Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to American Soccer League (1933–1983).
Nothing was collected or created yet.
American Soccer League (1933–1983)
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
.png) | |
| Founded | 1933 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1983 |
| Country | United States |
| Promotion to | None |
| Relegation to | None |
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. Two successor leagues later operated.
History
[edit]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
[edit]1933/34 through 1943/44
[edit]| 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
[edit]Complete team list
[edit]
|
|
Explanatory notes
[edit]- ^ 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
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ "10 Oct 1974, 68 - The Boston Globe at". Newspapers.com. October 10, 1974. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ 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
[edit]
American Soccer League (1933–1983)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and Formation
Predecessor Context
The original American Soccer League (ASL) was established on May 7, 1921,[4] in New York City through the merger of the National Association Football League (formed in 1895 from premier teams in New York and New Jersey) and the Southern New England Soccer League, marking the creation of the first viable professional soccer league in the United States.[5] This league primarily operated in the industrial Northeast, drawing from working-class immigrant communities that had sustained earlier amateur and semi-professional soccer since the late 19th century.[6] Many founding clubs, such as the Fall River Marksmen and Bethlehem Steel, were backed by ethnic groups—predominantly Scottish, Irish, English, and German immigrants—who organized teams around factories and social clubs, reflecting soccer's roots as an accessible sport for laborers in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.[7] The league's structure emphasized regional rivalries, with an initial eight teams playing a schedule that blended fall and spring seasons to compete with baseball and avoid winter weather.[5] During the 1920s, the ASL experienced its golden era, achieving peak popularity that rivaled emerging American sports like the National Football League. Attendance figures commonly exceeded 10,000 per match, with a record crowd of 46,000 attending a 1926 exhibition between ASL All-Stars and Austrian club Hakoah Vienna in New York, highlighting the league's draw among immigrant audiences and its status as one of the world's strongest soccer competitions at the time.[5] ASL teams also dominated the National Challenge Cup (now U.S. Open Cup), securing multiple titles that underscored their competitive prowess; representative successes include Brooklyn Robins Dry Dock's 1921 win, Bethlehem Steel's 1926 victory, Fall River Marksmen's 1927 triumph, and New York Nationals' 1928 and 1929 conquests.[8] Player salaries reached professional levels, with stars like Archie Stark supported by corporate sponsorships from industrial firms that employed many players.[7] However, underlying tensions emerged from the league's resistance to the United States Football Association (USFA), the national governing body founded in 1913 and affiliated with FIFA, which mandated ASL participation in the National Challenge Cup; the ASL's refusal, citing scheduling conflicts, sparked the "Soccer War" in 1928, resulting in a 1931 FIFA suspension that isolated the league internationally.[5] The Great Depression, beginning with the 1929 stock market crash, precipitated the ASL's financial collapse by devastating the industrial economies that funded its clubs, leading to widespread team failures and reduced immigrant community support.[6] Ethnic soccer enclaves in the Northeast, reliant on factory workers' discretionary spending and corporate backing, suffered as unemployment soared above 25% in urban areas, causing sponsorships to evaporate and attendance to plummet; for instance, Bethlehem Steel folded in 1930 after corporate disinterest, while Fall River Marksmen relocated and merged amid mounting losses in 1931.[9] The league limped through split seasons—spring and fall schedules with constant mergers, such as the 1931 formation of the New York Yankees from Fall River assets—but by 1932, only a brief fall revival occurred with a reduced roster, as broader instability gripped professional soccer.[5] In the interim from 1931 to 1933, regional activities filled the void, including the German-American Soccer League in New York, where Vienna S.C. claimed the A Division title in 1931, and other metropolitan leagues like the one won by Green Point United; the USFA maintained oversight by sanctioning these amateur and semi-professional circuits while enforcing rules on professionalism amid the chaos.[9] These economic and regulatory pressures on immigrant-driven soccer ultimately necessitated a restructured professional league by 1933.[6]Establishment and Initial Setup
