American Soccer League (1933–1983)
The American Soccer League has been a name used by four different professional soccer sports leagues in the United States. The second American Soccer League was established in summer 1933 following the collapse of the original American Soccer League, which lasted from 1921 until spring 1933. The new league was created on a smaller scale and with smaller budgets. This league existed until over-expansion and financial limitations led to its collapse in 1983. A successor league with the same name operated between 2014 and 2017.
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| Founded | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1983 |
| Country | United States |
| Promotion to | None |
| Relegation to | None |
History
In the fall of 1933, the second American Soccer League was established, surviving until 1983. Like the original ASL, this league operated primarily in the Northeastern United States for much of its existence. The league grew to become inter-regional in 1972 by adding several teams from the Midwest; the Chicago Americans, Cincinnati Comets, Cleveland Stars, Detroit Mustangs, and St. Louis Frogs. In order to compete with the growing North American Soccer League, the ASL went national in 1976, expanding to the Western United States by adding teams in Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and Tacoma. In addition, Bob Cousy was hired as commissioner and the league changed the standings scoring system to more closely resemble the NASL. ASL teams were awarded 5 points for a win, 2 points for a tie, and 1 point for each goal up to a maximum of 3 per game. The NASL awarded 6 points for a win and 3 for a tie, with 1 for each goal up to 3 per game. The ASL also had a limit on the number of foreign players each team could have in an effort to gain popularity among American fans.
While this expansion gave the ASL national exposure, the league and teams were no match financially for the NASL. On rare occasions, an ASL team would outbid a NASL team for a recognizable player, but more often than not, the better players in the ASL were offered more money to jump to the NASL. The high point in the history of the league may have been the 1976 championship game between the Los Angeles Skyhawks and New York Apollo; Skyhawks won 2–1 in front of over 9,000 fans. But by 1979, attendance was down, every team was losing money, and the league finally folded in 1983. After the ASL II ceased operations, several of its teams formed the original United Soccer League, which played seasons in 1984 and 1985.
Champions
1933/34 through 1943/44
| Year | Metropolitan Division | New England Division | Top scorers | MVPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933–34 | Irish-Americans (1) | Fairlawn Rovers (1) | Archie Stark & Razzo Carroll (Metro) ??? (NE) |
Not awarded |
| 1934–35 | Philadelphia German-American (1) | Portuguese Sport Club (1) | Millard Lang (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1935–36 | New York Americans (1) | league dormant | Alex Rae (Metro) | |
| 1936–37 | Scots-Americans (1) | Providence S.C. (1) | Charlie Ernst (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1937–38 | Scots-Americans (2) | Providence S.C. (2) | Fabri Salcedo (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1938–39 | Scots-Americans (3) | Lusitania Recreation (1) | Bert Patenaude (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1939–40 | Scots-Americans (4) | Swedish-Americans (1) | Charlie Ernst (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1940–41 | Scots-Americans (5) | Fall River S.C. (1) | Fabri Salcedo (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1941–42 | Philadelphia Americans (2) | St. Michael's (unofficial)[note 1][1][2][3][4][5] | John Nanoski (Metro) ??? (NE) | |
| 1942–43 | Brooklyn Hispano (1) | league dormant | Chappie Sheppell (Metro) | |
| 1943–44 | Philadelphia Americans (3) | Tommy Marshall (Metro) | ||
1944/45 through 1983
| Year | Winner (number of titles) | Runners-up | Top scorer | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944–45 | Brookhattan (1) | Philadelphia Americans | John Nanoski | Steve Rozbora |
| 1945–46 | Baltimore Americans (1) | Brooklyn Hispano | Fabri Salcedo | Ray McFaul |
| 1946–47 | Philadelphia Americans (4) | Brooklyn Wanderers | Bill Fisher | Servile Mervine |
| 1947–48 | Philadelphia Americans (5) | Kearny Scots | Nicholas Kropfelder | John O'Connell |
| 1948–49 | Philadelphia Nationals (1) | New York Americans | Pito Villanon | John O'Connell |
| 1949–50 | Philadelphia Nationals (2) | Kearny Celtic | Joe Gaetjens | Joe Maca |
| 1950–51 | Philadelphia Nationals (3) | Kearny Celtic | Nicholas Kropfelder | John Donald |
