This week’s Friday Flashbacks (May 20-May 26) has lots of fun stuff and ties to current news, including an article about a young Harmon Killebrew, an athlete coming out with a press conference to say he’s not gay, Marv Albert’s low point, and plenty of hockey and basketball playoffs.

“Killebrew Kills ‘Em”–Harmon goes on a home run tear and becomes an instant sensation in Washington (1959) . . . Mark Messier scores a third period hat trick in Game 6 against the Devils to keep the Rangers alive (1994) . . . Pro Football and ABC reach agreement to begin showing games in primetime on Monday Night starting in 1970 (1969) . . . Don Sutton, a ski mask, and demonstration of illegal pitches (1981) . . . Harlem pays homage to Joe Louis, soldier (1942) . . .  Randy Johnson throws a perfect game at age 40 (2004) . . . Dick Schaap is duped by an imposter posing as former baseball player (1973) . . . 19 year old Mike Tyson fights at Madison Square Garden (1986) . . . All Sports Cable TV Network to start up in fall (1979) . . .

Mike Piazza holds a press conference to declare that he is not gay (2002) . . . Charles Barkley hits the game winning shot to put the Suns in the Western Finals (1993) . . . Ken “Hawk” Harrelson wants to become a professional golfer (1971) . . . 76ers beat the Celtics in Game 7 to advance to the NBA Finals (1982) . . . Senator Joseph McCarthy was all over the news (1954) . . . Mario Lemieux’s season as owner-player ends in the conference finals (2001) . . . Lamar Hunt leaves Dallas, moves his team to Kansas City (1963) . . . Sunday Silence wins Preakness, on verge of Triple Crown (1989) . . .  Skateboarding is a dangerous sport, say a bunch of old men (1976) . . . Man in hospital suffering heart attack insists on watching Game 1 of Sonics-Bullets NBA Finals (1978) . . .

Marv Albert is charged with sexual assault after allegedly biting a woman repeatedly (1997) . . . Boxer Jimmy Garcia dies after being removed from life support (1995) . . . New York Giants sign kicker Pete Gogolak, setting up a potential showdown with the AFL (1966) . . . Eckersley to the Cubs, Buckner to the Red Sox (1984) . . . Father Flanagan passes away (1948) . . .  Indianapolis Motor Speedway lifts its ban on SI writer Ed Hinton (1999) . . . Ken Dryden returns to Montreal after taking year off in contract dispute to pursue legal career (1974) . . . Three boys find Honus Wagner baseball card buried in yard (1990) . . . An argument between two caddies on the senior PGA tour results in murder (1987).

Bonus with today’s news: even though it’s not technically in the time range, here’s an article from May 1988 on Wrestlemania IV, where Randy “Macho Man” Savage won the belt in a 14 wrestler tournament, and here’s one questioning whether it was fixed (shock!) because a WWF publication released pre-Wrestlemania IV called him the champion.

[photo via Getty]