The American Soccer League (ASL) was reestablished in the summer of 1933 as a successor to the original league that had collapsed earlier that year due to financial difficulties during the Great Depression.[5] This new iteration, often referred to as the second ASL, was formed under the auspices of the United States Football Association (USFA) to provide a sanctioned professional framework for surviving clubs and new entrants, aiming to revive organized soccer in the Northeast amid widespread economic hardship.[5] Key figures included USFA officials who oversaw the reorganization, along with club owners such as those from the New York Americans and Philadelphia German-Americans, who sought to create a more sustainable model with modest entry fees and shared gate revenues to support operations.[10] The initial structure featured two regional divisions—the Metropolitan Division centered in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, and the New England Division—rather than a single table, with a total of around 16 teams across both, though operations were scaled down compared to the original ASL.[11] Surviving teams from the predecessor league, such as the New York Americans and Philadelphia German-Americans, joined alongside new entrants like Canton SC (later Baltimore SC) and Brooklyn Hispano, reflecting a focus on ethnic and industrial community-based clubs in urban areas.[10] Most franchises were concentrated in the Northeast corridor, including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New England locales, to minimize travel costs and leverage local fan support from immigrant communities.[12] The league adopted a fall-winter schedule to accommodate both outdoor and indoor play, aligning with seasonal weather and player availability during the Depression era, with the inaugural 1933-34 season commencing in the fall and running through spring.[5] This setup emphasized semi-professional operations, where players often held day jobs, and prioritized financial stability through revenue-sharing from ticket sales and modest franchise fees, helping to sustain the league's early viability.[10] The charter goals centered on professionalizing regional soccer while complying with USFA rules, fostering competition among clubs like the Kearny Irish and Fall River Rovers to build attendance and community engagement without the overexpansion that doomed the prior league.[11]League Structure and Operations
Divisions, Scheduling, and Format
The American Soccer League (ASL) operated primarily as a single-division league from its inception in 1933 until the early 1970s, featuring 8 to 12 teams in a double round-robin schedule that typically resulted in 16 to 22 regular-season games per team.[2] Early seasons, such as 1933–34, included regional divisions like the Metropolitan Division (centered in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) and the New England Division, but these were consolidated into a unified national structure by 1935–36 to streamline competition.[12] The league maintained this single-table format through 1971, emphasizing geographic concentration on the East Coast to facilitate travel and foster rivalries among ethnically diverse clubs.[13] In 1972, the ASL introduced a divisional system with three conferences—Northern, Southern, and Midwest—to accommodate expansion and reduce travel costs amid growing competition from the North American Soccer League (NASL).[14] Each conference played an intra-divisional round-robin schedule of about 10 games, followed by inter-conference matches, with the top teams advancing to playoffs; this regional approach persisted and evolved into broader national divisions by 1976, incorporating West Coast teams and aligning more closely with NASL scheduling influences.[13] By the late 1970s, the structure supported up to 15 teams across multiple divisions, though contraction reduced this to six teams in a simplified format by 1983.[2] Scheduling in the ASL traditionally followed a fall-to-spring calendar starting in September or October to avoid summer heat and align with European soccer norms, with seasons spanning 12 to 28 games depending on team count and divisional play.[13] To supplement outdoor play, the league incorporated indoor seasons during the winter months, beginning with professional indoor matches at Madison Square Garden in 1939 and evolving into structured indoor leagues or tournaments in the 1940s and 1950s, which helped maintain fan interest and player activity year-round.[15] In 1969, the ASL shifted to a summer schedule (April to September) to directly compete with the NASL, a change that persisted until the league's dissolution.[2] The competition format emphasized regular-season standings to determine playoff qualifiers, with points awarded as follows: two points for a win and one for a tie from 1934 to 1975, reflecting standard soccer conventions of the era.[16] From 1976 to 1982, influenced by NASL practices, the system adopted five points for a regulation win, three for an overtime win, one for an overtime loss, zero for a regulation loss, plus up to three bonus points per game based on goals scored (one per goal).[16] In 1983, this was modified to award two points for overtime or shootout losses alongside the five for wins and goal bonuses.[13] Playoffs, introduced in 1936, used a single-elimination format initially, featuring quarterfinals, semifinals, and a championship match among the top four to six teams; by the 1970s, this expanded to best-of-three series in early rounds for added competitiveness, culminating in a single final game.[13]Rules, Player Limits, and Governance
