American Soccer League (1933–1983)

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American Soccer League
American Soccer League (1933–83).png
Founded1933
Folded1983
CountryUnited States
Promotion toNone
Relegation toNone

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.

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) (1) Millard Lang (Metro)
??? (NE)
1935–36 New York Americans (1) league dormant Alex Rae (Metro)
1936–37 Scots-Americans (1) (1) Charlie Ernst (Metro)
??? (NE)
1937–38 Scots-Americans (2) (2) Fabri Salcedo (Metro)
??? (NE)
1938–39 Scots-Americans (3) (1) Bert Patenaude (Metro)
??? (NE)
1939–40 Scots-Americans (4) (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) (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 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
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
1958–59 New York Hakoah-Americans (3) Ukrainian Nationals (17) Yuriy Kulishenko
1959–60 Colombo (1) Ukrainian Nationals Mike Noha (16) Andy Racz
1960–61 Ukrainian Nationals (1) Falcons S.C. (17) Mike Noha
1961–62 Ukrainian Nationals (2) Inter-Brooklyn Italians Peter Millar (18) Peter Millar
1962–63 Ukrainian Nationals (3) Inter S.C. (14) Peter Millar
1963–64 Ukrainian Nationals (4) Boston Metros Walter Chyzowych (15) Abbie Wolanow
1964–65 Hartford S.C (1) Newark Portuguese (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 (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


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 (23)
1976 Los Angeles Skyhawks (1) New York Apollo Jim Hinch (13)
Jim Hinch
1977 New Jersey Americans (1) Sacramento Spirits (17) Ringo Cantillo
1978 New York Apollo (4) Los Angeles Skyhawks Jim Rolland (17)
Mike Mancini
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[]

  • Allentown (1938/39-39/40, as Bethlehem Hungarian in 1938/39; folded during 1939/40 season)
  • Baltimore S.C. (1934/35-1941/42; 1943/44-47/48, as Canton S.C. in 1934/35-35/36)
  • Baltimore Americans (1938/39-48/49, as Baltimore German in 1938/39; franchise purchased by league after 3 games of 1948/49 season)
  • Baltimore Pompei (1953/54-60/61, as Baltimore Rockets in 1953/54-56/57)
  • Baltimore Flyers (1966/67-67/68; as Baltimore St. Gerards in 1966/67)
  • Baltimore Bays (1972–73, as Baltimore Stars in 1972)
  • Boca Juniors (1961/62-63/64, as Inter-Brooklyn Italians in 1961/62; as Inter S.C. in 1962/63)
  • Boston Tigers (1963/64, 1965/66-67/68, as Boston Metros in 1963/64)
  • Brooklyn F.C. (1933/34; merged with Hispano F.C. after 12 games to become Brooklyn Hispano)
  • Brooklyn Celtic (1933/34-34/35)
  • Brooklyn Hispano (1933/34-55/56, as Hispano F.C. for first 7 games of 1933/34 season, merged with Brooklyn F.C. to become Brooklyn Hispano, as Brooklyn Giants in 1941/42, as Brooklyn Red Devils in 1941/42-42/43)
  • Brooklyn Wanderers (1942/43-48/49, franchise purchased by Hakoah A.C. 2 games into 1948/49 season; former St. Mary's Celtic franchise)
  • Brooklyn Hakoah (1948/49-55/56, purchased Brooklyn Wanderers franchise two games into 1948/49 season; merged with New York Americans to become New York Hakoah after 1955/56 season)
  • Brooklyn Italians (1956/57-60/61, merged with Inter S.C. to become Inter-Brooklyn Italians after 1960/61 season)
  • California Sunshine (1977–80) – based in Orange, California and Oxnard, California.
  • Carolina Lightnin' (1981–83)
  • Chicago Americans (1972, only played a few games)
  • Chicago Cats (1975–76)
  • Cincinnati Comets (1972–75)
  • Cleveland Cobras (1974–1981, as Cleveland Stars in 1972–73)
  • Colombo (1959/60)
  • Columbus Magic (1979–80)
  • Connecticut Yankees (1972–78, as Nor'East United in 1972, as Connecticut Wildcats in 1973–74)
  • Dallas Americans (1983)
  • Delaware Wings (1972–74)
  • 1946
  • Detroit Mustangs (1972–73, as Detroit S.C. earlier in 1972)
  • Detroit Express (1981–83)
  • Fall River S.C. (1957/58-62/63)
  • Galicia-Honduras (1933/34-61/62, as New York Brookhattan in 1933/34-37/38; as Brookhattan in 1938/39-56/57; as Brookhattan-Galicia in 1957/58-58/59; as Galicia S.C. in 1958/59-60/61, merged with non-league Honduras after 1960/61 season)
  • Georgia Generals (1982, as Cleveland Stars in 1972–73; as Cleveland Cobras in 1974–81)
  • Golden Gate Gales (1980) – based in San Francisco.
  • Hartford S.C. (1964/65-68, as Hartford Kings in 1966/67 & 1968)
  • Indiana Tigers (1973–74, as Gary Tigers in 1973)
  • Indianapolis Daredevils (1974–79, as Rhode Island Oceaneers in 1974–76; as New England Oceaneers in 1977)
  • Inter S.C. (1960/61, merged with Brooklyn Italians to become Inter-Brooklyn Italians after 1960/61 season)
  • Irish-Americans (1933/34-51/52, as Kearny Celtic in 1942/43-48/49, franchise purchased by Newark Portuguese 7 games into 1951/52 season)
  • Jacksonville Tea Men (1983)
  • Las Vegas Seagulls (1979)
  • Los Angeles Skyhawks (1976–79)
  • Ludlow Lusitano (1955/56-57/58, as Ludlow S.C. in 1956/57)
  • Miami Americans (1976–80, as New Jersey Americans in 1976–79)

Notes[]

  1. ^ 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.

References[]

  1. ^ Collins, George M. (November 5, 1941). "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. p. 23.
  2. ^ Collins, George M. (November 5, 1941). "St Mike's Faces Scans on Sunday to Decide Title". The Boston Globe. p. 28.
  3. ^ "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 5, 1942. p. 20.
  4. ^ "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 18, 1942. p. 22.
  5. ^ "Soccer Snaps". The Boston Globe. February 20, 1942. p. 22.
  6. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/436013155/?terms=Attiah
  7. ^ Graham, William (September 2, 1942). "Two Flatbush Soccer Squads Combine Forces". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 14.
  8. ^ Graham, William (September 9, 1942). "State Soccer Election Meeting Set For Saturday". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 14.
  9. ^ "St. Louis Frogs Take Plunge In Soccer Circuit". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. July 7, 1972. p. 5C. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  10. ^ Wharton, Tom (August 3, 1976). "American Soccer League Expels Utah Spikers". Salt Lake City Tribune. p. 17. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "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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