August 21, 1968: Soviet tanks roll into Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia, to put an end to the Prague Spring. For the 2nd time in 30 years, following the Munich Agreement of 1938 that allowed Nazi Germany to invade, the Western democracies saw the Czechs being invaded, and chose to let it happen.
This marked the end of the Prague Spring, which began on the preceding January 5. On that day,
Alexander Dubček was elected First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. He began a series of reforms, including a loosening of restrictions on the media, speech and travel, and a partial decentralization of the economy. The Soviets didn't like that, and they acted.
Dubček was arrested, but when the Soviets found out he had told his people not to resist, they kept him for only 6 days. His most lasting punishment was his expulsion from the Communist Party in 1970.
It would be 1989 before the "Velvet Revolution" truly freed the country from the Soviets' grip. Dubček
lived long enough to see it, dying in 1992. Two months later came the Velvet Divorce: The country was split into the Czech Republic, or Czechia, and Slovakia.
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August 21, 1968 was a Wednesday. These Major League Baseball games were played:
* The New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, outside Minneapolis. Al Downing outpitched future Yankee broadcaster Jim Kaat. Rocky Colavito, whom we don't usually think of as a Yankee, hit a home run off Kaat. Mickey Mantle, whom we do, played 1st base, and went 1-for-4. Both Mantle and Colavito would play in the major leagues for the last time on the following September 28.
* The New York Mets lost to the San Francisco Giants, 13-3 at Shea Stadium. Willie Mays went 3-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs.
* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-3 at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Steve Carlton, pitching for the Cards, not yet for the Phils, didn't get out of the 4th inning, but the Cards won anyway. Lou Brock went 0-for-2 before leaving the game due to an injury.
* The Cleveland Indians beat the Boston Red Sox, 8-2 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Carl Yastrzemski went 1-for-2 with 2 walks and an RBI.
* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds, 19-1 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Roberto Clemente went 3-for-4 with 2 solo home runs. Willie Stargell did not play. Playing 1st base instead was Donn Clenendon, and he went 2-for-6 with a home run and 5 RBIs. A year later, he would be traded to the Mets, and would be instrumental in their "Miracle." Pete Rose went 1-for-4, and Johnny Bench only appeared as a pinch-hitter, unsuccessfully.
* The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 3-2 at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Al Kaline was injured and did not play. Jim Price won the game with a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
* The Chicago Cubs swept a doubleheader from the Atlanta Braves at Wrigley Field, 5-4 and 13-5. Hank Aaron went 4-for-9 with a home run and 3 RBIs over the doubleheader, and Joe Torre went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Ernie Banks went 0-for-5 in the opener, but 3-for-4 with 2 homers and 3 RBIs in the nightcap.
* The Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 6-1 at the Astrodome.
* The Baltimore Orioles beat the California Angels, 4-3 at Anaheim Stadium. Boog Powell singled home the winning run in the top of the 15th inning. Brooks Robinson went 0-for-6, although he did draw a walk. Frank Robinson went 2-for-4 with 3 walks and a solo home run.
The winning pitcher was Gene Brabender. The losing pitcher was Marty Pattin. They would be teammates the next season, on the expansion Seattle Pilots, as told in teammate Jim Bouton's book Ball Four.
* And the Oakland Athletics (with Reggie Jackson) and the Washington Senators were not scheduled to play.
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