1968: On the field

A partial list of significant sports events during the year. JAN. 1: Texas A&M upsets Alabama 20-16 in the Cotton Bowl as Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant gives an impromptu victory ride to Aggies coach Gene Stallings, whom he coached at A&M in the mid1950s. JAN. 14: The Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl II 33-14 over the Oakland Raiders, who beat the Oilers 40-7 to represent the American Football League in the game at Miami’s Orange Bowl. JAN. 15: Two days after he strikes his head on the ice during a game against the Oakland Seals, Bill Masterson of the Minnesota North Stars becomes the first and, thus far, only NHL player to die as a direct result of an injury suffered during a game. JAN. 20: The University of Houston upsets No. 1-ranked UCLA, 71-69, ending the Bruins’ 47-game winning streak in college basketball’s first nationally televised prime-time game before a record crowd of 52,693 at the Astrodome. FEB. 6-18: At the Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France, Peggy Fleming wins the ladies figure skating gold medal as the only U.S. gold medalist. Jean-Claude Killy of France becomes the first man since 1956 to win all three Alpine skiing events, but his win in the slalom is controversial as Austrian Karl Schranz is disqualified for missing a gate two gates before halting his run because of what he described as an interloper on the fog-shrouded course. MARCH 5: Houston Wheatley defeats Dallas Jefferson 85-80 to win the University Interscholastic League Class 4A championship. It is Wheatley’s 13th state basketball championship but the first for the historically black school in the previously segregated UIL ranks. MARCH 22: UCLA exacts revenge for its loss in the Game of the Century, beating Houston 10169 in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles. APRIL 14: Bob Goalby wins the Masters when Argentinian Roberto De Vicenzo inadvertently signs an incorrect scorecard, costing him a spot in a playoff. De Vicenzo famously says afterward, “All I can think of is what a stupid I am to be wrong in this wonderful tournament.” JUNE 9: Ken Rosewall defeats Rod Laver in four sets to win the men’s singles title at the French Open, the first Grand Slam event of the “Open era” that allowed professionals to compete against amateurs. JULY 1: Sports Illustrated publishes the first installment of a five-part series titled “The Black Athlete – A Shameful Story” on the history of racial inequality in sports. JULY 9: Willie Mays scores the game’s only run as the National League beats the American League 1-0 in Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game at the Astrodome, the first indoor venue for the midsummer classic. SEPT. 14: Righthander Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers becomes the first pitcher since 1934 to win 30 games in a season, finishing 31-6. He remains, as of 2017, the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season. SEPT. 21: In a 20-20 tie against Houston, the Texas Longhorns unveil a new offense, incorporating three running backs in a triple option attack that comes to be known as the wishbone. The Longhorns start the season 0-1-1 before running off 30 consecutive wins over the next two seasons using the new offense. SEPT. 27: Wrapping up what comes to be known as baseball’s Year of the Pitcher, Bob Gibson of the St. Louis Cardinals outduels Larry Dierker of the Astros in a 1-0 win at St. Louis. Gibson finishes the season with a 1.12 ERA and a 22-9 record and is 4-1 with a 0.57 ERA against the Astros.