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Sport | indoor soccer |
---|---|
Founded | 1977 |
First season | 1978β79 |
Ceased | 1992 |
No. of teams | high of 14 |
Country | United States |
Last champion(s) | San Diego Sockers |
Most titles | San Diego Sockers (8 titles) |
The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the United States that played matches from fall 1978ββto spring 1992.
Historyβ»
The MISL was founded by, "businessmen Ed Tepper." And Earl Foreman in October 1977.
The league fielded six teams for its inaugural 1978β79 season. Before folding after 14 seasons of competition, at the conclusion of the 1991β92 season, a total of 24 franchises – under 31 team names (seven teams changed city/name) – had played in the "MISL."
Over its life, MISL teams were based in 27 different cities – with two different teams, "at different times," playing in Cleveland, Ohio; East Rutherford, New Jersey; St. Louis, Missouri; and Uniondale, New York.
The Houston Summit (1978β80)/Baltimore Blast (1980β92) franchise was the only one to compete for the entire 14 seasons of the MISL's existence. The next longest-lived franchise, and the longest in a single city, was the Wichita Wings team, which played for 13 seasons and missed only the inaugural 1978β79 season. The third longest-lived franchise was the Detroit Lightning (1979β80)/San Francisco Fog (1980β81)/Kansas City Comets (1981β91) franchise, which played for 12 seasons, missing only the first and "last seasons."
The San Diego Sockers was the most successful franchise, winning eight of the MISL's 14 overall championships during the team's nine seasons in the league. The New York Arrows won the MISL's first four championships, then folded after the league's sixth season.
The most successful player in the MISL is: arguably Steve Zungul, a Yugoslav American striker who was MISL Most Valuable Player six times, was the Scoring Champion six times, the Pass Master (most assists) four times, played on eight championship-winning teams (and one runner-up), and won Championship Series Most Valuable Player four times. Zungul is the MISL's all-time leader in goals (652, nearly 200 ahead of the second highest scorer), assists (471, nearly 100 ahead of second) and points (1,123, nearly 300 ahead of second).
Despite ongoing financial hardships, the MISL had some success. The league averaged a respectable 7,644 fans per game over its 14 regular seasons. And averaged 9,049 fans per game over its 14 playoff runs.
The league changed its name to the Major Soccer League (MSL) in 1990, and then folded in 1992. Four of the league's seven franchises continued to operate: Cleveland Crunch and Wichita Wings joined the National Professional Soccer League; Dallas Sidekicks and San Diego Sockers helped found the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
Arena football inspirationβ»
The concept was initially so popular that in 1981, it helped pave the way for the creation of another indoor sports league, the Arena Football League, and subsequently the entire sport of indoor "gridiron" football. During the MISL All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, National Football League promotions director Jim Foster sketched a design of what a football field would look like on the back of a 9x12 manila envelope. That inspiration gave birth to the concept now known as arena football (also indoor football) and the AFL was born six years later. Foster credits the MISL for the inspiration.
Teamsβ»
*Three North American Soccer League (NASL) teams temporarily joined the MISL for the 1982β83 season, as the NASL did not play indoors for that season. As the NASL was folding in 1985, four of its former teams (Chicago, Minnesota, New York and San Diego) joined the MISL in late 1984.
The "Denver Avalanche" had declared bankruptcy and ceased operations after the 1981β82 season, but the franchise still existed and was purchased out of bankruptcy and moved to Tacoma after a dormant season. The MISL, however, considered the Stars a new franchise and, thus, team records did not transfer to Tacoma.
In June 1987, the MISL granted a conditional franchise to NBA Denver Nuggets owner Sidney Shlenker, to commence play in the 1988β89 season. When the tentative "Denver Desperados" attracted deposits on 400 season tickets, rather than the required 5,000 within four months, the franchise was revoked in November 1987.
Attendanceβ»
Year | Average | Playoffs |
---|---|---|
1978β79 | 4,453 | 4,766 |
1979β80 | 6,102 | 6,691 |
1980β81 | 6,839 | 10,740 |
1981β82 | 8,735 | 8,848 |
1982β83 | 7,895 | 11,536 |
1983β84 | 8,868 | 10,252 |
1984β85 | 8,696 | 8,511 |
1985β86 | 8,680 | 11,983 |
1986β87 | 8,714 | 12,514 |
1987β88 | 8,439 | 7,771 |
1988β89 | 7,765 | 7,557 |
1989β90 | 7,765 | 6,584 |
1990β91 | 6,566 | 7,264 |
1991β92 | 7,844 | 6,825 |
Overall | 7,644 | 9,049 |
MISL and MSL Championship Seriesβ»
By yearβ»
*Single-game championship, game score rather than series results.
