Moore and Vermes Inducted Into US Soccer Hall of Fame

The induction of 2 more pioneer players of  MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER have been selected to the United States Hall of Fame. Although the American Hall no longer exists in a building form, the ceremonial induction takes place in conjunction with other soccer events.

 

JOE-MAX MOORE

 

Caps: 100  Goals: 24

Clubs: Saarbrucken (Germany), FC Nurnberg (Germany), New England Revolution (USA), Everton (England)

 

The son of a former owner of the NASL's Tulsa Roughnecks, Joe-Max Moore was destined to be part of the American soccer scene from childhood. By the time he was old enough for professional football, there wasn't the caliber in place for his talents. Moore moved to Europe and endured the struggles of an American making it in German football.

 

He did surprising well, and when the MLS was assigning designated stars to the inaugural franchises, Moore landed with New England.  He stayed long enough to score at a rate of better than a goal every 2 games.

 

He moved to Everton in the Premier League and made over 50 appearances. He finished out his career with a return to New England for one last season. He was art of 3 US World Cup Teams (1994-2002)

Joe-Max Moore's 1996 Inaugural New England Revolution jersey (ISA photo)

Moore in action in the inaugural 1996 MLS season wearing the above shirt.

(photo ISA)

 

PETER VERMES

 

Caps: 67 Goals: 11

Clubs: New Jersey Eagles (USA), Raba Eto (Hungary), Volendam (Holland), Tampa Bay Rowdies (USA), Figueres (Spain), New York Fever (USA), New York MetroStars (USA), Colorado Rapids (USA), Kansas City (USA)

 

Having to earn his living as a traveler for the early part of his career made Peter Vermes ripe for football management. A very capable striker who became a utility player based on his determination and diversity.

 

A key player for the USA at the 1990 and 1994 World Cup, Vermes was a Captain in Colorado's(1997) and Kansas City's(2000) MLS Cup runs playing as a defender. The latter resulting in the MLS Championship victory.

(photo ISA)

Vermes wear the above jersey as MLS Champions.

 

It seems the next generation of inductees may just include players who only have played in MLS. The importance of these traveling pioneers cannot be measured in mere statistics, but rather the compliments of their peers.

 

Both these players are honored by the INTERNATIONAL SOCCER ARCHIVES with their jerseys.

MLS to EPL Pipeline Leads to Unique Record

As two significant entities celebrate their anniversaries, one common thread pulls them together.

The Football Association of England is 150 years old while the United States Open Cup (Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup) is 100 years old.

 

The advancement of players from the 17 year old MLS (Major League Soccer) is a viable route for many players to the English Premier League. Arguably the most popular league in the world, the EPL has recruited several dozen players from North America's top league - including Brek Shea, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Geoff Cameron and Clint Dempsey.

 

 

Espinosa wins the Cup with Wigan

 

Last year's Open Cup Champions - Sporting Kansas City lost Kai Kamara, on loan to Norwich City, for half the MLS season. Honduran International Roger Espinosa (pictured above) was signed outright by Wigan Athletic.

 

Espinosa accomplished the unique feat of winning the U.S. Open Cup followed by winning the F.A. Cup in successive seasons.

Espinosa's game-worn shoes from the 2012 Cup Final

 

To our knowledge, only one player - Freddie Ljungberg - has won both the FA Cup (2002 Arsenal) and the US Open Cup (2009 Seattle), although not in consecutive seasons.

There is a short list of pre-war players who have participated in the English F.A. Cup.

None of them have won both the US Open Cup and the FA Cup.

There are several who played in a Scottish Cup Final and the US Cup Final. None have won both.

In the modern era, John Harkes and Kasey Keller have both won the English League Cup and the Open Cup. Harkes was also a runner up in the FA Cup with Sheffield Wednesday.

 

 

Espinosa in action for Sporting KC wearing "the shoes"

 

As more MLS talent goes overseas, it is likely that more of them may win a medal or two. but for now, Roger Espinosa's rare double stands out. Congratulations to him !

 

 

N.Y. Cosmos Championship Ring Sells at Auction

The 1977 Championship ring of New York Cosmos owner Steve Ross went on the auction block on October 4th and sold for $6,270.

Ross, who was a titan in the business world, was the CEO of Warner Communications when it purchased the NASL franchise for $1 from its original 10 owners in 1971. He went on to develop financial concepts for American Express, video game icon Atari, DC Comics and MTV, HBO and Nickleodeon television among others.

He eventually rolled his empire under the TIME-WARNER corporation label. However, for soccer fans, it was his visionary support of the world's game that brought Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto and Giorgio Chinaglia to play in America. 

The 10k gold ring with an emerald stone center was made by famed jewelers Jostein. The ring features the insignia of the NASL, the N.Y. Cosmos and a facsimile signature of Pele on the inner band. 

Pele, playing his final season in the NASL, was the catalyst for the club winning a Championship before the legend's retirement in 1977. 

The ring, as an artifact from a business tycoon, sports builder and pop culture icon, is paramount to the N.Y. Yankees' George Steinbrenner, the Chicago Bears' George Halas or  the Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie.

On The Brink of Destiny: Orlando City

Since the 1980's Orlando, Florida has been the destination to Disney World - the dream vacation for international travelers. The central Florida area was also a destination for the world's best soccer team as the Citrus Bowl hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 1996 Olympics and the 1998 MLS All-Star Game.

On a smaller level, Orlando has had incarnations of lesser know clubs flirting with fame. The most successful of these was the USL (formerly USISL) Orlando Lions of the early 1990's. Finishing both the 1992 and 1993 seasons with the best league record, they fell short in the play-offs - then known as the "Sizzling Six". 

