Remember when.

The graybeards may remember being a hit by the Platters in 1959, and Alan Jackson released a version in 2003.

But remember when you knew about all of the players on your favorite teams in the big four sports — baseball, football, basketball and hockey — as well as recognize players from teams?

If you look at today’s players in those four sports, you might be hard pressed to especially name NBA players with the influx of international players. You may be more challenged to pronounce or spell them.

As we got older, it became harder for most of us to keep track of players who weren’t on our teams. We endured more responsibilities in our lives that required more time than checking rosters. For most of us, games aren’t at the top of our list anymore.

We are also on our way to eventually having an NFL franchise in Europe, as the NFL will have nine games abroad this season beginning with the Rams and 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Sept. 10.

In this version of my Yesterday column — reminiscing about sports and pop culture from the 1960s, 70s, 80s — and sometimes before and beyond, I will recount how it appeared to be easier to recall the players in our days as well as look at some international players. Also, I’ll review some pop culture items that likely crossed our paths.

Thinking back, do you know the Sixers’ first international player from Canada who was a top pick? What were the two toy cars from our youth that were made in England? What former 1987 American League MVP was originally signed by the Phillies? And what 70s boxing/wrestling match was billed as the “War of the Worlds?”

Passport, Please ... On the opening night of the NBA season, there were 135 international players from 43 countries over six continents on rosters. That surpassed the previous mark of 125 set in both the 2017-18, and 2023-24 seasons.

The Atlanta Hawks topped the list with 10 players. Former Lehigh star C.J. McCollum is a current Hawks star, but most of their roster isn’t as easy to pronounce as Lou Hudson or Dominique Wilkins.

Any teachers reading this should ask their class to try and spell, and/or pronounce the names of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokicć, Luka Doncicć and Victor Wembanyama, all of whom are staples of the league.

Or next time you are at a gathering, challenge someone to spell their names and name their teams.

The Sixers’ first international player was top pick and Canadian native Leo Rautins in 1983, who was a bust.

You probably recall 7-7 Manute Bol, who had four years with the Sixers during some down years. Bol wasn’t really productive, but did average nearly three blocked shots in his 215-game career in Philly.

It’s been a long time since we could reel off the names of Wilt Chamberlain, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens, Julius Erving and Bill Walton to mention a few.

Abdul-Jabbar, of course, was one of several NBA players who converted to Islam in the 70s, and whose names took on a different look.

On The Sidelines ... Back in the day, we could easily rattle off the NBA head coaches’ names of Tom Heinsohn, Pat Riley, Gene Shue, Red Auerbach, Dick Motta, Red Holzman, Billy Cunningham and Chuck Daly to name a few.

All of them had a bigger presence in the game, and many were on equal footing with their superstars in terms of recognition.

Most of us would know Sixers’ head coach Nick Nurse, but how many of us can match up Ime Udoka, Quin Snyder and Mitch Johnson with their teams? NBA coaches aren’t household names like they used to be, and the trend is to hire coaches in their late 30s or 40s.

Can anyone rattle off the Thunder’s head coach without looking?

(By the way, Udoka is with the Rockets, Snyder with the Hawks, and Johnson with the Spurs).

Sharp Dressed Man ... Staying with NBA coaches, it’s been easy to notice how they haven’t adopted the dress habits of their predecessors.

Remember when NBA coaches wore suits on the sidelines? It was a matter of who would be the sharpest-dressed coach, as both Daly and Riley usually topped the list.

It’s still good to see St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino dressed well for his games.

Today’s coaches on the NBA and college fronts look more like they’re conducting a practice, rather than coaching a game, with their attire. Nike and other companies have made it easier for them to wear sweat gear instead of a shirt and tie.

ZZ Top released the single “Sharp Dressed Man” in 1983.

On The Ice ... During their heyday, we all could list the Flyers, possibly the entire roster of the “Broad Street Bullies.” Except for true die-hard fans, can anyone name their current roster?

Wayne Hicks was the team’s first American-born player, and on the roster for their inaugural season. Home-grown and former player and coach Paul Holmgren, is the most recognizable US player with his Minnesota roots.

Outside of Canada, the Flyers have dipped into Sweden and the Czech Republic for players, with some of the more prominent ones being Pelle Lindbergh, Jakub Voracek, Kimmo Timonen, Antero Niittymaki and Sami Kapanen.

Toybox ... As a youth, we all played with these toys, not knowing they had European roots.

Legos, patented in 1958, quickly became popular in the 60s and 70s, and their roots can be traced to Denmark.

We all had our share of Matchbox cars that originated “across the pond” in England. They gained their name by often being sold in small boxes that looked like matchboxes.

Those who had a Matchbox probably had a Corgi car, another British product that was heavier and bigger die-cast models like the Batmobile and James Bond’s Austin Martin.

Meanwhile, females likely had a Troll Doll, which was a hot seller in the 60s and 70s that also had Denmark roots.

Quick Quiz ... Who is the former Eagles’ running back and NBC-10 sports director born in Tonga?

Have A Cup ... In 1971, Japan’s Nissin Foods introduced Cup Noodles, and it soon became a revolutionizing convenience food by combining noodles, soup and toppings in a single Styrofoam cup for storage, cooking and eating.

The original flavors were beef, chicken and shrimp, with pork added in 1976.

We all tried it, and likely still have today. It’s a quick snack, even though it’s not the healthiest thing to eat.

WWWF/WWE Wrap ... Each week, I will recall the career of a former pro wrestler we watched growing up.

Do you remember Antonio Inoki? He was a Japanese superstar who wrestled briefly in the WWWF in the late 1980s. He held the Martial Arts championship in both 1988 and 1989.

However, Inoki is most remembered for his exhibition against Muhammed Ali in 1976 that was billed as the “War of the Worlds,” a 15-round bout that really landed the groundwork for MMA.

There were rumors about the fight being fixed with Ali reportedly accidentally knocking down the referee, and Inoki knocking out Ali with a roundhouse kick.

But the fight, which ended in a draw, was basically a bore with Ali landing less than 10 punches and doing his best to avoid Inoki’s kicks from his crab-like position.

Inoki, who was also the NWF and IWGP champion, as well as a NWA tag-team champion, posted an overall record of 2,951-466-303 over his 37-year career. Known for his “cobra twist” and “octopus hold,” Inoki passed away at age 79 in 2022.

Quick Quiz Answer ... Via Sikahema was primarily a special teams’ player with the Birds in 1992.

Memory Lane ... In each column, I will look back at a former player, manager, coach or media personality from our yesterday.

The Phillies have had their share of international players dating back to 1935, with Mexican second baseman Chile Gomez. One of their popular players was Pancho Herrera, who was purchased from Cuba and became their first baseman in the early 60s.

Cub great Ferguson Jenkins came from Canada in 1962, but was later traded. They did sign a young Venezuelan player named Manny Trillo in 1968, but lost him in the 1969 Rule Five Draft to Oakland.

The Phils had high hopes in 1978 when they signed both George Bell and Julio Franco from the Dominican Republic. But Bell, the eventual 1987 AL MVP, was lost in the Rule Five Draft to Toronto in 1980, while Franco was sent to Cleveland in the trade for Von Hayes.

Some of us may recall pitcher Calvin Maduro, an Aruba native whom the Phillies acquired from the Orioles in September of 1996. Maduro had a two-year stay, in which he went 3-8 with a 6.57 ERA in 15 starts.

Your thoughts are always welcomed; email them to tnsports@tnonline.com