Saving the Flag: Rick Monday’s Bicentennial Moment
A Truly Great Play
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Rick Monday stepped to the plate to face Chicago Cubs pitcher Ken Crosby in the bottom of the fourth inning of a game on Sunday, April 25, 1976. The score was 1-0 in favor of the Cubs. Suddenly, chaos erupted in the stands. Two men rushed onto the field, their intentions clear. With swift, frantic movements, they unfurled an American flag in left-center and drenched it in lighter fluid, preparing to set it on fire.
Without a moments hesitation, Cubs center fielder Rick Monday sprang into action. He sprinted toward the flag, snatched it from them with his right hand, and kept running until he reached the Dodgers dugout, where he handed Old Glory to pitcher Doug Rau. The crowd of 25,167 exploded in applause, rising to their feet for a standing ovation. Moments later, when Monday came to bat, the scoreboard read: “Rick Monday, you made a great play.”
The Next Play: A Hero in Action
Monday, who notched three hits on the day, had one run batted in, and scored two runs, was a veteran of the Marine Corps Reserves. His prompt action in saving the flag was thus reflexive for a man imbued with patriotism and love of country. That his heroics came in America’s bicentennial year of 1976 only adds to the story.
President Gerald Ford called Monday after the game to offer his congratulations. Years later, the U.S. Senate issued a proclamation of thanks to Monday, who retired from baseball in 1984 as a member of the Dodgers. A copy of the proclamation is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.
Monday, now 80 years of age, kept the flag he saved that day. He and his wife, Barbaralee, have used the flag in their fundraising efforts for veterans and their families. The most noteworthy example of their charitable endeavors occurred in 2006, when they organized a cross-country motorcycle trip from their home in Vero Beach, Florida, to Los Angeles. The Patriot Guard Riders escorted the participants in the trip, helping to deliver the flag to Dodger Stadium on July 4, marking the thirtieth anniversary of Rick Monday’s great play.
To celebrate America’s 250th birthday, Monday has loaned the flag to the Baseball Hall of Fame, where it will be publicly displayed from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. “The story of this flag has brought our country together for five decades, and for Cooperstown visitors to be able to share this experience is truly meaningful for both Rick and myself,” Barbaralee Monday said.
Our Perspective
Patriotism comes in many forms and is demonstrated in many ways. Rick Monday’s quick thinking on April 25, 1976, led to one of the iconic moments in baseball history and connected America’s pastime to the military, to the bicentennial, and now, to the country’s semi quincentennial.
Sources
"American Flag Rescued by Rick Monday on Exhibit at Museum Throughout Summer 2026 | Baseball Hall of Fame."
"Rick Monday Saves the Flag: A Bicentennial Moment That Became a National Treasure," Baseball Hall of Fame Website.
"Rick Monday's Great Play: A Look Back at a Defining Moment in Baseball History," Los Angeles Times, April 25, 1976.
Image Citation
Leahy, Sharon. Rick Monday saves the flag. Image concept and direction. AI-assisted illustration generated using digital tools, 2026. Source image via Wikimedia Commons.