Remember Janet Guthrie?

She was the first female Indy car driver, who made her debut in 1977. Guthrie actually qualified the previous year, but she didn’t make the field.

With the recent celebration of Mother’s Day, this week’s Yesterday column - a trip back in time to the late 1960s, 70s and sometimes dipping into the early 80s -- is a recollection of some of the memorable female athletes, stars and moments of the 1970s.

Guthrie finished 28th in the ‘77 race, but she had an impressive ninth-place finish in the ‘78 classic. She was unable to finish the ‘79 race due to mechanical problems.

She also became a regular on the NASCAR circuit 1976 to 1978 for a total of 31 races. She notched five top-10 finishes. Ironically, her final appearance was at Pocono’s Coca-Cola 500 in 1980, where her Texaco Star – remember that - car left the race after 79 laps due to engine problems and he finished 28th.

More importantly, Guthrie set the stage for future stars such as Danica Patrick, who has the highest female finish at the fifth place in 2005.

The Story of Billie Jean: I can remember it as being one of the biggest events on TV in 1972.

Billie Jean King, tennis’ female superstar at the time, met Bobby Riggs in a “Battle of the Sexes” at the fabled Houston Astrodome – arguably the hottest sports venue at the time – before an estimated 50 million viewers on ABC, September 20, 1973.

The 27-year-old King won the match in three sets over the 55-year-old Riggs in the match many believed Riggs threw.

But it continued to pave the way for female athletes to make their mark in the sports world.

That Slow Ketchup: Carly Simon had plenty of hits in the 70s, but most of us remember her singing “Anticipation” to a Heinz Ketchup commercial in 1977. It became an iconic spot for years, and the narrator was 70s staple Casey Kasem, whose “American Top 40” was a weekend ritual for many including myself.

Those were the days when you actually listened to the radio.

In TV Land: Former Miss America Phyllis George was a pioneer for women in the television field when she became the first female prime-time sportscaster on CBS’s “NFL Today” in 1971 with co-hosts Brent Musberger and Irv Cross. George added a different flare to show, and she certainly knew her stuff.

Remember Gayle Gardner? She was the first female anchor on ESPN when the network broke onto the scene in 1983. Gardner then worked in the same capacity for NBC from 1987-93. She also was a member of the NBC team that broadcast the 1989 Super Bowl. Gardner later became the first female to call a live baseball broadcast between Cincinnati and Houston in 1993.

The Female Wunderkinds: In September 1970, 15-year-old Chris Every shocked the tennis world by upsetting Margaret Court, considered to be the game’s top player at the time, in North Carolina.

Evert’s victory began a star-studded run for her in the 70s and 80s, and she became an American heartthrob. She won 18 Grand Slam singles titles -- six U.S. Opens, three Wimbledons, seven French Opens and two Australian Opens.

On the social front, she will always be remembered for her romance with Jimmy Connors, who also was among the men’s best at the time. They ended their engagement in the mid-70s

Nancy Lopez became a future in women’s golf in the 70s. Lopez was the LPGA-Rookie-of-the-Year in 1977, and she went on to win 48 tour events. I always remember seeing Lopez on the NBC broadcasts. Of course, she also is recognized for her 27-year marriage to former MLB infielder Ray Knight.

Some TV Moms: Growing up in the 70s, we all got to know Carol Brady and Marian Cunningham from their respective shows. They had their moments when they would teach some life lessons to their TV families, and television was a lot simpler then.

Some of my other favorite TV moms were Lily Munster, Morticia Addames, and Samantha Stephens. Does Stephens ring a bell? She was the mother on “Bewitched.”

But how many of you remember Mother Nature? In the popular Chiffon margarine commercial, Mother Nature endorsed the product, but was tested with butter at the end of the spot. Her infamous words were “It’s Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature.”

Around The Final Turn: With the recent running of the Kentucky Derby, horse racing has had its share of female jockeys, and Robyn Smith made the big splash in 1969, Smyth began her career in 1969 and it extended until 1980. She became the first female jockey to win a claims race when she won at New York’s famous Aqueduct – the Big A - in 1973.

Smyth became more notable when she married dancer Fred Astaire in 1980 when Astaire was 81 and she was 35.

On The Radio: The word “Mother” was in the title of some prominent songs in the 70s.

Three Dog Night’s “Mama Told Me Not To Come” rose to the top of the billboard charts in 1970. The band was a major player in the decade, and the song should jolt a memory.

Also, remember “Sylvia’s Mother?” Dr. Hook made it rise to number five in 1972. Paul Simon’s “Mother and Child Reunion” hit number seven the same year.

Finally, there was the soulful, “I Always Love My Mama,” which made it to number 20 in 1973. Who was the artist? The Intruders is the answer to a great trivia question.

Do You Remember? Every week, I’ll mention a likely forgotten player from Yesterday ... Remember Keith Krepfle? The Eagles’ tight end was drafted in the fifth round of the 1974 draft, but signed with the WFL Jacksonville Sharks. He signed with the Eagles in 1975, and took over the starting job in 1977 after Charlie Young was traded.

Krepfle had 144 receptions for 2,324 yards with 18 touchdowns over five seasons. He became the first Eagle to catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl (XV). Krepfle finished his career with Atlanta in 1982.