I just stumbled upon a website that is a comprehensive list of defunct teams, leagues and venues. The site was created by Andrew Crossley, GM of the WPS' Boston Breakers in 2011. In soccer it lists, among others, the Philadelphia Atoms, Spartans and Ukrainians; and the American Soccer League and North American Soccer League. It's called Fun While It Lasted. Alot of memories on these lists.
Showing posts with label Philadelphia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philadelphia. Show all posts
Monday, January 25, 2021
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Walt Bahr, 1950 World Cup Star, Dies
In 1950, the United States pulled off one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history when it defeated England, 1-0, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. This week, Philadelphia's Walt Bahr, who assisted on the lone goal, died this week at age 91 in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.
The 1950 U.S. team was the subject of a film called "The Game of Their Lives,: which I have yet to see.
Both the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer have quite good tributes to Bahr, and his passing was announced on U.S. Soccer's website. That site posted a tribute with numerous quotes from the soccer community the following day.
Bahr was quite a guy: 19 caps, captain of an Olympic team (in 1948), assist on the lone goal in an historical upset, husband and father, coach at Frankford High School, Temple and Penn State and member of the Soccer Hall of Fame. He came from Philadelphia soccer hotbed Kensington and played at the famous Lighthouse Boys Club there, then for local club and pro teams.
I met Bahr once although I can't recall where or the occasion, only that he was personable. I do recall him telling me that Gaetjens, who was born in Haiti but had begun the process to apply for United States citizenship, disappeared somewhere in that country. ESPN.com ran a lengthy story about Gaetjens in 2010 and describes his presumed death in 1964.
I played against Bahr's oldest son, Casey, when he was at the Naval Academy, a team we had no business playing. My senior year as a fullback he scored three goals against us as Navy beat us by, shall we say, a lot. This was before fullbacks were fast and would attack. I later met Casey when I was covering the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League, for which he played while stationed in New Jersey. I reminded him of the game and he was very gracious.
Bahr's other two sons played in the NASL but became more famous as kickers in the NFL and kicked in the Super Bowl. His daughter, Davies Ann Desederio, was no slouch as an athlete either as she was an All American gymnast at Penn State.
Over the years I have occasionally read suggestions that Gaetjens wasn't an intentional shot but rather bounced off his head at an odd angle past the British keeper. Bahr described the play in a 2010 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News
Bahr was the last surviving member of the 1950 U.S. team.
The 1950 U.S. team was the subject of a film called "The Game of Their Lives,: which I have yet to see.
Both the New York Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer have quite good tributes to Bahr, and his passing was announced on U.S. Soccer's website. That site posted a tribute with numerous quotes from the soccer community the following day.
Bahr was quite a guy: 19 caps, captain of an Olympic team (in 1948), assist on the lone goal in an historical upset, husband and father, coach at Frankford High School, Temple and Penn State and member of the Soccer Hall of Fame. He came from Philadelphia soccer hotbed Kensington and played at the famous Lighthouse Boys Club there, then for local club and pro teams.
I met Bahr once although I can't recall where or the occasion, only that he was personable. I do recall him telling me that Gaetjens, who was born in Haiti but had begun the process to apply for United States citizenship, disappeared somewhere in that country. ESPN.com ran a lengthy story about Gaetjens in 2010 and describes his presumed death in 1964.
I played against Bahr's oldest son, Casey, when he was at the Naval Academy, a team we had no business playing. My senior year as a fullback he scored three goals against us as Navy beat us by, shall we say, a lot. This was before fullbacks were fast and would attack. I later met Casey when I was covering the Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League, for which he played while stationed in New Jersey. I reminded him of the game and he was very gracious.
Bahr's other two sons played in the NASL but became more famous as kickers in the NFL and kicked in the Super Bowl. His daughter, Davies Ann Desederio, was no slouch as an athlete either as she was an All American gymnast at Penn State.
Over the years I have occasionally read suggestions that Gaetjens wasn't an intentional shot but rather bounced off his head at an odd angle past the British keeper. Bahr described the play in a 2010 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News
Ed McIlvenny threw the ball in from the sideline to me. He was my midfield playing partner. He threw the ball in about 35 yards out from the goal. I collected it, pushed it forward a bit, and took a shot from about 25 to 28 yards out.
If you took the 6-yard line and extended it out to the 18-[yard line], and then extended it out a little bit further, that’s about how far I was off the right-hand post. I took my shot and I hit it fairly well.
Bert Williams, the English goalkeeper, had to move to his right to get my shot. Which most likely he would have gotten. Somehow, on the flight of my shot, Joe Gaetjens got through traffic, and got a piece of the ball — a deflection, that’s the best word — it was a deflection that went to Bert Williams’ opposite side. He [Williams] was leaning right, and the deflection sent it back to his left and he just couldn’t react fast enough.