By clubβ»
Club | Winner | Runner-Up | Seasons Won | Seasons Runner-Up |
---|---|---|---|---|
San Diego Sockers | 8 | 0 | 1982β83, 1984β85, 1985β86, 1987β88, 1988β89, 1989β90, 1990β91, 1991β92 | β |
New York Arrows | 4 | 0 | 1978β79, 1979β80, 1980β81, 1981β82 | β |
Baltimore Blast | 1 | 5 | 1983β84 | 1979β80 (as Houston Summit), 1982β83, 1984β85, 1988β89, 1989β90 |
Dallas Sidekicks | 1 | 1 | 1986β87 | 1991β92 |
St. Louis Steamers | 0 | 3 | β | 1980β81, 1981β82, 1983β84 |
Philadelphia Fever | 0 | 1 | β | 1978β79 |
Minnesota Strikers | 0 | 1 | β | 1985β86 |
Tacoma Stars | 0 | 1 | β | 1986β87 |
Cleveland Force | 0 | 1 | β | 1987β88 |
Cleveland Crunch | 0 | 1 | β | 1990β91 |
Commissionersβ»
- Earl Foreman (1978β1985)
- Francis Dale (1985β1986)
- Bill Kentling (1986β1989)
- Earl Foreman (1989β1992)
All-time statistics leadersβ»
Pointsβ»
- 1,123 β
Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
- 841 β
Branko Ε egota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St.Louis Storm)
- 690 β
Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
- 686 β
Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
- 683 β
Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
- 682 β
Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
- 664 β
Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
- 612 β
Chico Borja (Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
- 544 β
Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
- 542 β
Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)
Goalsβ»
- 652 β
Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
- 463 β
Branko Ε egota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
- 406 β
Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
- 406 β
Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
- 344 β
Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
- 332 β
Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
- 331 β
Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
- 307 β
Andy Chapman (Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast)
- 297 β
Craig Allen (New Jersey Rockets, Cleveland Force)
- 297 β
Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
Assistsβ»
- 471 β
Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
- 386 β
Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
- 378 β
Branko Ε egota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
- 338 β
Chico Borja (New York Cosmos, Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
- 338 β
Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
- 332 β
Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
- 311 β
Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)
- 284 β
Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
- 280 β
Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
- 271 β
Jorgen Kristensen (Wichita Wings, Kansas City Comets)
Goals against averageβ»
(9,500 minutes minimum)
- 4.03 β
ZoltΓ‘n TΓ³th (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
- 4.09 β
Tino Lettieri (Minnesota Strikers)
- 4.14 β
Krzysztof Sobieski (Pittsburgh Spirit, Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks)
- 4.18 β
Victor Nogueira (Chicago Sting, Cleveland Force, San Diego Sockers)
- 4.21 β
David Brcic (New York Cosmos, Wichita Wings, Pittsburgh Spirit, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
- 4.26 β
Slobo Ilijevski (St. Louis Steamers, Baltimore Blast, St. Louis Storm)
- 4.32 β
P.J. Johns (Cleveland Force, Tacoma Stars, Cleveland Crunch)
- 4.35 β
Jim Gorsek (San Diego Sockers, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
- 4.3972 β
Joe Papaleo (Pittsburgh Spirit, Tacoma Stars, Dallas Sidekicks)
- 4.3979 β
Keith Van Eron (Cincinnati Kids, Wichita Wings, Philadelphia Fever, Baltimore Blast, Las Vegas Americans)
Awardsβ»
Most Valuable Playerβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1979β80 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1980β81 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1981β82 | Steve Zungul, New York and Stan Terlecki, Pittsburgh |
1982β83 | Alan Mayer, San Diego |
1983β84 | Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore |
1984β85 | Steve Zungul, San Diego |
1985β86 | Steve Zungul, San Diego |
1986β87 | Tatu, Dallas |
1987β88 | Erik Rasmussen, Wichita |
1988β89 | Preki, Tacoma |
1989β90 | Tatu, Dallas |
1990β91 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
1991β92 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
Scoring Championβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Fred Grgurev, Philadelphia |
1979β80 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1980β81 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1981β82 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1982β83 | Steve Zungul, New York/Golden Bay |