The American Soccer League (ASL) operated under a governance structure led by a president responsible for administrative oversight, policy enforcement, and league operations. Kurt Lamm, a former player and coach, served as ASL vice president from 1959 to 1963 before becoming president from 1963 to 1968; during this tenure, he also took on the role of business manager in 1964 to handle financial and contractual matters. In the 1970s, amid efforts to expand visibility, basketball icon Bob Cousy was appointed commissioner to promote the league nationally and address competitive challenges. The ASL maintained close affiliation with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the governing body succeeding the United States Football Association (USFA), which sanctioned the league as the premier regional competition and enabled its recognition as a second-division entity below the North American Soccer League (NASL) in later years. Policies on transfers and contracts were administered through the league office, with disputes typically resolved via USSF mediation to ensure compliance with national standards. Player regulations in the ASL underscored its semi-professional origins, where many athletes balanced soccer with off-season employment, creating fluid distinctions between amateur and professional participation. Established in 1933 as a reorganization of the prior league's remnants, the ASL prioritized ethnic community clubs and American-born talent, such as Billy Gonsalves and Bert Patenaude, who continued careers across semi-pro and national team levels. Salaries were modest, reflecting the part-time nature of play, with no evidence of formal caps in the 1960s despite growing costs; this structure helped sustain operations but limited full-time professionalism. To foster domestic development, especially during the 1970s NASL rivalry, the league restricted foreign player rosters, allowing occasional imports like Eusébio to join as career-enders or bridges from higher divisions, though exact quotas emphasized local promotion over international dominance. Unique operational rules evolved to adapt the ASL's semi-pro framework to broader competition. From the 1940s, tiebreakers incorporated goal difference, aligning with emerging international norms to resolve standings efficiently. Field standards adhered to conventional dimensions of approximately 110-120 yards in length and 70-80 yards in width, suitable for urban venues in the New York-New Jersey-Philadelphia corridor. Participation in the U.S. Open Cup required adaptations for the league's schedule and roster flexibility, with ASL teams entering as representatives of the top regional circuit; successes like the Kearny Scots' five consecutive titles from 1937 to 1941 highlighted this integration, though semi-pro status occasionally sparked eligibility debates resolved through USSF oversight. By the postwar era, these elements facilitated a gradual shift toward fuller professionalism, incorporating summer scheduling from 1969 onward to sync with American sports calendars and attract broader audiences.Historical Development
Early Years and World War II Impact (1933–1945)
The American Soccer League (ASL) was established in the fall of 1933 as a successor to the original league that had collapsed earlier that year amid the Great Depression, operating on a reduced scale with teams primarily in the New York-New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Baltimore areas.[17] The league featured ethnically oriented clubs such as the New York Irish-Americans, Brooklyn Celtics, and Philadelphia German-Americans, which drew support from immigrant communities including Irish, German, and Eastern European groups, helping to sustain interest despite broader economic hardships.[10] Attendance was modest, typically ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 spectators per match, reflecting the sport's niche status and the era's financial constraints that limited promotion and fan engagement.[13] Operational challenges persisted through the late 1930s, with frequent team foldings and relocations due to financial instability; for instance, Baltimore SC, an early entrant, played through the 1941-42 season before taking a hiatus in 1942-43 and rejoining in 1943-44. The league introduced a playoff system in 1934 to determine champions, adding excitement to the regular season format divided into Metropolitan and New England sections.[18] Philadelphia-based teams began to assert dominance during this period, exemplified by the German-Americans' championship win in 1935 and their strong performances into the early 1940s, bolstered by local industrial support and ethnic ties.[19] Player enlistments in the armed forces following the U.S. entry into World War II drastically reduced rosters across teams, with dozens of ASL players serving overseas, forcing clubs to rely on makeshift lineups and younger talent.[20] The league continued operations despite these shortages, with the 1941-42 season seeing Philadelphia Americans as champions, the 1942-43 season won by Brooklyn Hispano, and the 1943-44 season by Philadelphia Americans again. Operations endured through abbreviated schedules and continued roster shortages in 1944-45, culminating in Brookhattan's championship amid tight competition.[20][13]Postwar Growth and Stability (1946–1969)
