June 23, 1968: Buenos Aires' Tragedy of Gate 12

June 23, 1968: A stampede at a "Superclassico" game between Buenos Aires soccer arch-rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate kills 71 people and injures 150 others, at Gate 12 at River's home stadium, El Monumental. The stampede came after the game ended in a draw, 0-0.

It is the worst sports-related disaster in South American history, known as "La Tragedia de la Puerta 12." The cause remains in dispute, and no one was ever charged, despite apparent police errors that could have saved some people -- in each case, similar to the Hillsborough Disaster in England 21 years later.

After the season, the 68 teams in the Argentine Football Association collected 100,000 pesos for the families of the victims.

*

June 23, 1968 was a Sunday. These baseball games were played:

* The New York Yankees lost to the Minnesota Twins, 6-3 at Metropolitan Stadium in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota. Jim Merritt outpitched Fritz Peterson. Ted Uhlaender went 5-for-5 with an RBI. Harmon Killebrew went 1-for-5. Rod Carew did not play. For the Yankees, Mickey Mantle went 1-for-4. Horace Clarke and Andy Kosco hit home runs.

* The New York Mets beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-4 at Shea Stadium. Nolan Ryan outpitched Bill Singer. Cleon Jones went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and 4 RBIs.

* The San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-1 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. Willie McCovey hit 2 home runs. Willie Mays appeared as a pinch-hitter, stayed in the game, and went 0-for-2. For the Pirates, Roberto Clemente went 0-for-4, and Willie Stargell left the game with an injury before coming to bat.

* A doubleheader was split at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The Cleveland Indians won the opener, 3-0. Luis Tiant pitched a 3-hit shutout, while John Hiller didn't get out of the 1st inning. The Detroit Tigers won the nightcap, 4-1. Al Kaline did not play in either game.

* The Cincinnati Reds swept a doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs, 9-8 and 4-3 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. In the 1st game, Pete Rose and Don Pavletich hit back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the 9th to win the game. Ernie Banks did not play. In the 2nd game, Tommy Helms grounded into a force play, scoring Tony Pérez with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning. Banks went 2-for-5. Over the 2 games, Rose went 2-for-9 with 2 RBIs, and rookie Johnny Bench went 4-for-9.

* A doubleheader was split at Comiskey Park in Chicago. The Boston Red Sox won the 1st game, 6-2. Carl Yastrzemski went 0-for-0... with 4 walks, and an RBI. The Chicago White Sox won the 2nd game, 10-1. Wilbur Wood went 8 innings, while Boston starter Jim Lonborg didn't get a single out. Yaz went 1-for-3.

* There was a doubleheader split at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. The Atlanta Braves won the 1st game, 5-1. St. Louis Cardinals starter Nelson Briles didn't get a single batter out, but Braves starter Dick Kelley didn't get out of the 2nd inning. "Year of the Pitcher"? Not in this game. The Cards won the 2nd game, 3-1. Over the 2 games, Hank Aaron went 1-for-8 with an RBI.

* The Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-4 at the Astrodome in Houston.

* The California Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles, 3-2 at Anaheim Stadium (now Angel Stadium of Anaheim). Brooks Robinson went 2-for-4. Frank Robinson went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

* And the Oakland Athletics beat the Washington Senators, 9-0 at the Oakland Coliseum. Jim Nash pitched a 4-hit shutout. Bert Campaneris hit a home run. Reggie Jackson went 2-for-3 with 2 walks and 2 RBIs.