Do you remember Hurricane Smith?

No, it is not a hurricane like Idalia, but instead a solo artist whose top hit was “Oh Babe, What Would You Say” in 1972.

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column – reminiscing about sports and pop culture in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s – and sometimes before and beyond - I’ll take a look at hurricanes and some other natural disasters that have affected the sports world as well as some other sports and pop-culture trinkets along the way.

Did the Phillies ever have a Hurricane game? Do you remember the World Series rain in 2008? And did Joe Namath ever play in Allentown?

Don’t Date Agnes and Sandy: In 1972, Hurricane Agnes was recorded as one of the costliest disasters at its time, resulting in damages of more than $2 million. I don’t remember much of it, and the Lehigh Valley didn’t have any major damage, but Schuylkill County had the most recorded amount of rainfall from the vent with 19 inches. Maybe some of you have some memories from it.

Since 1930, Schuylkill County has had 21 recorded hurricanes. Hurricane Sandy did the most recent damage in 2012, canceling its share of sporting events.

Rain, Rain, Go Away: In 2008, rain played a pivotal element in the Phillies-Rays World Series.

Game 5 was tied 2-2 and suspended due to rain. Temperatures at the ballpark hovered around 40 degrees on Oct. 27. But rain continued to pelt the area, and it continued for 48 hours.

Two days later, the game was finally played and the Phils managed to secure their first world title since 1980 and their second overall.

It was bizarre, but certainly well worth the wait for Phillies’ fans.

Hold That Tarp: On June 24, 2010, one of the wildest scenes hit Citizens Bank Park during the eighth inning of a game between the Phillies and Indians.

Hurricane Earl proceeded to dump swirling rain, whipping wind, pockets of hail, and streak of lightning across the field that caused the game to be delayed for 97 minutes. Despite the usual, large, heavy tarp that was even held down by a John Deere tractor, the elements still caused it to blow away. Fans found cover in the corridors.

Somehow, the attack subsided, and the game was eventually finished.

It proved that anything could happen in South Philadelphia.

Don’t Adjust Your Television Set: I remember the day well on Oct. 17, 1989, before Game 3 of the World Series between the Giants and the A’s when a 6.9 earthquake struck the Bay Area.

It was an ABC broadcast, and Al Michaels and Tim McCarver were in the midst of the pregame telecast a little after 5 p.m. Pacific time when the feed’s sound was cracking and there were bars across the screen.

Surprisingly, Candlestick Park suffered minor damage, but the area was affected. The series was postponed for 10 days and wasn’t played until Oct. 27. If you remember, a doubleheader was played, and the A’s swept both games for their ninth overall crown.

By the way, the phrase “Don’t adjust your television sets” was the lead for the TV series, “The Outer Limits,” which first debuted in 1963 and lasted two seasons on ABC. It was a classic science fiction series and was a parallel with The Twilight Zone, as two series ahead of their time.

What’s In a Nickname?: The most prominent athlete to sports the hurricane nickname was middleweight boxer Rubin Carter, who was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in 1966. Carter was incarcerated until 1985 when a writ of habeas corpus was passed in 1985. It was shown that Carter’s conviction was based on racism.

Bob Dylan released the song, “Hurricane” in 1975 as a sign of protest.

A forgotten player may have been Bob “Hurricane” Hazle, a career minor leaguer who finally go his shot with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957 when he hit .507 with five home runs and seven doubles in his first 22 games. He hit .403 in 41 games.

But Hazle only played two more seasons, one with Milwaukee and another with Detroit before his career ended in 1958.

Yeah, That League: From 1946-2009, the Continental Basketball Association was a viable minor league outlet for the NBA.

The Allentown Jets were part of the league from 1958-59 and also 1978-79. The Allentown Rockets date back to the 1946-47 campaign. The Jets were regular occupants of the Eastern League.

Other teams on the periphery of the greater area were the Hazleton Bullets (1973-74, 76-77), the Pottsville Pros/Packers (1947-48 1951-52), the Scranton A’s (1980-81) and the Apollos (1970-71 1976-79), and the Wilkes-Barre Aces (1951-53) and the Barons (1946-47, 1979-80).

It was a gateway for numerous NBA players as well as coaches Phil Jackson and George Karl. Former Sixer Steve Mix signed with the Grand Rapids team for the 1972-73 season after he was cut by the Sixers.

If you have a program from any of these teams, hold onto it.

Our favorite Chef: As a kid, one of our favorite times may have been when mom opened up a can of Chef-Boy-A-Dee for our lunch.

There always was a hankering for SpaghettiOs and Beefaroni. Back in the 70s, the company made its own spaghetti sauce and had those fabled pizza kits.

Since then, the spelling has changed to Boyardee on today’s cans. The product was designed after a chef with the actual name from Milton, Pa.

Memory Lane: Every week, I’ll look back at a player, coach, manager, or media personality from our yesterday.

Do you remember play-by-play announcer Don Criqui? He holds the record for the longest tenured NFL broadcaster, calling games for CBS and NBC. He also called college basketball and was the voice of Notre Dame football. Criqui also worked golf, tennis, and hockey.

Feedback: Your comments, thoughts, and idea are always welcomed at tnsports@tnonline.com.