Bahr was the last surviving member of the 1950 U.S. team.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
MLS Kicks Off 21st
Major League Soccer starts its 21st season tomorrow with all 20 clubs in action, including the Union, who visit Dallas. Here's the letter to fans from Commissioner Don Garber:
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Dear MLS Supporters, Led by your incredible passion, last year clearly was our most successful to date, with two new expansion teams, an influx of world-class players, new media rights partnerships and record attendance. In 2016, soccer in the United States and Canada is poised to reach new heights. On Sunday, Major League Soccer's 21st season kicks off with all 20 Clubs playing on opening day, including four marquee matches broadcast live by the League's national television partners. "Soccer Sunday" will feature 11 consecutive hours of MLS matches and programming, including MLS Soccer Sunday: Week 1 LIVE, our digital "whip around" show that will air on MLSsoccer.com, ESPN3, FOX Sports GO and SkySports.com. This year we'll celebrate an incredible Summer of Soccer, highlighted by Copa America Centenario, the most prominent men's soccer event in the United States since the 1994 World Cup. More than 50 Major League Soccer players will participate in the June tournament, joining Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar and many other global soccer stars as 16 countries compete in 10 cities, including nine MLS markets. MLS will take a two-week break from our season during group play of Copa America. We're pleased to have MLS Heineken Rivalry Week return in 2016, as two weekends will showcase the most anticipated rivalry matches of the season. In July, one of the most successful clubs in the world, Arsenal FC, will take on the MLS All-Stars in the AT&T MLS All-Star Game at Avaya Stadium in San Jose. We'll conclude the regular season with Decision Day as 10 games featuring every MLS club will take place simultaneously to determine which teams will qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. For a complete guide to the 2016 MLS season, click here. On behalf of Major League Soccer, I want to thank you for your support and hope you enjoy the 2016 MLS season. Enjoy Soccer Sunday!  - Commissioner Don Garber
The guide he references towards the end of the letter is here.
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Sunday, May 31, 2015
Giants Beat Phillies, 5-0 -- In Soccer??
Although he is not a soccer fan by any means and can at times be sarcastic and caustic, I always like reading Frank Fitzpatrick's columns in the Inquirer. He is close to my age and often writes (very well I might add) about Philadelphia sports history that I am old enough to remember - to a point.
In today's paper Fitzpatrick writes about the fabled Lighthouse Boys Club in Kensington, home of seven Hall of Famers. (Fitzpatrick mentions one of the seven, Walt Bahr, but does not say that he assisted on the most famous goal in U.S. Soccer history in a 1-0 upset of England in the 1950 World Cup.)
Having played against and with numerous Lighthouse alumni myself, that aspect of the article was of great interest and will be to anyone who grew up playing in the Philadelphia area. But what was even more fascinating was the latter half of the column about the American League of Professional Football, founded by Major League baseball owners in 1894. Most of the seven teams took the names of their baseball counterparts, an exception being the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.
As Fitzpatrick points out, "These owners lacked any useful knowledge of soccer." As an example, he cites the selection of Phillies baseball manager, Arthur Irwin, a Canadian, as league president. He was also coach of the soccer Phillies. And so it was that on October 6, 1894 an estimated 500 fans paid 25 cents each at the Baker Bowl on Broad Street to watch the New York Giants beat the Phillies, 5-0.
The league folded after the Phillies had played nine games - more than any other team. They finished just above the last place Washington Senators. Not much better on the soccer pitch than their current day namesake is on the baseball field, the soccer Phillies won two and lost seven, and were outscored 37-15.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
In today's paper Fitzpatrick writes about the fabled Lighthouse Boys Club in Kensington, home of seven Hall of Famers. (Fitzpatrick mentions one of the seven, Walt Bahr, but does not say that he assisted on the most famous goal in U.S. Soccer history in a 1-0 upset of England in the 1950 World Cup.)
Having played against and with numerous Lighthouse alumni myself, that aspect of the article was of great interest and will be to anyone who grew up playing in the Philadelphia area. But what was even more fascinating was the latter half of the column about the American League of Professional Football, founded by Major League baseball owners in 1894. Most of the seven teams took the names of their baseball counterparts, an exception being the Brooklyn Bridegrooms.
As Fitzpatrick points out, "These owners lacked any useful knowledge of soccer." As an example, he cites the selection of Phillies baseball manager, Arthur Irwin, a Canadian, as league president. He was also coach of the soccer Phillies. And so it was that on October 6, 1894 an estimated 500 fans paid 25 cents each at the Baker Bowl on Broad Street to watch the New York Giants beat the Phillies, 5-0.
The league folded after the Phillies had played nine games - more than any other team. They finished just above the last place Washington Senators. Not much better on the soccer pitch than their current day namesake is on the baseball field, the soccer Phillies won two and lost seven, and were outscored 37-15.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
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