May 25, 1940: La Bombonera Opens

May 25, 1940: Estadio Boca Juniors opens, on the River Plate, in the La Boca section of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. It is home to Club Atlético Boca Juniors, one of the most popular and successful soccer teams in South America. The 1st game was an exhibition, or a "friendly" in soccer parlance, against another of Buenos Aires' teams, 5 miles to the west, San Lorenzo. "Boca" won, 2-0.

In 1953, the stadium was given a 3rd deck, which suggested a shape, giving it a nickname: La Bombonera, "The Chocolate Box." In 1978, despite Argentina being the host nation for the World Cup, La Bombonera did not host any games: All the games set for Buenos Aires were played at El Monumental, home to Boca's arch-rivals, River Plate, 10 miles northwest, also along the River Plate. Not only that, but no Boca players were selected for the Argentina team that won that World Cup.

In 1986, the stadium was renamed Estadio Camilo Cichero, after the team's president when construction began. In 1996, a renovation included a conversion to all-seater, reducing seating capacity to 57,200. In 2000, it was renamed Estadio Alberto José Armando, after the team's president during their 1960s resurgence.

Since moving in, "Boca" have won 25 Primera División championships, plus the 10 they won before, making them, domestically, Argentina's 2nd-most successful team, behind River. They have won the Copa Libertadores, South America's continental club championship, 6 times: In 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007.

Their stars have also included Ernesto Lazzatti in the 1930s and '40s, Antonio Rattin and Silvio Marzolini in the 1960s, Julio Olarticoechea and Carlos Tapia from the 1986 World Cup-winning Argentina team, and Carlos Tevez and Martin Palermo in the 2000s.

As of May 26, 2022, a modernization of the stadium is planned, but has not yet begun.

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May 25, 1940 was a Sunday. These baseball games were played:

* The Washington Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics, 4-2 at Griffith Stadium in Washington.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs, 12-7 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

* A doubleheader was split at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds won the opener, 7-2. The St. Louis Cardinals won the nightcap, 5-1.

* The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 10-4 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Hank Greenberg went 2-for-4 with a walk.

* The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox were rained out at Fenway Park in Boston. It was made up as part of a doubleheader on August 7. The Red Sox won the 1st game, 10-7. The Yankees won the 2nd game, 6-3. Over the 2 games, Joe DiMaggio went 4-for-9 with a home run, a walk and 4 RBIs. Ted Williams was injured, and did not play in either game.

* And the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Browns were postponed at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, due not to rain, but to cold weather. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on August 11. The Indians won the 1st game, 12-4. The Browns won the 2nd game, 7-6.

* The New York Giants and the Boston Bees -- in the last season of a 5-year stretch under that name, before going back to calling themselves the Braves -- were rained out at the Polo Grounds. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on September 5. The Giants swept, 8-7 and 4-1. In the 1st game, the Bees led 7-3 going into the bottom of the 8th inning, but the Giants scored a run in the 8th and 4 in the 9th to win it. Frank Demaree singled Bob Seeds home with the winning run. Over the 2 games, Mel Ott went 0-for-8, but had 2 walks, and an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the 9th inning of the 1st game.

* And the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies were rained out at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The game was made up as part of a doubleheader on September 6. The Dodgers swept, 3-0 and 14-3. Freddie Fitzsimmons, who always seemed to pitch well for the Giants against the Dodgers, was now the Dodgers' ace, and, in the 1st game, allowed 10 hits, but kept the shutout.