“Summer of ’69.”

Bryan Adams released the song in 1985 and it reached No. 5 on the Billboard chart. In his native Canada, Adams’s song was a chart topper. Over the past 40 years, the song has maintained its popularity.

What do you remember from that summer? And what were some of the items you had or songs you heard on your transistor radio?

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column – reminiscing about sports and pop culture in the 1960s, ‘70s, ‘80s and sometimes before and beyond – I’ll take a look at Philly’s struggling sports teams during that year as well as some other happenings.

Who was wrestling’s “Russian Bear?” Do you remember “Room 222?” And what former Eagles wore No. 99 in the ‘70s?

Phils Fall Flat ... The Phillies’ ’69 team was one that couldn’t get out of its own way.

The Phillies were coming off a 76-86 season in 1968 where Bob Skinner took over for Gene Mauch as manager 54 games into the season — even though Mauch had a 27-27 record.

Heading into ‘69, the Phillies appeared to have a solid lineup with Richie Allen at first, Cookie Rojas at second, Don Money at short, and Tony Taylor at third. Deron Johnson was in left, rising star Larry Hisle was in center, and vet Johnny Callison was in right. “Irish” Mike Ryan was behind the plate.

Grant Jackson (14-18), a young Rick Wise (15-13) and Woodie Fryman (12-15) were at the top of the rotation. John Boozer was the closer, and a budding Billy Wilson was also in the ‘pen.Chris Short injured his back after two starts and was done for the season.

But Skinner ran into the ame problem Mauch had — dealing with Richie Allen. Skinner quit on Aug. 7, citing the final straw when Allen refused to report to an exhibition game in Reading a few days earlier. Remember when the Phillies did those?

The team had a 44-64 record at that point. Veteran coach George Myatt took over and the team finished with an overall 63-99 record.

Anyone remember pitcher Al Raffo, catchers Dave Watkins and Vic Roznovsky, or first baseman Gene (not Rod) Stone from the ‘69 team?

Inept Eagles ... In late 1968, the stage appeared to be set for the Eagles to gain their respectability back. They were 0-11 at the time, and all signs pointed to them getting the first pick in the NFL draft and taking USC stud running back O.J. Simpson, who would be a generational player.

Well, like the Phillies, the Eagles didn’t have any luck.

They won two of their last three games, Buffalo ended up with the first pick, and Simspon had a Hall of Fame career with the Bills. The Eagles drafted running back Leroy Keyes, whose unproductive backfield work in two years eventually led to him being shifted him to a safety in 1971.

As for the ‘69 team, head coach Joe “Must Go” Kuharich was fired by new owner Leonard Tose, who hired Jerry Williams.

Quarterback Norm Snead threw for 19 touchdowns and 2,768 yards with 23 interceptions. George Mira replaced him for the final game of a 4-9-1 season. Tom Woodeschick ran for 831 of the team’s 1,563 rushing yards, and Harold Jackson caught 65 of the team’s 216 completions with nine touchdowns.

Jackson’s Eagles’ efforts tend to be often overlooked as he caught 215 balls in four years.

I still love the unirforms the Eagles wore throughout the 1960s.

Flying Low ... In the same year, the Flyers were beginning to crawl out of their infant state, but they slipped to an overall 17-35-24 season. Can you think about a team back then with 24 ties in a season?

They scored 192 goals (fourth lowest in the league). Andre Lacroix’s led the team with 58 points and Gary Dornhofe added 55. Bernie Parent (2.80) and Doug Favell were adequate in the net. Earl Heiskala was the team’s enforcer with 171 penalty minutes. There also was budding youngster Bobby Clarke.

Under head coach Vic Stasiuk, the team lost their last six games and missed the playoffs.

After the season, owner Ed Snider called for more “bigger, tougher” players. Two years later, GM Keith Allen hired Rangers’ assistant Fred Shero in to begin the rise of ‘The Broad Street Bullies.”

Sixers Were Best ... During 1969, the lone winning staple in Philly was the Sixers. Barely.

They were coming off a 55-27 season the year before, but they slipped to 42-40 overall.

Billy Cunningham (26.0 ppg.) led the team in scoring and Hal Greer (22.0) was still one of the league’s best. Archie Clark (19.7) was a strong backcourt mate, and Jim Washington (12.7) took over Chet Walker’s role. Veteran Darrall Imhoff (13.8) stepped into the middle.

Head coach’s Jack Ramsey’s club was eliminated by the Bucks in the playoffs in five games.

Do you remember backup forward Fred Hetzel who spent just one season with the team?

Another Classic Game(s) ... In 1969, there were a number of games that hit the market and impacted our childhood.

It was called “table-top hockey” and I;m sure we all had — or still have — one of those. I was always anxious to see the players, especially if you could get the Flyers. And then you had the controllable goalie.

There also was “Spirograph,” which was a geometric drawing device that produced mathematical roulette curves of the variety technically known as hypotrochoids and epitrochoids. Not being a math person, I didn’t know what they were.

Popular Toys ... Remember the dune buggy? It made the scene that year as well as a number of new G.I. Joe adventures. My favorite G.I. Joe ones were the space capsule and the scuba diver.

One last “gem” was Plasticine, which was a form of modeling clay. It was the British version of Play-Doh.

WWF/WWE Wrap ... Each week, I’ll recall a former WWF/WWE wrestler from our past.

Do you remember Ivan “The Russian Bear” Koloff? He actually was Canadian Orwell Perras.

Koloff began his career in 1965 and wrestled until 2013. He was an instant villain, especially with his touted Russian background during the “Cold War.”

Koloff had the WWF championship for 21 days in 1971 when he defeated Bruno Sammartino. Koloff lost the title to Pedro Morales. Through the years, Sammartino and Koloff had some classic battles. Both battled in the first steel-cage match in Madison Square Garden in 1975.

Koloff, who always wore a chain around his neck, was known for his diving knee drop and bear hug. He was a WWF tag-team champion and also shared the same title in the EWA and NWA.

Overall, Koloff participated in 3,259 matches, winning 1,503, losing 1,519 and working 237 to a draw. Koloff wrestled until 1994 and then returned on the scene in 2000 until 2013 when his career ended in a Pay-Per-View event “Superstars of Wrestling” with a loss to Rob Armstrong.

Koloff passed away in 2017 at the age of 75.

On the Airways ... On Aug 3, 1969, the top song was Zager and Evans’ “2525,” which proved to be their only hit.

“Hee Haw,” “The Brady Bunch,” and “Room 222” were some of the primetime debuts, and our Saturday mornings welcomed “Scooby Doo, Where Are You,” “The Archies’ Comedy Hour” , and “Dastardly and Muttley and their Flying Machines.” Do you remember them?

In the Movies ... On the big screen, the controversial “Midnight Cowboys” was a big hit with Jon Voight as a male prostitute and Dustin Hoffman as a con-man. I later realized why I wasn’t allowed to watch it as a nine-year-old.

Also, John Wayne won an Oscar for his hit, “True Grit,” as U.S. marshall Rooster Cogburn, who hunts down bad guys.

Memory Lane ... Each week, I’ll recount the career of a former player, manager, coach, or media personality.

Do you remember Eagles’ defensive end Mel Tom? He was the team’s sixth-round pick in the ‘66 draft out of San Jose State and was born in Hawaii. Tom became famous for wearing No. 99.

From 1968-72, Tom started 69 of 70 games, as he was a consistent performer. He was traded to the Bears during 1973 and retired after the 1975 season.

Tom passed away at age 64 in 2006.

Feedback ... Your comments are always welcomed at tnsports@tnonline.com.