Forty-two years ago, Wednesday, two protestors who rushed onto the field at Dodgers Stadium to burn an American flag were thwarted by Cubs outfielder Rick Monday.
On April 25, 1976, the Cubs were squaring off against the LA Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. In the bottom of the fourth inning, two men wielding a lighter, lighter fluid, and an American flag rushed into the outfield. They laid the flag down, dowsed it with lighter fluid and attempted to light the flag on fire, the Chicago Sun Times Recounts.
WATCH:
On This Date: In 1976, protesters tried to burn an American flag at Dodger Stadium.
Outfielder Rick Monday wasn't having any of that. pic.twitter.com/YyQ5tw9yIv
— ESPN (@espn) April 25, 2018
Just before the pair were able to ignite the flag, Rick Monday, a United States Marine, sprang into action as he raced from his post to snatch the flag right out from under them.
Monday’s quick thinking was met with applause from the crowd and a swift dismissal and arrest for the protestors.
At Monday’s next at bat, he received a raucous standing ovation from the Dodger faithful and the scoreboard flashed a message that emphatically read “RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY…”
Bear in mind, he was a member of the visiting team.
Monday still has the flag from the incident.