Following World War II, the American Soccer League experienced a resurgence driven by the return of players from military service and an influx of European immigrants, particularly displaced persons from Eastern Europe, who brought soccer expertise and formed ethnic-based clubs that bolstered talent pools and fan support in urban centers like New York and Philadelphia.[21][22] These newcomers, including many Ukrainians fleeing postwar turmoil, revitalized rosters depleted during the war years, when enlistments had reduced team sizes and led to temporary suspensions or mergers.[10] Attendance benefited from community ties, with ethnic organizations sponsoring matches and drawing crowds to venues in the Northeast, though overall numbers remained modest compared to other sports.[23] In the late 1940s, the league experimented with indoor formats to extend the season and attract larger audiences, including exhibition tournaments at Madison Square Garden that featured shortened halves and adapted rules for arena play, though these did not become a permanent fixture.[24][15] The 1946–47 season marked a return to stability with a consistent roster of eight teams, including standouts like the Philadelphia Americans and Brooklyn Wanderers, competing in a fall-to-spring schedule across the Northeast and Midwest.[25] This structure persisted into the early 1950s, with 8–10 franchises per season, emphasizing regional rivalries and helping the league maintain operations amid postwar economic adjustments.[26] By the 1950s and 1960s, the ASL achieved greater operational steadiness, with improvements in facilities such as the relocation of New York teams to the modern Zerega Oval in the Bronx, which offered better playing surfaces and seating for growing local followings.[27] Night games under floodlights became more common at select venues, enhancing accessibility for working-class fans and aligning with broader trends in professional sports entertainment.[28] The league's governance evolved through a board of directors rather than a single commissioner, focusing on referee standardization and scheduling to foster professionalism.[29] Integration advanced notably with the signing of Giles Heron by the Detroit Wolverines in 1946, marking one of the first instances of Black players entering professional American soccer and challenging ethnic homogeneity in lineups.[30] Despite these advances, the ASL faced challenges from rising college soccer programs that drew younger talent and spectators, as well as minor economic fluctuations affecting sponsorships in industrial cities.[31] Survival hinged on local ethnic and civic backing, which sustained teams through sparse away crowds and rudimentary facilities like cinder fields.[23] A highlight of this era was the dominance of the Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals, founded by postwar immigrants in 1950, who captured multiple ASL titles in the 1960s—including four consecutive championships from 1961 to 1964—showcasing immigrant-driven excellence and contributing to the league's regional prestige.[32][10]National Expansion and NASL Competition (1970–1979)
During the 1970s, the American Soccer League undertook significant expansion efforts to broaden its geographic footprint and compete with the rising North American Soccer League (NASL). In the early part of the decade, the league added Midwest franchises, including the Chicago Americans in 1972 and the Cleveland Stars from 1972 to 1973, marking its initial push beyond its traditional Eastern base.[13][10] By 1976, amid the NASL's growing popularity, the ASL ambitiously expanded to the West Coast, introducing a Western Division with five new teams: the Los Angeles Skyhawks, Sacramento Spirits, Tacoma Tides, Utah Golden Spikers, and Oakland Buccaneers. This growth elevated the league's total to around 14 teams at its mid-decade peak, though it strained resources due to increased cross-country travel costs.[13][33] To emulate the NASL's appeal and address competitive pressures, the ASL incorporated several modernizing elements between 1974 and 1979, including enhanced marketing initiatives and limited television exposure. While the league retained its traditional point system—awarding five points for a win and two for a tie, plus one bonus point for each goal up to three per match (the "Newman System" introduced in 1976)—it introduced penalty shootouts in playoff games to resolve ties, mirroring the NASL's 1974 innovation for regular-season decisions.[13][34] However, the ASL faced ongoing challenges from the NASL, which poached talent and drew larger audiences with high-profile imports like Pelé, leaving the ASL reliant on ethnic-oriented clubs such as the New York Greeks, who captured the 1971 championship. Marketing efforts included local promotions and sporadic broadcasts, such as the 1978 championship match airing on regional TV, but these paled against the NASL's national visibility on CBS and ABC.[35][36] The decade's high point came in 1976, when the expansion Los Angeles Skyhawks defeated the New York Apollo 2–1 in the ASL championship final before an attendance of over 9,000 at the Memorial Coliseum, showcasing the potential of West Coast interest. Ethnic clubs continued to thrive amid these changes, with teams like the New York Greeks leveraging community support for sustained success. Yet, financial pressures mounted from the costly national schedule, exacerbating talent drainage to the NASL and contributing to uneven attendance and operational strains across the league's 11 to 14 teams by the late 1970s.[13][37][33]Decline and Dissolution (1980–1983)
