When thinking about Memorial Day in the sports world, the Indy 500 is always recognized as the premier event around the holiday.

Still, the Indy 500 isn’t the only high-profile sports event. The NHL and NBA usually are in the latter rounds of their playoffs, and MLB has reached the quarter pole of its long horse race.

For whatever reason, people always recognize it as the beginning of summer when, in fact, the season doesn’t officially begin until June 21.

In this week’s’ Yesterday column, - a trip back in time to the late 1960s, 70s and sometimes dipping into the early 80s and beyond - memorial May events (there were some in last week’s column) and some early June events, as well as some throwback items, will be highlighted.

Schmidt Sendoff ... In a huge moment most of us have forgotten, Mike Schmidt shocked the Phillies’ and baseball world when he announced his retirement before a game in San Diego on May 27, 1989. At the time, the 39-year-old Schmidt was struggling with a .203 batting average, and he became the only retired player to be named to the All-Star Game that year. Schmidt sent another shock wave when he broke down during his announcement in a rare show of emotion. Also unbeknownst to many, Schmidt entered the year healthy after he missed nearly the last two months of the 1988 season due to a rotator cuff injury.

Flyers Facts ... It was May 27, 1975, and the Flyers captured their second consecutive Stanley Cup, beating the host Buffalo Sabres, 2-0 (remember the game?).

Bernie Parent won the Conn Smythe Trophy (hockey’s MVP for the playoffs) for the second consecutive season, as he allowed just 12 goals in the series and had a 1.89 goals against average.

On May 24, 1980, the New York Islanders’ Bob Nystrom scored the game-winning goal in overtime that gave his team the Stanley Cup title. However, controversy would follow for years to come, as Nystrom seemingly was offsides on the play, and NHL linesman Leon Stickle admitted after the game that he should have blown his whistle for the offsides call. Stickle also was involved in an earlier Islanders’ goal by Brent Sutter on another highly questionable non-offsides call that gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead. A Flyers’ win would have given them a Game Seven at home, and Stickle became vilified in Philly.

J.D. Who? ... In early June (2nd), the Phillies believed they made a generational draft pick that would change the course of sub-par seasons. J.D. Drew was a college phenom from Florida State and viewed as a new Mickey Mantle, and the Phillies had the No. 2 pick in the draft. Drew was represented by Scott Boras, and they demanded an $11 million signing bonus. Top pick Kris Benson was given $2 million. The Phillies offered $3 million, and Drew refused. He played in an independent league and was drafted by St. Louis the following season, signing for $3 million.

Those Memorial May Tunes ... The month wouldn’t be complete without its share of some timeless tunes.

On May 24, 1980, “Funkytown” (won’t you take me to..) topped the charts, and on June 7, 1975, John Denver rocked the country for years to come with his hit, “Thank God, I’m a Country Boy.”

On The Tube ... During the 1975-76 television season, Robert Blake broke through as a street-smart, tough-guy “Baretta” with his parrot, followed by the tandem of “Starsky and Hutch” Wednesday nights on ABC. CBS countered earlier during the week on Sunday nights with their lollipop-eating cop, “Kojak.”

What Size? ... My wife recently visited what she described as an “old-fashioned shoe store.”

Her comments and description reminded me of the time when it was time to get a new pair of “dress shoes.” Do you remember the chain stores such as Endicott-Johnson or Kinney and the local stories in your town?

The bigger shoe stores would have shoes in boxes stored in the multi-slotted shelves that seemingly reached to the sky. A shoe salesman or lady would measure your foot with a giant, metal foot that had a slide mechanism on its side.

I can recall some pairs of Buster Browns and Hush Puppies in my closet. Buying sneakers was always a treat, and the Converse Chuck Taylors and Keds come to mind. Adidas and Pumas were the break-through sneakers in the late 70s, and they were a treat if you were good.

I do have a faint memory of getting some candy or a treat from the salesman after my mom bought me a pair of shoes.

Do You Remember? ... Every week, I’ll mention a likely forgotten player from Yesterday. Do you remember Bruce Ruffin? The Phillies’ left-handed starting pitcher was the team’s second pick in the 1985 draft. He ascended through the minors quickly, and made the staff for the 1986 season. Ruffin posted a 9-4 mark with a 2.46 ERA, and the Phillies believed they had a solid lefty on their staff.

But Ruffin never regained the form from his rookie season, and was mediocre over the next five years and was traded to Milwaukee in December 1991 for infielder Dale Sveum.

Thanks ... A special heartfelt thanks to all those who served our country, and think about their contributions to help us eat our hot dog on Memorial Day.