But many people, singly and in groups, were blessed with good luck this same year. Among the groups blessed were lovers of the Arts. In New York City on March 18 th, the Whitney Museum of Art acquired 1,500 works by painter Edward Hopper. On September 8 th, composer Leonard Bernstein's Mass inaugurated the premier season of Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Back in New York cellist Pablo Casals conducted a United Nations concert on October 24 th.
Luck is often a matter of skill.
Nowhere else is this as apparent as in the arenas of sports - certain fans, players and teams certainly felt like the children of fortune this year. In March, UCLA's basketball won its fifth straight NCAA title. Early the following month the Soviet hockey team defeated Sweden to win their 19 th straight world championship. Five days later, on April 8 th, New York City Mayor john Lindsay placed a two dollar bet, inaugurating New York State's Off Track Betting. On the 27 th baseball player Hank Aaron became the third player to hit more than 600 home runs.