1983β84 | Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore |
1984β85 | Steve Zungul, San Diego |
1985β86 | Steve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma |
1986β87 | Tatu, Dallas |
1987β88 | Erik Rasmussen, Wichita |
1988β89 | Preki, Tacoma |
1989β90 | Tatu, Dallas |
1990β91 | Tatu, Dallas |
1991β92 | Zoran Karic, Cleveland |
MISL Pass Masterβ»
The Pass Master award was given out to the player with the most assists during the regular season.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Fred Grgurev, Philadelphia |
1979β80 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1980β81 | Jorgen Kristiansen, Wichita |
1981β82 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1982β83 | Stan Stamenkovic, Memphis |
1983β84 | Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore |
1984β85 | Steve Zungul, San Diego |
1985β86 | Steve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma |
1986β87 | Kai Haaskivi, Cleveland |
1987β88 | Preki, Tacoma |
1988β89 | Preki, Tacoma and Chico Borja, Wichita |
1989β90 | Jan Goossens, Kansas City |
1990β91 | Tatu, Dallas |
1991β92 | Zoran Karic, Cleveland |
Defender of the Yearβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1981β82 | Val Tuksa, New York |
1982β83 | Bernie James, Cleveland |
1983β84 | Kim Roentved, Wichita |
1984β85 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
1985β86 | Kim Roentved, Wichita |
1986β87 | Bruce Savage, Baltimore |
1987β88 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
1988β89 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
1989β90 | Wes McLeod, Dallas |
1990β91 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
1991β92 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
Goalkeeper of the Yearβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Paul Hammond, Houston |
1979β80 | Sepp Gantenhammer, Houston |
1980β81 | Enzo Di Pede, Chicago |
1981β82 | Slobo Ilijevski, St. Louis |
1982β83 | ZoltΓ‘n TΓ³th, New York |
1983β84 | Slobo Ilijevski, St. Louis |
1984β85 | Scott Manning, Baltimore |
1985β86 | Keith Van Eron, Baltimore |
1986β87 | Tino Lettieri, Minnesota |
1987β88 | ZoltΓ‘n TΓ³th, San Diego |
1988β89 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
1989β90 | Joe Papaleo, Dallas |
1990β91 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
1991β92 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
Rookie of the Yearβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1979β80 | Jim Sinclair, Buffalo |
1980β81 | Don Ebert, St. Louis |
1981β82 | Germain Iglesias, Buffalo |
1982β83 | Kirk Shermer, Los Angeles |
1983β84 | Kevin Maher, Pittsburgh |
1984β85 | Ali Kazemaini, Cleveland |
1985β86 | Dave Boncek, Kansas City |
1986β87 | John Stollmeyer, Cleveland |
1987β88 | David Doyle, Kansas City |
1988β89 | Rusty Troy, Baltimore |
1989β90 | Terry Brown, St. Louis |
1990β91 | David Banks, San Diego |
1991β92 | Tommy Tanner, Cleveland |
Newcomer of the Yearβ»
This award was given to 'the most outstanding player in his first year of competition in the Major Indoor Soccer League' in order to differentiate it from the Rookie of the Year award.
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1986β87 | Steve Kinsey, Minnesota |
1987β88 | Nenad "Ziggy" Zigante, Wichita |
1988β89 | Domenic Mobilio, Baltimore |
1989β90 | Claudio DeOliviera, St. Louis |
1990β91 | Paul Peschisolido, Kansas City |
Coach of the Yearβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Timo Liekoski, Houston |
1979β80 | Len Bilous, Pittsburgh and Pat McBride, St. Louis |
1980β81 | Don Popovic, New York |
1981β82 | Dave Clements, Denver |
1982β83 | Pat McBride, Kansas City |
1983β84 | Kenny Cooper, Baltimore |
1984β85 | Peter Wall, Los Angeles |
1985β86 | Gordon Jago, Dallas |
1986β87 | Dave Clements, Kansas City |
1987β88 | Ron Newman, San Diego |
1988β89 | Kenny Cooper, Baltimore |
1989β90 | Billy Phillips, Dallas |
1990β91 | Trevor Dawkins, Cleveland |
1991β92 | Gordon Jago, Dallas |
Championship Series Most Valuable Playerβ»
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1978β79 | Shep Messing, New York |
1979β80 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1980β81 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1981β82 | Steve Zungul, New York |
1982β83 | Juli Veee, San Diego |
1983β84 | Scott Manning, Baltimore |
1984β85 | Steve Zungul, San Diego |
1985β86 | Brian Quinn, San Diego |
1986β87 | Tatu, Dallas |
1987β88 | Hugo Perez, San Diego |
1988β89 | Victor Nogueira, San Diego |
1989β90 | Brian Quinn, San Diego |
1990β91 | Ben Collins, San Diego |
1991β92 | Thompson Usiyan, San Diego |
Championship Series Unsung Heroβ»
This award was given to the player 'in the Championship Series whose impact to his team's success was measured by hustle, determination and leadership.'
