If you’re a diehard Phillies’ fan, do you remember the Eugene Emeralds?

They once were the Phillies’ minor league Triple-A affiliate, and future stars Mike Schmidt, Larry Bowa and Bob Boone were some of the club’s regulars who spent some time there.

For many years, the Phillies’ minor league teams weren’t a short car trip away like they currently are with the Lehigh Valley, Reading and Lakewood (New Jersey) squads.

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 some of the possible forgotten minor league outlets through the years. Also, I’ll recall some pop culture items that once crossed our paths.

Finally, did anyone have an Army solider paratrooper? What wrestler was known for his “lariot?” What soda was known as the “Boss?” Who was Arnold Zipfel?

And were the Phillies once the Triple-A San Diego Padres, and the Miami Marlins?

Go West, Young Man ... In 1964, the Phillies began their Triple-A organization in Eugene. They had a “co-op” situation with the Cardinals in 1966, and then had their lone stay there from 1969 to 1973. Among their major highlights there was winning the Pacific Coast League championship in 1969 under future skipper Frank Lucchesi, who took over the parent club in 1970. Lucchesi began his Phillies’ minor-league managing career in 1956.

In 1976, the Phillies began a Triple- A association with the Oklahoma City 89ers, a location they maintained until 1982. The team was originally the top affiliate of the Houston Colt .45s when it began in 1962 (the future Astros).

Some familiar faces there were Lonnie Smith, Marty Bystrom, Bob Dernier, Dickie Noles, Randy Lerch, Willie Hernandez, and Julio Franco. Former mound ace Jim Bunning was among the managers there, and Ruben Amaro Sr. was a coach.

Other stops along the western way were Arkansas Travelers (1963-65), Portland Beavers (1983-86), Maine Phillies/Guides (1987-88), and the Toledo Mud Hens (1974-75).

Are You Sure? ... From 1966-68, the Phillies’ Class AAA team was known as the San Diego Padres. Some of their standouts were Bowa, Rick Joseph, Barry Lersch, Don Money, Larry Hisle and Grant Jackson.

Prior to that, the Phillies’ AAA team was known as the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1948-49, the Baltimore Orioles from 1951-53, and the Miami Marlins from 1956-58.

That’s a trip from Toronto and Miami.

Head North ... From 1934-36, the Phillies had a Single-A affiliate in Hazleton known as the Mountaineers. They were the Class B Allentown Wings in 1941, and also the Trenton Packers from 1942-43.

In 1989, the Phillies moved to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre where they became the Red Barons, and they also spent a year in Ottawa in 2007 before they moved to Lehigh Valley the following season.

Southern Staple ... If you ever headed down to South Carolina, the Phillies had a long-running association with Spartanburg as a Class A team from 1963-94.

Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Mickey Morandini, Juan Samuel and John Vukovich were some of the Spartanburg managers.

Another Classic Game (Toy) ... In the 1960s and 70s, one of the cool toys was the Army paratrooper with the actual parachute. You could throw it in the air and a parachute would release.

It was another simple toy that amused us. You can still find it on EBay.

Talkin’ Baseball ... In 1981, Terry Cashman released a song. “Talking Baseball (Willie (Mays), Mickey (Mantle), and the Duke (Snider),” as a tribute to the game, as well as being played during the 1981 strike.

Some of you may remember the song “Say Hey,” performed by the Treiners, a rhythm and blue group from Alabama, as a tribute to Willie Mays, who had returned from the service to the Giants after a two-year stay away from the game. There are numerous others, and let me know your favorite.

The Boss ... When we hear “The Boss,” many of us would think of Bruce Springsteen.

However, Pepsi released their “Boss” drink in the 70s, and it was 64 ounces of soda.

It was one of the precursors for the “Super Size” drinks and meals.

Lost Classics ... One of the zaniest TV shows from our yesterday has to be “Green Acres,” which aired on CBS from 1965-71 and featured some memorable characters. Oliver Douglas (Ed Albert) was a New York lawyer who wanted a simpler life on a farm with his ditzy socialite Hungarian wife (Eva Gabor) in the mythical town of Hooterville, which also was the home of “Petticoat Junction.”

We met Arnold the Pig (Zipfel) who became a national figure, as well as Mr. Haney and Mr. Kimball among other. Its humor was a combination of quick wit and slapstick that kept your attention.

Readers Write

On memorable, teams, streaks, and songs

Hi Jeff!

You asked about memories of the 1977 Phillies. That was probably one of the greatest Phillies teams. They won 101 games. Until they acquired Bake McBride before the deadline, they really weren’t doing that much. After they put him in right field and in the leadoff position, the team just took off.

They had it all: hitting- solid, from one to eight. With the exception of Schmidt (.274, 38 HR, & 101 RBI), everybody hit .280 or better; speed - McBride, Larry Bowa, Garry Maddox, and even Schmidt, at times; bench- unbelievable depth, both LH and RH hitters available; defense- leather everywhere- McBride, Maddox, Schmidt, Bowa, Ted Sizemore, Bob Boone, and even Tommy Hutton and Jerry Martin, if needed; pitching – starting pitching- led by Steve Carlton, Larry Christenson and Jim Lonborg, and relief pitching with four quality relievers with ERAs under three and had no control problems.

Their problems were: the playoffs vs. Dodgers in Game Three when Jerry Martin was NOT in the game for defense and challenging calls was not available like today; Game Four- it was rain, and nowadays, it would have been postponed.

Also you forgot to mention Anthony Young’s streak. Pitching for the Mets, he lost 27 consecutive decisions from May 6, 1992 to July 24, 1993.

Hi Jeff, again.

You mentioned the Cyrkle in your last column. They were a group whose members were students at Lafayette College in Easton. They had a third hit entitled “Please Don’t Ever Leave Me”. Although it hit only at #59 in Billboard, it is really a pretty good song. It was issued on a 45 in 1966.

Richard Ochs

Walnutport

WWF/WWE Wrestling Wrap ... Each week, I’ll recall a former wrestling star from our youth.

Do you remember Stan Hansen? He was famous for his “lariat” move, which was a running extended arm smash into an opponent’s neck. Hansen broke Bruno Sammartino’s neck in a 1976 match at Madison Square Garden (By the way, Sammartino sold out the Garden 187 of the 211 times he appeared there). Sammartino would get his revenge when he beat Hansen in a steel cage match at the Garden four months later.

He was born John Stanley Hansen II in Texas, and was nicknamed “Fuchinkan” (unsinkable battleship) in Japan for his long success. Hansen began his career in 1983 and retired in 2001.

Hansen claimed an AWA and NWF heavyweight championship and also was a NWA Tag team champion. He had a career record of 1,726-1,308 with 325 draws. Hansen was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.

Memory Lane ... Every week, I’ll look back at a former player, coach, manager, or media personality from our yesterday.

Do you remember Phillies pitcher Russ Springer? He was primarily a relief pitcher who made seven starts in his 65 Phillies’ appearances from 1995-96. With the Phils, Springer had a 3-10 record with a 4.45 ERA.

Springer spent 18 years in the majors with 10 different teams. His longest stay was with the Astros, staying there four years over two stops. Springer finished his career with the Reds in 2010, and had an overall 36-45 record with a 4.52 ERA with nine saves.

Your thoughts? ... They are welcomed at tnsports@tnoline.com