The American Soccer League entered a period of significant instability in the early 1980s, exacerbated by the overexpansion of the previous decade that had strained resources and led to uneven team viability across regions. By 1980, several franchises folded or relocated due to administrative frustrations and financial pressures, including the Los Angeles Skyhawks and New Jersey Americans, the latter of which moved to Miami as the Miami Americans. The league operated with eight teams that season—Pennsylvania Stoners, New York United, Cleveland Cobras, Columbus Magic, Sacramento Gold, California Sunshine, Miami Americans, and Golden Gate Gales—but the Western Division struggled with poor performance and travel costs, foreshadowing further contractions. The Pennsylvania Stoners claimed the championship with a 2-1 victory over the Sacramento Gold.[38] In 1981, the ASL attempted to bolster its roster by adding four new teams: Rochester Flash, Detroit Express (relocating from the NASL), Carolina Lightnin’, and New England Sharks, resulting in eight franchises divided into Liberty and Freedom Conferences. Attendance reached a league high of nearly 4,000 per game, reflecting a brief surge amid the broader soccer boom, though this masked underlying issues. Travel expenses particularly burdened West Coast clubs, leading to the folding of the California Sunshine and Golden Gate Gales, while merger talks with the Western Soccer League collapsed, preventing a potential consolidation. The Carolina Lightnin’ won the title, defeating the New York United 2-1 in the final.[39] The 1982 season saw further attrition, with only seven teams competing: Detroit Express, Oklahoma City Slickers, Georgia Generals (relocated from Cleveland Cobras), Carolina Lightnin’, Rochester Flash, Pennsylvania Stoners, and Nashville Diamonds. Average attendance rose slightly to 4,450, but economic pressures mounted as new expansion teams underperformed, and post-season folds included the Nashville Diamonds and Georgia Generals, with the Rochester Flash withdrawing entirely. These developments highlighted the league's overreach, as the unsustainable growth from the 1970s NASL-influenced expansion diluted financial stability without commensurate revenue gains. The Detroit Express captured the championship, prevailing over the Oklahoma City Slickers in a best-of-three series (1-3 loss, 1-0 win, 4-1 win).[40] By 1983, the ASL had contracted to six teams—Jacksonville Tea Men, Pennsylvania Stoners, Carolina Lightnin', Detroit Express, Oklahoma City Slickers, and the newly added Dallas Americans—operating without formal divisions in a reduced 25-game schedule. The playoffs adopted a "final four" format, with semifinals leading to a best-of-three championship series. The Jacksonville Tea Men emerged as champions, defeating the Pennsylvania Stoners (0-3 loss, 4-1 win, 1-0 win). Persistent financial struggles and a lack of administrative commitment ultimately led to the league's dissolution after its 51st season, as owners could not sustain operations amid mounting debts and franchise instability.[41][42] In the immediate aftermath, the league's assets were liquidated, and surviving franchises such as the Carolina Lightnin' (renamed Charlotte Southland), Jacksonville Tea Men, Dallas Americans, and Oklahoma City Slickers joined the short-lived United Soccer League for the 1984 season, marking a brief continuation of professional soccer in those markets before its own collapse in 1985.[41]Teams and Franchises
Complete List of Teams
The American Soccer League (1933–1983) saw participation from over 120 franchises across its 50-year history, predominantly concentrated in the northeastern United States during its early decades before expanding westward and southward in the 1970s. Many teams reflected ethnic heritages of immigrant communities, with frequent name changes and relocations occurring due to financial instability or mergers. The following table catalogs all known teams alphabetically, detailing their active years in the league, primary home cities, and notes on name changes or relocations where documented. Total seasons are calculated based on participation records, excluding incomplete or suspended seasons.[10]| Team Name | Years Active | Home City/State | Total Seasons | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown | 1939 | Allentown, PA | 1 | Short-lived entry in early expansion. |
| Baltimore Americans | 1939–1949 | Baltimore, MD | 11 | Evolved from local amateur clubs. |
| Baltimore Bays | 1973 | Baltimore, MD | 1 | Brief 1970s addition. |
| Baltimore Canton | 1934–1936 | Baltimore, MD | 3 | Early league participant. |
| Baltimore Flyers | 1967–1968 | Baltimore, MD | 2 | Mid-1960s team. |
| Baltimore German | 1938–1939 | Baltimore, MD | 2 | Ethnic-based team; merged into Americans. |
| Baltimore Pompei | 1957–1961 | Baltimore, MD | 5 | Italian heritage club. |
| Baltimore Rockets | 1953–1957 | Baltimore, MD | 5 | Postwar entrant. |
| Baltimore S.C. | 1936–1942 | Baltimore, MD | 7 | Prewar staple. |
| Baltimore St. Gerard's | 1966–1967 | Baltimore, MD | 2 | Local Catholic-affiliated team. |
| Baltimore Soccer Club | 1961–1962 | Baltimore, MD | 2 | Transitional franchise. |
| Baltimore Stars | 1972 | Baltimore, MD | 1 | 1970s expansion attempt. |
