May 27, 1975.

If you’re a rabid Flyers fan, the date should trigger some memories.

In a few months, it will mark 50 years since the Flyers last won a Stanley Cup, their second in franchise history.

For me, it was the recent firing of head coach John Tortorella that sparked memories of when the Orange and Black last hoisted Lord Stanley’s Cup. It’s hard to believe that it has been 50 years since a hockey parade went down Broad Street.

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, 70s, 80s and sometimes before and beyond — I’ll take a glance back at the Flyers’ second Stanley Cup, as well as some other events from 1975.

Finally, how were a bat and fog involved in the Flyers’ cup? Do you remember Nikolai Volkoff and Gene Shue? Was Marvin Barnes a Sixer? And who was Mike Nykoluk?

Another May Day ... After they defeated the Boston Bruins a year earlier on May 19, 1974, the Flyers downed the Buffalo Sabres in six games with Bob “The Hound” Kelly breaking a scoreless tie 11 seconds into the third period. Bill Clement added an insurance goal with less than three minutes left in the game.

Don Earle had the call on Kelly’s goal — and, of course, it was for a case of Tastykake — and Gene Hart added a barking sound for the “Hound.”

Hart later got a champagne bath from Kelly in a postgame interview on Channel 29.

The Fog Game and the Bat ... Besides the Eagles, the Flyers had Philly’s first fog game during Game Three of the Buffalo Series.

Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium had a major issue with the air conditioning in the building, and there were actual periods of fog that were present during the game, which was eventually stopped, and the players skated around to break up the fog.

In addition, there was a bat that got into the building and hovered around the players. Buffalo’s Jim Lorentz finally killed the bat with his stick.

The Sabres’ Rene Robert ended what proved to be a wild contest with an overtime goal through some fog that gave Buffalo a 5-4 victory.

If you’re a diehard Flyers fan, I’m sure you can recall the game, and it appeared the Sabres may have gained the momentum for the series.

Twice Was Enough ... After the Flyers won consecutive Stanley Cups, they made six more unsuccessful trips. They lost to the Canadiens (1976), Islanders (1980), Edmonton (1985 and 1987), Detroit (1997) and Chicago (2010).

Sinking Sixers ... In the 1974-75 season, the Sixers still weren’t totally over the hump from their dreaded 9-73 campaign of the 1972-73 season. They did manage to improve to 25-57 the following season.

During the 1974-75 season, the Sixers drafted Providence’s Marvin Barnes, who initially appeared to be a blockbuster selection. But Barnes bolted for the ABA’s Spirit of St. Louis instead.

That left Dayton’s Don Smith in the Second Round, and Arizona’s Connie Norman in Round Three. However, the Sixers did make a find in unknown Hardin-Simmons center Harvey Catchings late in Round Three. Georgia Southern’s Perry Warbington also made the team.

Philly still had a strong nucleus in Billy Cunningham, Fred Carter and Doug Collins, but they didn’t quite have enough depth and firepower to make a run.

Do you recall who the Sixers’ lone All-Star that season was? It was the “Mayor of Mixville” Steve Mix, who averaged 15.6 points per game. Carter averaged 21.9, Cunningham was at 19.5, and Collins hit 17.9 points per game.

There were some other colorful characters on that team, starting with former top pick Freddie Boyd, who was the top 1972-73 pick from Oregon State.

Others who saw time during the season were Clyde Lee; veteran big men Leroy Ellis and Walt Wesley; local La Salle product Ken Durrett; blond shooting forward Allan Bristow (who would leave for the ABA Spurs the following season), and seasoned forward/guard Tom Van Arsdale, part of the fabled twins. And does anyone remember forward John Tschogl, who was sold to the Sixers from the Atlanta Hawks?

Gene Shue was back as the head coach, and guided the team to a 34-48 mark. Shue then had a 46-36 campaign in 1975-76, and a 50-32 season in 1976-77 before he was abruptly fired in November of 1977 following a 2-4 start after clashes with new owner Fitz Dixon.

Cunningham, who was forced to retire after the 1975-76 season due to a knee injury, was a surprise choice to replace Shue.

Another Classic Game ... In 1975, Topps released a “Wide World of Sports” 24-card set.

It was an oversized set that included the four major sports — baseball, basketball, football, and hockey — but there weren’t any names of numbers on the uniforms, which was a copyright issue at the time.

Other sports were Indy Car racing, figure skating, skiing, sky jumping, surfing, swimming, drag racing, pole vaulting, and kickboxing.

Online, the set is valued from $75 and above.

What Was The Jive in 75? ... From 1975, can you recall some of the more recognized pop culture items?

During the opening weeks of April, Minne Riperton’s “Loving You,” Ringo Starr’s “The No-No Song” (underrated song), and Elton John’s impending appropriate song for the Flyers “Philadelphia Freedom” topped the charts for two weeks.

The Eagles’ “Best of My Love,” was the top album in March and April, and Elton John’s “Greatest Hits” was the top album of the year. John also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during the year.

“All In the Family” was the top rated TV show throughout the year, and leisure suits were common fashionable attire (how many did you have?).

Warheads and Famous Amos Chocolate Cookies made their debut, and Taco Bell was on the rise as a viable fast-food outlet other than McDonald’s and Burger King.

Wonder Women ... On Jan. 26, 1975, Immaculata traveled to Maryland’s Cole Field House for the first nationally televised women’s college basketball game.

It was broadcast to 70 percent of the country in 28 major markets by the Mizlou Television Network, one of those sports network references from our youth.

Ironically, it was the first time in four years that Immaculata didn’t win an AIAW title. The Mighty Macs won it in 1972, 1973 and 1974.

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

Nykoluk was an assistant coach to Flyers’ head coach Fred Shero, and was the league’s first full-time assistant coach.

After Shero left the Flyers, Nykoluk became an assistant coach to Shero when he took over the Rangers’ job. He later served as head coach for Toronto for four seasons from 1980-81 through 1983-84.

Some of you may remember Nykoluk from his playing days with the Hershey Bears. He spent 15 years in Chocolate Town before retiring in 1972, and holds team records in games played (972), assists (636) and points (808). His No. 8 was retired by the club, and he is a member of the American Hockey League (AHL) Hall of Fame.

Nykoluk played in 32 games for Toronto in the 1956-57 season. He passed away at the age of 82 in 2022.

Your thoughts are always welcomed and will be published; email them to tnsports@tnonline.