June 25, 1967: "Our World" Is Broadcast

Left to right: Paul McCartney, John Lennon,

Ringo Starr, George Harrison

June 25, 1967: Our World is broadcast. It was the first live, international satellite television production. Creative artists representing 19 countries were invited to perform or appear in separate segments featuring their respective countries.

It lasted 2 1/2 hours, and was watched by 700 million people. Among the broadcasters: NET (the pre-PBS) in America, the BBC in Britain, CBC in Canada, TSM in Mexico, ORTF in France, ARD in West Germany, RAI in Italy, NHK in Japan, and ABC in Australia. In protest over the Six-Day War, the Soviet Union and 4 Warsaw Pact countries withdrew.

America dropped the ball. Think of the performers who could have been shown. Elvis Presley. Bob Dylan. Any number of rock or jazz legends. And our government chose... Van Cliburn, the great classical pianist.

Britain chose The Beatles. They sang John Lennon's new song "All You Need Is Love." It goes on to be a Number 1 hit all over the world -- for many, the theme song to "The Summer of Love."

*

June 25, 1967 was a Sunday. These Major League Baseball games were played that day:

* The New York Yankees beat the Detroit, 3-2 at Yankee Stadium. Mel Stottlemyre was the winning pitcher, while Mickey Lolich had to leave the game due to an injury in the 4th inning. Mickey Mantle went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Al Kaline went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

* The New York Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves, 4-2 at Atlanta Stadium. (It was renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in 1975.) Hank Aaron went 3-for-5, but didn't hit a home run.

* The Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians, 8-3 at Fenway Park in Boston. Carl Yastrzemski hit a home run.

* The Baltimore Orioles beat the Washington Senators, 8-3 at District of Columbia Stadium in Washington. (It was renamed Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 1969.) Brooks Robinson and Frank Robinson each went 3-for-5 with an RBI.

* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Roberto Clemente went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Willie Stargell came into the game as a defensive replacement, and walked in his only plate appearance.

* The Chicago Cubs swept a doubleheader with the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field in Chicago, 4-1 and 8-0. Ernie Banks went 1-for-4 in the opener. In the nightcap, he went 4-for-4, with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. Joe Niekro pitched a 3-hit shutout.

* The Minnesota Twins beat the Chicago White Sox, 3-1 at Metropolitan Stadium in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota. Harmon Killebrew went 0-for-1 with 2 walks, and Rod Carew went 1-for-3.

* The Philadelphia Phillies swept a doubleheader from the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, 6-4 and 10-4.

* The California Angels beat the Kansas City Athletics, 4-3 at Kansas City Municipal Stadium.

* And the Los Angeles Dodgers beat their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants, 2-1 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Willie Mays went 1-for-4 with an RBI.