Year | Winner |
---|---|
1987β88 | George Fernandez, San Diego |
1988β89 | Paul Dougherty, San Diego |
1989β90 | Paul Wright, San Diego |
1990β91 | Glenn Carbonara, San Diego |
1991β92 | Kevin Crow, San Diego |
Prominent playersβ»
![]() | This list of "famous"/"notable" people has no clear inclusion or exclusion criteria. Please help improve this article by defining clear inclusion criteria to contain only subjects that fit those criteria. (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Ralph Black
Chico Borja
Andy Chapman
Paul Child
Fernando Clavijo
Dan Counce
Kevin Crow
Steve David
Rick Davis
Enzo Di Pede
Daryl Doran
Don Ebert
Pat Ercoli
Andranik Eskandarian
Joey Fink
Jan Goossens
Karl-Heinz Granitza
Gerry Gray
Fred Grgurev
Kai Haaskivi
Slobo Ilijevski
Tommy Jenkins
Erhardt Kapp
Zoran KariΔ
Michael King
Jorgen Kristensen
Mickey Kydes
Doc Lawson
Tino Lettieri
Mark Liveric
Dave MacWilliams
Scott Manning
Pato Margetic
Hector Marinaro
Alan Mayer
Wes McLeod
Dale Mitchell
George Nanchoff
Victor Nogueira
Steve Pecher
Hugo Perez
Ljupko PetroviΔ
Preki
Erik Rasmussen
Kim Roentved
Carl Rose
Bruce Savage
Branko Ε egota
Stan Stamenkovic
John Stremlau
Mike Sweeney
Tatu
Stan Terlecki
ZoltΓ‘n TΓ³th
Thompson Usiyan
Carl Valentine
Juli Veee
Peter Ward
Jean Willrich
Steve Zungul
Television and radio coverageβ»
The MISL made inroads on national television in 1982β83. While the spring would see the end of the league's two-year deal with the USA Network, CBS would broadcast a playoff game live from Cleveland on May 7 that drew an estimated four million viewers. One game during the 1983β84 season was televised on CBS (Game 3 of the championship series on June 2) as well.
1984β85 would be the final year the MISL would have games aired on network television, CBS broadcast Game 4 of the championship series live on May 25.
Referencesβ»
- ^ MISL History @ MISL A Look Back
- ^ Improvisation Lies at the Heart of Arena Football, William N. Wallace, The New York Times, May 9, 1988
- ^ "A good idea...on paper". The Florida Times-Union. May 12, 2001. Archived from the original on June 23, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2009.
- ^ ArenaFan Rewriting The History Books: Test Game Date Revealed To Be Wrong (April 30, 2012). ArenaFan.com quoting Chicago Sun-Times and other sources.
- ^ "MISL awards Denver expansion franchise". Eugene Register-Guard. June 26, 1987. p. 4C. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ "MISL team folds". Wilmington Morning Star. November 6, 1987. p. 2B. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ^ MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 44.
- ^ Official MISL Guide 1989-90. 1989. p. 44.
- ^ Sarni, Jim (May 25, 1985). "Blast For Soccer Fans: CBS Airs MISL Game". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
- Leary, Dan; Griffin, John (1987). MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. New York: Major Indoor Soccer League Communications Department.
- Griffin, John, ed. (1989). MISL Official Guide 1989-90. Overland Park, Kansas: Major Indoor Soccer League Communications Department.