Dec. 7, 1941.

It was historically referred to as “a day that will live in infamy” by President Franklin D. Roosevelt after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

The day is still remembered and recognized by anyone born in the early 1960s and 70s, but it has taken a back seat since the 911 attacks.

This latest installment of my look back at YESTERDAY - a trip back in time to the late 1960s and the 1970s - is a recollection of some of the more “infamous” events in Philadelphia sports history, as well as some pop culture items that would fall into the category.

In an earlier column, I wrote about the plight of the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers with their 9-73 slate and the 1976-77 “We Owe You One” team that blew a 2-0 lead to Portland in the NBA Finals and lost the next four games.

In a move that came just before my time as a Philadelphia sports fan, the defending champion Sixers sent a disgruntled Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers after they blew a 3-1 series lead to the Celtics during the 1968 season, dropping two games at the Spectrum and a chance for consecutive titles.

In another earlier column, I wrote how the winless Eagles beat a winless Steelers team, and then beat the Saints to lose the “OJ Simpson Bowl” in 1968. A pair of wins that denied the Eagles the No. 1 draft pick and a chance to take Simpson

How can we forget the Phillies?

I was too young to remember the famed 1964 collapse - the “Phold of ‘64” - in which the Fightins’ lost their last 10 games of the regular season to fall out of first place.

Old-timers can relate to the “Curse of Chico Ruiz,” as the Cincinnati Red stole home for a 1-0 win to begin the streak. They also cite former manager Gene Mauch for using starters Jim Bunning and Chris Short over the period on two days’ rest.

My most memorable debacle was 1977’s “Black Friday” or “The Burt Hooton game.” For Phillies’ fans, this is one of those moments where you remember where you were when it happened.

The Phillies had a loaded club, and apparently were ready to head to the first World Series since 1950 and win their first NLCS. It was Game 3 at the Vet and the series was tied at 1-1.

Phillies fans had rattled Hooton in the second inning when 63,000 fans chanted “Hoot, Hoot, Hoot” as the veteran walked in three runs that gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead.

Los Angeles tied the game in the fourth, but the Phillies grabbed a 5-3 lead in the eighth thanks to a key Richie Hebner double, and throwing errors by Reggie Smith and Ron Cey.

Gene Garber took to the mound, and all appeared to be in place. However, manager Danny Ozark left Greg Luzinski in the game in left and didn’t insert Jerry Martin, who usually replaced him for defensive purposes.

Remember Vic Davalillo? He started the Dodgers’ rally with a drag bunt, and the legendary Manny Mota hit a line drive that Luzinski couldn’t handle. Davey Lopes hit another liner off Mike Schmidt’s knee that ricocheted to Larry Bowa, who fired to first, but Lopes was called safe on a call that could have gone either way.

LA walked away with a 6-5 victory, and the following evening Tommy John outdueled Steve Carlton in a steady rain that washed away the Phillies title hopes until three years later.

Another Dark Time ... In the late 1960s, ABC launched “Dark Shadows,” an afternoon horror-based soap opera that introduced us to a guilt-ridden and altruistic vampire Barnabas Collins, who wanted to be good instead of evil.

There were plenty of memorable characters, notably Quentin, Willie, Victoria Winters, and Angelique among others. It was classic horror in the afternoon that could sometimes have you hiding your eyes.

The soap produced 1,225 episodes before it ended in 1971. Milton Bradley created a Dark Shadows board game that I once possessed. Did you?

A Doctor In the House ... Along with the Dark Shadows craze, Dr. Shock burst on the scene on WPHL-Channel 17 in 1969 as the host for a Saturday night classic horror film with his motto, “Let There Be Fright in the Night.”

Dr. Shock, who had campy guests and segments, had a 10-year run until 1979. His show also was referred to as “Mad Theater” or “Horror Theater.”

In case you were fortunate enough to receive any New York channels, Saturday nights were also home to “Chiller” on Channel 11 and “Creature Feature “ on Channel 5, both of which showed classic horror flicks. “Chiller’s” opening scene had a six-fingered hand coming out of the ground as the seven letters appeared, and then the hand grabbed each letter.

Keeping It Dark ... Getting close to Christmas, coal candy became a staple of the 1950, 60s, and ‘70s.

Mootz Candies in Pottsville produced the candy in the 1950s. Black in color, oily, and flavored with anise, they were made in irregular chunks and packaged in miniature buckets with a small hammer. It was fun trying to break the pieces apart.

The Ball That Changed Our Lives ... In 1970, the Nerf ball debuted, and we all have our share of stories about it. It was billed as “the world’s first official indoor ball that can’t damage lamps or break windows. You can’t hurt babies or old people.”

Four million were sold, and you may have been involved in some “infamous” moments with them.

Just One More Thing ... Tomorrow (Dec. 8) will mark 41 years since John Lennon was tragically shot outside his New York apartment. Lennon’s tragic date always will have a tie with sports, as Howard Cosell broke the news late in the fourth quarter during a Monday Night Football game between Dallas and Washington.