| 1951–52 | Philadelphia Americans (6) | Kearny Scots | Dick Roberts | Benny McLaughlin |
| 1952–53 | Philadelphia Nationals (4) | Newark Portuguese | Pito Villanon | Pito Villanon |
| 1953–54 | New York Americans (2) | Brookhattan | Jack Calder | Cyril Hannaby |
| 1954–55 | Uhrik Truckers (7) | Brooklyn Hispano | John Ferris | John Ferris |
| 1955–56 | Uhrik Truckers (8) | Elizabeth Falcons | Gene Grabowski | Jack Hynes |
| 1956–57 | New York Hakoah-Americans (1) | Uhrik Truckers | George Brown | John Oliver |
| 1957–58 | New York Hakoah-Americans (2) | Ukrainian Nationals | Lloyd Monsen | Walter Kudenko |
| 1958–59 | New York Hakoah-Americans (3) | Ukrainian Nationals | Pasquale Pepe (17) | Yuriy Kulishenko |
| 1959–60 | Colombo (1) | Ukrainian Nationals | Mike Noha (16) | Andy Racz |
| 1960–61 | Ukrainian Nationals (1) | Falcons S.C. | Herman Niss (17) | Mike Noha |
| 1961–62 | Ukrainian Nationals (2) | Inter-Brooklyn Italians | Peter Millar (18) | Peter Millar |
| 1962–63 | Ukrainian Nationals (3) | Inter S.C. | Ismael Ferreyra (14) | Peter Millar |
| 1963–64 | Ukrainian Nationals (4) | Boston Metros | Walter Chyzowych (15) | Abbie Wolanow |
| 1964–65 | Hartford S.C (1) | Newark Portuguese | Herculiano Riguerdo (7) | Alberto Falak |
| 1965–66 | Roma S.C. (1) | Newark Ukrainian Sitch | Walter Chyzowych (27) | Walter Chyzowych |
| 1966–67 | Baltimore St. Gerards (1) | Newark Ukrainian Sitch | Jorge Benitez (16) | Myron Worobec |
| 1967–68 | Ukrainian Nationals (5) | New York Inter | Ivan Paleto (14) | Robert Waugh |
| 1968 | Washington Darts (1) | Rochester Lancers | Gerry Browne (12) | |
| 1969 | Washington Darts (2) | Syracuse Scorpions | Jim Lefkos (22) | Robert Waugh |
| 1970 | Philadelphia Ukrainians (6) | Philadelphia Spartans | Juan Paletta (6) Willie Mfum |
Albert Trik |
| 1971 | New York Greeks (1) | Boston Astros | Charles Duccilli (11) | Bob Hatzos |
| 1972 | Cincinnati Comets (1) | New York Greeks | Charles Duccilli (5) Nelson Brizuela Joseph Oqnajac George Pulita John Kostakis |
Ringo Cantillo |
| 1973 | New York Apollo (2) | Cincinnati Comets | Eddy Roberts (12) | Helio Barbosa |
| 1974 | Rhode Island Oceaneers (1) | New York Apollo | Mohammad Attiah (11)[6] | Ringo Cantillo |
| 1975 | New York Apollo (3), Boston Astros (1) | co-champions | José Neto (23) | José Neto |
| 1976 | Los Angeles Skyhawks (1) | New York Apollo | Jim Hinch (13) José Neto |
Jim Hinch |
| 1977 | New Jersey Americans (1) | Sacramento Spirits | José Neto (17) | Ringo Cantillo |
| 1978 | New York Apollo (4) | Los Angeles Skyhawks | Jim Rolland (17) Mike Mancini José Neto |
Jim Rolland |
| 1979 | Sacramento Gold (1) | Columbus Magic | Poli Garcia (15) Joey Fink |
Poli Garcia |
| 1980 | Pennsylvania Stoners (1) | Sacramento Gold | Mal Roche (17) | George Gorleku |
| 1981 | Carolina Lightnin' (1) | New York United | Billy Boljevic (25) | Billy Boljevic |
| 1982 | Detroit Express (1) | Oklahoma City Slickers | Andy Chapman (23) | Brian Tinnion |
| 1983 | Jacksonville Tea Men (1) | Pennsylvania Stoners | Jeff Bourne (17) | Peter Simonini |
Complete team list
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Notes
- St. Michael's won a first half playoff game over the Scandinavians. That game was ordered to be replayed during the league's second half. The replay never occurred and the league's second half ended after only one more game was played.
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References
- Collins, George M. (November 5, 1941). "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. p. 23.
- Collins, George M. (November 5, 1941). "St Mike's Faces Scans on Sunday to Decide Title". The Boston Globe. p. 28.
- "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 5, 1942. p. 20.
- "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 18, 1942. p. 22.
- "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 20, 1942. p. 22.
- https://www.newspapers.com/image/436013155/?terms=Attiah
- Graham, William (September 2, 1942). "Two Flatbush Soccer Squads Combine Forces". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 14.
- Graham, William (September 9, 1942). "State Soccer Election Meeting Set For Saturday". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 14.
- "St. Louis Frogs Take Plunge In Soccer Circuit". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 7, 1972. p. 5C. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- Wharton, Tom (August 3, 1976). "American Soccer League Expels Utah Spikers". Salt Lake City Tribune. p. 17. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- "New franchise awarded, Spikers now Pioneers". The Daily Spectrum (Saint George Utah). August 10, 1976. p. 6. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
External links
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