadium erupted in response, beginning to sing “God Bless America.” The trespassers were swiftly escorted off the field, with then-Dodgers third base coach Tommy Lasorda confronting them with expletives.#chicago_cubs #los_angeles_dodgers #rick_monday #national_baseball_hall_of_fame #tommy_lasorda