| Bethlehem Hungarians | 1938–1939 | Bethlehem, PA | 2 | Hungarian community team. |
| Boca Juniors | 1963–1964 | New York, NY | 2 | Argentine-inspired name. |
| Boston Astros | 1969–1975 | Boston, MA | 7 | Relocated from earlier New England teams. |
| Boston Metros | 1963–1964 | Boston, MA | 2 | Short 1960s presence. |
| Boston Tigers | 1965–1968 | Boston, MA | 4 | Successor to Metros. |
| Brookhattan | 1938–1957 | New York, NY | 20 | Long-standing New York club. |
| Brookhattan-Galicia | 1957–1959 | New York, NY | 3 | Name change from Brookhattan merger. |
| Brooklyn Celtic | 1933–1935 | Brooklyn, NY | 3 | Founding-era team. |
| Brooklyn F.C. | 1933–1934 | Brooklyn, NY | 2 | Initial league member. |
| Brooklyn Giants | 1942–1943 | Brooklyn, NY | 2 | Wartime team. |
| Brooklyn Hakoah | 1948–1956 | Brooklyn, NY | 9 | Jewish heritage club. |
| Brooklyn Hispano | 1933–1956 | Brooklyn, NY | 24 | Longtime ethnic franchise. |
| Brooklyn Italians | 1956–1961 | Brooklyn, NY | 6 | Successor to Hispano. |
| Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtics | 1935–1942 | Brooklyn, NY | 8 | Irish Catholic team. |
| Brooklyn Wanderers | 1942–1948 | Brooklyn, NY | 7 | Wartime and postwar participant. |
| California Sunshine | 1977–1980 | Villa Park, CA | 4 | Western expansion team. |
| Carolina Lightnin' | 1981–1983 | Charlotte, NC | 3 | Late southern entrant. |
| Chicago Americans | 1972 | Chicago, IL | 1 | Midwest expansion. |
| Chicago Cats | 1975–1976 | Chicago, IL | 2 | Brief 1970s team. |
| Cincinnati Comets | 1972–1975 | Cincinnati, OH | 4 | Ohio-based 1970s franchise. |
| Cleveland Cobras | 1975–1981 | Cleveland, OH | 7 | Name change from Cleveland Stars. |
| Cleveland Stars | 1972–1974 | Cleveland, OH | 3 | Predecessor to Cobras. |
| Colombo | 1959–1960 | New York, NY | 2 | Italian-American club. |
| Columbus Magic | 1979–1980 | Columbus, OH | 2 | Late 1970s addition. |
| Connecticut Wildcats | 1973–1974 | Hartford, CT | 2 | Name change to Connecticut Yankees. |
| Connecticut Yankees | 1975–1978 | Hartford, CT | 4 | Successor to Wildcats. |
| Dallas Americans | 1983 | Dallas, TX | 1 | Final-year Texas team. |
| Delaware Wings | 1972–1974 | New Castle, DE | 3 | Mid-Atlantic 1970s team. |
| Detroit Express | 1981–1983 | Detroit, MI | 3 | Relocated from NASL competition. |
| Detroit Mustangs | 1972–1973 | Detroit, MI | 2 | Early 1970s Midwest entry. |
| Elizabeth Falcons | 1954–1959 | Elizabeth, NJ | 6 | New Jersey staple. |
| Falcons S.C. | 1959–1962 | Elizabeth, NJ | 4 | Name evolution from Elizabeth Falcons. |
| Falcons-Warsaw | 1962–1964 | Elizabeth, NJ | 3 | Merger with Polish club. |
| Fall River Astros | 1967–1968 | Fall River, MA | 2 | New England revival. |
| Fall River S.C. | 1967–1968 | Fall River, MA | 2 | Coexisted with Astros. |
| Galicia-Honduras | 1961–1962 | New York, NY | 2 | Ethnic merger team. |
| Galicia S.C. | 1959–1961 | New York, NY | 3 | Spanish heritage club. |
| Gary Tigers | 1973 | Gary, IN | 1 | Short-lived Indiana team.[43] |
| Georgia Generals | 1982 | Atlanta, GA | 1 | Southern expansion. |
| Golden Bay Buccaneers | 1976 | Hayward, CA | 1 | California coastal team. |
| Golden Gate Gales | 1980 | Oakland, CA | 1 | Late western addition. |
| Hartford Kings | 1966–1968 | Hartford, CT | 3 | Connecticut 1960s franchise. |
| Hartford S.C. | 1964–1968 | Hartford, CT | 5 | Predecessor to Kings. |
| Indiana Tigers | 1973–1974 | Fort Wayne, IN | 2 | Midwest 1970s team. |
| Indy Daredevils | 1978–1979 | Indianapolis, IN | 2 | Late 1970s entrant. |
| Inter-Brooklyn Italians | 1961–1962 | Brooklyn, NY | 2 | Italian community team. |
| Inter S.C. | 1962–1963, 1965–1966 | New York, NY | 4 | Intermittent participation. |
| Jacksonville Tea Men | 1983 | Jacksonville, FL | 1 | Relocated from NASL; final season. |
| Kearny Americans | 1941–1953 | Kearny, NJ | 13 | Long-running New Jersey club. |
| Kearny Celtic | 1942–1951 | Kearny, NJ | 10 | Successor to Kearny Irish. |
| Kearny Irish | 1933–1942 | Kearny, NJ | 10 | Founding Irish heritage team. |
| Kearny Scots | 1933–1941 | Kearny, NJ | 9 | Scottish community staple.[44] |
| Las Vegas Seagulls | 1979 | Las Vegas, NV | 1 | Western desert expansion. |
| Los Angeles Skyhawks | 1976–1979 | Los Angeles, CA | 4 | Major 1970s California franchise. |
| Ludlow Lusitano | 1955–1956, 1957–1958 | Ludlow, MA | 4 | Portuguese heritage; intermittent. |
| Ludlow S.C. | 1956–1957 | Ludlow, MA | 2 | Local Massachusetts team. |
| Miami Americans | 1980 | Miami, FL | 1 | Florida entry. |
| Nashville Diamonds | 1982 | Nashville, TN | 1 | Southern late addition. |
| New Brunswick Hungarian | 1967–1969 | New Brunswick, NJ | 3 | Hungarian community team. |
| New Brunswick Hungarian-Americans | 1963–1967 | New Brunswick, NJ | 5 | Predecessor to Hungarian. |
| New England Oceaneers | 1977 | Lynn, MA | 1 | Regional 1970s team. |
| New England Sharks | 1981 | New Haven, CT | 1 | Late New England franchise. |
| New Jersey Americans | 1976–1979 | Paterson, NJ | 4 | 1970s New Jersey club. |
| New Jersey Brewers | 1973–1975 | Union City, NJ | 3 | Name change from Schaefer Brewers. |
| New Jersey Schaefer Brewers | 1972 | Union City, NJ | 1 | Corporate-sponsored early 1970s team. |
| New York Americans | 1933–1956 | New York, NY | 24 | Founding member; merged into Hakoah-Americans. |
| New York Apollo | 1973–1979 | New York, NY | 7 | Name change from New York Greeks. |
