On April 25, 1976, the Chicago Cubs outfielder, Rick Monday, became a national hero when he rescued the American flag from two protesters who were attempting to burn it on the field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

During the fourth inning of the game between the Cubs and the Dodgers, two protesters, William Thomas and his 11-year-old son, ran onto the field carrying an American flag and a can of lighter fluid. As they tried to set the flag on fire in shallow center field, Monday, who was playing center field for the Cubs, noticed the commotion and sprinted towards them.

Without hesitation, Monday snatched the flag away from the protesters just as they were about to ignite it. He then handed the flag to a member of the Dodgers' staff and the game continued after a short delay. The crowd of 25,167 people erupted in cheers and gave Monday a standing ovation for his quick thinking and patriotic act.

Monday later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it."

The incident made national headlines, and Monday received a plethora of thank-you letters from across the country. He was also presented with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol by then-President Gerald Ford. The act of bravery overshadowed the fact that the Dodgers ended up winning the game 5-4 in 10 innings.

Rick Monday's flag-saving moment became one of the most iconic and celebrated events in baseball history, transcending the sport itself. It remains a shining example of patriotism and quick thinking in the face of an unexpected crisis on the field.