Tim Rossovich, Barbie, and Saquon Barkley

If you can make a viable connection between any two of them or all three, you are a very creative person. But both of them were prominent in the sixties and still have some pertinence today.

Rossovich was an Eagles’ All-Pro linebacker in the 60 and early 70s who was a self-admitted flake and has a contract holdout. Barbie is back in the news with the “Barbie” movie, and Barkley ended a brief holdout

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column – reminiscing about sports and pop culture in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s and sometimes beyond – I will take a look at some Philadelphia holdouts as well as a look at some legendary action figures and some other prominent pop culture items.

Also, do you have a Phillies’ place mat? And do you remember Raymond Lewis? Did you work out with Nautilus?

Grounded Eagles: Rossovich, who was a middle linebacker, and popular safety Bill Bradley both held out before the start of the 1972 season, as they figured they would have more leverage together requesting larger salaries. They were often spotted in an RV during training camp selling drinks to fans.

But the Eagles called Rossovich’s bluff and traded him to San Diego, where he never regained his All-Pro status. Ironically, Rossovich later returned to Philly with the WFL Bell before he ended his career with Houston in 1976. When Bradley heard of Rossovich’s trade, he soon ended his holdout.

Ron Jaworski had a brief holdout before the 1983 season, and other Eagles who had more notable holdouts were Reggie White, Brian Westbrook, Terrell Owens, Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Duce Staley, and Donovon McNabb held out his rookie season.

In 1989, White wanted to become the game’s highest paid defensive player, but then owner Norman Braman was stubborn. White sat out most of training camp and missed some preseason games before a deal was struck on August 22.

Phallen Phillie: In 1969, the Phillies believed they had a breakthrough trade by acquiring Cardinal’s outfielder Curt Flood. The Phils also acquired pitcher Joe Hoener, outfielder Byron Browne, and catcher Tim Carver for first baseman Dick Allen, infielder Cookie Rojas, and pitcher Jerry Johnson.

Even though the Phillies offered him a $100,000 contract, Flood refused to play and got the initial wheels of free agency into motion. He sat out the 1970 season, and the Phillies traded him to Washington before the 1971 season. Anyone remember who they got for Flood? It was Greg Goossen, Jeff Terpko, and Gene Martin, all of whom never made an impact in the Phillies system. The Phillies did get Willie Montanez from the Cards as a player to be named later.

The Sixer Who Wasn’t: In 1973, the Sixers drafted L.A. streetball phenom guard Raymond Lewis out of Cal State, Los Angeles, No. 1 and 18th overall and signed him to a three-year, $450,000 contract. Lewis was a one-man show during training camp, and the Sixers thought they had their savior to hoist them out of the doldrums.

But Lewis soon realized that most of the money in his contract was deferred, and he wanted to negotiate. The Sixers wouldn’t budge, and head coach Gene Shue believed Lewis was immature and told him to go home.

Lewis wanted to jump to the ABA Utah Stars, but the Sixers threatened to sue. He tried to return, but staged another holdout.

A summer league legend, Lewis never played a minute in the NBA.

They Had Barbie, We Had Joe: Growing up in the 60s and 70s, we all had our time with Hasbro’s G.I. Joe. My favorite ones were the scuba diver and the astronaut with the space capsule, the latter being a special one to have. There also was the military police (MP) one, and there was a G.I. Nurse from 1967 that was unique to the series and has continued to be a rare item. You also had to have a footlocker.

The line was active until the 90s, and the movies for the latest generation were produced until 2021. Like most items from our youth, I wish I still had mine.

Does anyone recall Mattel’s Matt Mason? He was an astronaut with rounded plastic arms. There were action sets that went with him along with the ever-coveted space capsule that we could launch into the bathtub.

A rare item back in the day was Action Man, a British version of G.I. Joe that had all the roles and accessories of its American counterpart.

Dinner With The Phillies: In accordance with an earlier piece I did about giveaway items, IHOP issued a Phillies place mat in 1970 that constrained small portraits of the roster. There also was place mats of the 1974 and ‘76 teams with Dave Cash, Greg Luzinski, Steve Carlton, and Mike Schmidt among others highlighted on the. Fellow scribe Rod Heckman believes he still has a set.

Heckman also reminded me of the Canada Dry Phillies soda can set along with the RC Cola one that I previously mentioned. Canada Dry cans could be found from 1976 through ‘79. The Flyers had a Canada Dry ‘74 set.

In addition to the cans, there also was a 1980 Phillies souvenir tray, commemorating their 1980 championship.

Kelloggs had a Phillies’ trading card collection from 1976-81, and they also had a 3D line in the early 90s. Pepsi-Cola began a trading card collection in 1977.

Speaking of soda, do you remember Shasta being popular in the 1960s and 70s? And how about Nehi Grape soda?

Retro Book: Recently, I began reading the novel, Loose Balls by Terry Pluto that was published in 1990. If you would have any interest in reading the beginnings of the ABA, it is a must read.

Through actual accounts of ex-coaches, players, owners, and as described “movers and shakers,” Pluto did an excellent account of the beginning of the league.

It is a reasonable buy on eBay, and a quick read.

The 80s workout: Back in the 80s, the workout to do was Nautilus. It was the matter of going from station to station to get your complete workout. It was the state of the art program that was the alternative to free weight. Still, I had my dumbbells and a weight bar for overhead reps in my basement.

But I always felt I had a complete workout with Nautilus.

Another Classic Game: In the late 60s, Hasbro released the NBC Pro Playoff Football Game. It was completed with a field, spinners, and plays. This was a game that was a true board game just before the electric and the electronic ones took over the playing field.

Of course, you had to buy it because it had the NBC logo.

Memory Lane: Every week, I look back at a former player, coach, manager, or media personality who was part of our yesterday. Regular reader Paul Ochs provided me with this week’s former player.

Do you remember Phillies’ spot-stater Paul Brown? He spent three seasons with the Phils from ‘61 to ‘63 and then returned for the ‘68 season. From 61-63, Brown was 0-8 in 34 games. Overall, he was 0-8 with a 6.00 ERA and 45 strikeouts and 47 walks in 93 innings.

Ochs’ response about Brown was “his stats were simply horrible. He ranks right up there with Joe Cowley and Freddie Garcia. He just could not get anybody out! This was when the Phils were beginning to play decent ball due to the expansion of the Mets and Colt 45s (Astros).”

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