| New York Brookhattan | 1933–1938 | New York, NY | 6 | Predecessor to Brookhattan.[44] |
| New York Eagles | 1978–1979, 1981 | New York, NY | 4 | Intermittent late participation. |
| New York Greeks | 1971–1972 | New York, NY | 2 | Greek heritage; renamed Apollo. |
| New York Hakoah | 1962–1964 | New York, NY | 3 | Successor to Hakoah-Americans. |
| New York Hakoah-Americans | 1956–1962 | New York, NY | 7 | Merger of Hakoah and Americans. |
| New York Inter | 1966–1969 | New York, NY | 4 | 1960s New York team. |
| New York United | 1980–1981 | New York, NY | 2 | Late city franchise. |
| Newark Falcons | 1964–1967 | Newark, NJ | 4 | New Jersey urban team. |
| Newark Germans | 1933–1937 | Newark, NJ | 5 | Early ethnic German club.[44] |
| Newark Portuguese | 1951–1963, 1964–1968 | Newark, NJ | 17 | Portuguese heritage; purchased Irish-Americans franchise in 1951.[10] |
| Newark Ukrainian Sitch | 1962–1970 | Newark, NJ | 9 | Ukrainian community team.[10] |
| Nor'east United | 1972 | Somerset, NJ | 1 | Brief 1970s New Jersey entry.[10] |
| Philadelphia German-Americans | 1933–1941 | Philadelphia, PA | 9 | Founding ethnic team.[45] |
| Philadelphia Nationals | 1941–1950 | Philadelphia, PA | 10 | Name change from German-Americans.[45] |
| Philadelphia Ukrainians | 1951–1979 | Philadelphia, PA | 29 | Long-running Ukrainian franchise with multiple relocations.[46] |
Notable Franchises and Relocations
The Philadelphia Americans emerged as one of the ASL's most dominant franchises during the league's early decades, securing seven championships between 1934 and 1952, including titles in 1934–35 as the German-Americans, 1941–42, 1943–44, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, and 1951–52.[2] Rooted in Philadelphia's German-American immigrant community, the team drew heavily from ethnic soccer traditions, reflecting the league's reliance on European expatriate talent and fan bases that sustained the sport amid limited mainstream appeal.[21] Their success in the 1930s and 1940s established a model of regional stability, with the franchise absorbing players from defunct rivals like the Uhrik Truckers in 1953 before folding amid postwar shifts.[2] Similarly, the Ukrainian Nationals of Philadelphia achieved remarkable longevity and impact, capturing six ASL titles from the 1950s through the 1970s, with five consecutive wins from 1959–60 to 1963–64, plus an additional crown in 1967–68.[2] Composed largely of Ukrainian immigrants and their descendants, the team exemplified the ASL's ethnic fabric, fielding stars like Mike Noha, an Argentine-born son of Ukrainian émigrés who scored prolifically in U.S. Open Cup triumphs alongside league successes.[47] Their run from 1959 to 1964 marked the pinnacle of ASL excellence, blending immigrant resilience with tactical prowess that outshone rivals; the franchise continued in the ASL until the early 1970s before shifting to other leagues.[48] Relocations became more prominent in the 1970s as the ASL pursued national expansion to counter the North American Soccer League's growth, though many moves underscored financial vulnerabilities. The New York Apollo franchise rebranded as the New York United in 1980 after winning titles in 1973, 1975, and 1978.[49] In the Midwest, the Cincinnati Comets—ASL champions in their 1972 inaugural season—folded in 1975 due to economic woes, paving the way for subsequent western expansions; by 1978, the league introduced the Columbus Magic as a new Ohio-based entry, representing a de facto regional shift amid the Comets' absence.[50] These maneuvers highlighted the ASL's adaptive but precarious strategy, with franchises often renaming or moving short distances to tap untapped markets like the industrial Midwest.[2] Beyond championships, several franchises left indelible marks through fan engagement and infrastructure. The 1970s Los Angeles Skyhawks exemplified growing West Coast interest, drawing diverse crowds from the city's multicultural populace to venues like Birmingham High School, where they clinched the 1976 ASL title before an enthusiastic audience reflective of soccer's appeal to Latino and Asian immigrant communities.[51] New York-area teams, including the Apollo, frequently utilized iconic facilities such as Yankee Stadium for high-profile matches, leveraging the venue's prestige to boost attendance during the league's ethnic-to-mainstream transition in the 1970s.[52] A particularly unique narrative unfolded with the Boston Celtics soccer club, which competed in the ASL during the 1940s—predating the famed basketball franchise—and embodied New England's working-class soccer heritage, finishing mid-table in 1940–41 while fostering local rivalries amid wartime disruptions.[53] Other notable franchises included the New York Hungaria, which won multiple titles in the 1950s and 1960s, and the Sacramento Gold, a late-1970s western expansion team that contributed to the league's national reach.[54]Championships and Achievements
List of Season Champions
The American Soccer League operated over 50 seasons from 1933–34 to 1982–83, crowning a champion annually through regular season standings in its early decades, with playoffs introduced sporadically starting in 1936–37 and named tournaments like the Lewis Cup used intermittently until the 1950s; playoffs became the primary means of determining the champion by the 1970s, often via two-leg aggregates or single matches following divisional play. No seasons were without a champion, though wartime conditions during World War II led to reduced schedules and occasional reliance on regular season results alone. Note: The Lewis Cup was a separate postseason tournament held intermittently from 1939–1963; its winners are noted where treated as the playoff champion in early seasons, but regular season standings often determined the overall league champion absent formal playoffs.[13] The table below records each season's regular season champion(s)—noting divisions where applicable—and playoff champion where held, along with the runner-up and final score(s) when documented; in seasons without playoffs, the playoff fields are marked with em dashes and the regular season winner is the overall champion.[13]| Season | Regular Season Champion(s) | Playoff Champion | Runner-up | Final Score(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933–34 | Kearny Irish | — | — | — |
| 1934–35 | Philadelphia German-American | — | — | — |
| 1935–36 | New York Americans | — | — | — |
| 1936–37 | Brooklyn St. Mary's Celtic (National), Brooklyn Hispano (American) | Kearny Scots | Brooklyn Hispano | 5–3, 3–3 |
| 1937–38 | Philadelphia German-American (American), Kearny Scots (National) | Kearny Scots | Brooklyn St. Mary's | 4–2, 2–2 |
| 1938–39 | Kearny Scots (National), Brookhattan (American) | Kearny Scots | Philadelphia German-American | 3–2, 4–2 |
| 1939–40 | Kearny Scots | — (Lewis Cup: Kearny Scots) | — | — |
| 1940–41 | Kearny Scots | — (Lewis Cup: Philadelphia German-American) | — | — |
| 1941–42 | Philadelphia Americans | — (Lewis Cup: Brookhattan) | — | — |
| 1942–43 | Brooklyn Hispano | — (Lewis Cup: Philadelphia Americans) | — | — |
| 1943–44 | Philadelphia Americans (Schroeder Cup) | — (Lewis Cup: Kearny Celtic) | — | — |
| 1944–45 | Brookhattan | — (Lewis Cup: Brookhattan) | — | — |
| 1945–46 | Baltimore Americans | — (Lewis Cup: Brooklyn Hispano) | — | — |
| 1946–47 | Philadelphia Americans | — (Lewis Cup: Baltimore Americans) | — | — |
| 1947–48 | Philadelphia Americans | Kearny Scots (Lewis Cup) | Brookhattan | 3–2, 1–1 |
| 1948–49 | Philadelphia Nationals | Philadelphia Nationals | New York Americans | — |
| 1949–50 | Philadelphia Nationals | — (Lewis Cup: New York Americans) | Philadelphia Nationals | 2–1, 2–2 |
| 1950–51 | Philadelphia Nationals | — (Lewis Cup: Philadelphia Nationals) | Brooklyn Hakoah | — |
| 1951–52 | Philadelphia Americans | — (Lewis Cup: Philadelphia Nationals) | — | — |
| 1952–53 | Philadelphia Nationals | — (Lewis Cup: Newark Portuguese) | Philadelphia Nationals | 3–0, 1–3 |
| 1953–54 | New York Americans | — | — | — |
| 1954–55 | Uhrik Truckers | — (Lewis Cup: Uhrik Truckers) | Brookhattan | 2–2, 3–1 |
| 1955–56 | Uhrik Truckers | Uhrik Truckers | Elizabeth Falcons | — |
| 1956–57 | New York Hakoah | — (Lewis Cup: Elizabeth Falcons) | — | — |
| 1957–58 | New York Hakoah | — (Lewis Cup: Uhrik Truckers) | Philadelphia Ukrainians | 4–1, 0–2 |
| 1958–59 | New York Hakoah | — (Lewis Cup: Ukrainian Nationals) | New York Hakoah | 3–2 |
| 1959–60 | Colombo | — | — | — |
| 1960–61 | Ukrainian Nationals | — | — | — |
| 1961–62 | Ukrainian Nationals | — | — | — |
| 1962–63 | Ukrainian Nationals | — (Lewis Cup: Ukrainian Nationals) | Newark Ukrainian Sitch | 3–0 |
| 1963–64 | Ukrainian Nationals | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | Hartford FC | — | — | — |
| 1965–66 | Roma SC | — | — | — |
| 1966–67 | Newark Ukrainian Sitch (North), Baltimore St. Gerards (South) | Baltimore St. Gerards | Newark Ukrainian Sitch | 4–3 |
| 1967–68 | Ukrainian Nationals (First), New York Inter SC (Premier) | Ukrainian Nationals | New York Inter | 3–3, 5–1 |
| 1968 | Washington Darts | — | — | — |
| 1969 | Washington Darts (Southern), Syracuse Scorpions (Northern) | Washington Darts | Syracuse Scorpions | 2–0, 2–0 |
| 1970 | Philadelphia Ukrainians | — | — | — |
| 1971 | New York Greeks | — | — | — |
| 1972 | New York Greeks (Northern), Philadelphia Spartans (Southern), Cincinnati Comets (Midwestern) | Cincinnati Comets | New York Greeks | 2–1 |
| 1973 | New York Apollo (Northeast), Cincinnati Comets (Midwest), Baltimore Bays (Mid-Atlantic) | New York Apollo | Cincinnati Comets | 1–0 (OT) |
| 1974 | Rhode Island Oceaneers (Midwest), New York Apollo (East) | Rhode Island Oceaneers | New York Apollo | 1–2, 2–1, 3–2 |
| 1975 | New York Apollo (South), Boston Astros (North), Cleveland Cobras (Mid-West) | New York Apollo, Boston Astros (co-champions) | — | 2–2, 1–1 (suspended) |
| 1976 | Los Angeles Skyhawks (West), New York Apollo (East) | Los Angeles Skyhawks | New York Apollo | 2–1 |
| 1977 | Sacramento Spirits (West), New Jersey Americans (East) | New Jersey Americans | Sacramento Spirits | 3–0 |
| 1978 | Los Angeles Skyhawks (Western), New York Apollo (Eastern) | New York Apollo | Los Angeles Skyhawks | 1–0 |
| 1979 | California Sunshine (Western), Columbus Magic (Eastern) | Sacramento Gold | Columbus Magic | 1–0 |
| 1980 | Pennsylvania Stoners (National), Sacramento Gold (American) | Pennsylvania Stoners | Sacramento Gold | 2–1 |
| 1981 | New York United (Liberty), Carolina Lightnin’ (Freedom) | Carolina Lightnin’ | New York United | 2–1 |
| 1982 | Detroit Express | Detroit Express | Oklahoma City Slickers | 1–3, 1–0, 4–1 |
| 1982–83 | Jacksonville Tea Men (Eastern), Dallas Americans (Western) | Jacksonville Tea Men | Pennsylvania Stoners | 0–3, 4–1, 1–0 |