(Official Match Program from the 1993 USL Championship - ISA Collection)

The club honed its skills by playing some of the best European clubs money could buy including Bayer Leverkusen which visited in 4 successive years to Florida. The Orlando club featured several collegiate and pro journeymen of American soccer.

(Orlando Lions side that faced Bayer Leverkusen - ISA Collection)

The 1993 Championship, played in Daytona Beach's Municipal Stadium, was won by the Greensboro Dynamo defeating Orlando 2:1. The other play-off finalists were San Jose, Dallas, Atlanta and Los Angeles. Just as they are today, Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers played in APSL, a level just above Orlando but not withstanding of the USISL's caliber of skill.

(A 1993 USISL Championship jersey monogrammed with the Final - ISA Collection)

Orlando will play for the USL Championship once again. This time they face Harrisburg City on the 3rd of September at the Citrus Bowl. The Citrus Bowl, the venue for so much international soccer, will host the match. About 10,000 fans are expected to see the game live which is on par with the numbers following MLS and surpassing NASL (2nd Division) attendance.

It is no secret that the ambitions of Orlando City is to join Major League Soccer and be showcased at the highest club level in North America and perhaps more.  With Orlando's large Hispanic population, it could very well appeal to MLS's marketing strategy. 

(Orlando Lions 1993 USISL runners up medal - ISA Collection)

Only time will tell if Orlando will reach its destiny at the club level. A win in the final would be a step in the right direction.

Birth of The Cosmos: New York's 40th Anniversary - Part 1

The International Soccer Archives series chronicling the 40th Anniversary of the New York Cosmos features several "firsts"including artifacts and interviews.

THE FIRST TROPHY

Arguably the most famous club in American soccer history, the New York Cosmos, still carry the prestige of international respect around the world. The team that played its last league game over a quarter century ago remains, to some, a cherished memory. To others, a mere curiosity. 

Recently the club has attempted to resurrect itself from the ruins of the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the giant shadow that it cast in the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Last year the I.S.A. was invited to visit the current Cosmos offices located in the heart of New York City. As historians we had the opportunity to assess and identify the collection of memorabilia acquired during the club's 15 seasons of competition. Considering their short existence, the team amassed a wealth of trophies and awards during that brief period of time which included 5 NASL Championships and 2 runners up spots.

In total, the I.S.A. examined over 300 artifacts from player jerseys to match programs. The items from the Cosmos many world tours were by far the most engaging. These included a pair of engraved swords (from Spain), a hand-carved wooden female bust (Africa) and a quartz clock inside a tree trunk (Japan).

However, the most mysterious piece had to be a small silver bowl which seemed to have lost its luster. Made by the TOWLE Silversmith Company (Mass.), best known as the official silverware pattern maker for the U.S. Embassies world-wide, it stands just 5 inches tall and 8 inches in width.

(photo: New York Governor's Cup. International Soccer Archives copyright 2010)

Although it is generally believed that the New York Cosmos won their first trophy in 1972, the legend has them winning another NASL competition in their inaugural season. 

Turning back the clock to the 1971 Cosmos,  the NASL's newest club became the second team in New York State. The first New Yorkers were the Rochester Lancers - the defending NASL Champions.  

In honor of being the only state to have two franchises in professional soccer at the time, New York Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller decreed an inter-state competition. The Governor,  a former soccer star at Dartmouth College, donated a silver decoration bowl to the annual winner between the Empire State teams. 

The Lancer and the Cosmos met 4 times during the 1971 NASL season. The Cosmos' results of those four meetings were as follows:

May 30 @ Rochester 2:2 tie (goals: Randy Horton - 2)

June 9 @ New York 4:2 win (Horton, Willie Mfum - 3)

July 10 @ Rochester 2:3 loss (Charlie McCully, Jorge Siega)

August 2 @ New York 3:2 win (Barry Mahy, McCully, Mfum)

The significance of the final match in the series was lost until later years. Playing their home games in legendary Yankee Stadium, the usual 4,000 to 6,000 were swelled to 20,000 by the international exhibition match that would follow the Cosmos-Lancers game. Cali of Colombia met Santos of Brazil - led by a future Cosmos star by the name of Pele. He had recently retired from the National Team of Brazil and was now touring the world with the only club team for which he had ever played.

Although the the awarding of the Governor's Cup to the Cosmos was overshadowed by the presence of Pele, it was reported in a small ethnic newspaper called the Ukranian Weekly. This was largely due to the fact that most of the inaugural season Cosmos came from the German-American soccer league. Both Charlie McCully and Willie Mfum played for the Ukranians in that circuit.

The New York Cosmos would retain the Governor's Cup trophy in their Championship year of 1972. They would loose possession of the cup in 1973 and 1974, although it was by toss of the coin the first time.

(photo: 1973 Rochester Lancers. International Soccer Archives copyright 2011)

Rochester would parade the Governor's Cup (above) as the league and the Cosmos grew in prominence and popularity. In 1975 the Cosmos did the impossible and signed the great Pele to a multi-million dollar contract. The NASL divisional schedule and conference alignment made the pairings for this competition  obsolete. The Cosmos took the final series two games to three in 1975. Although there is not official proclamation, the tiny cup is also the first trophy collected by Pele with the New York Cosmos. 

In 1974 Governor Rockefeller would become the 41st Vice-President of the United States. In 1977 the Cosmos would win their 2nd NASL Championship in  Pele's final season. The Rochester Lancers would play their last game in 1980. By then the world famous Cosmos would boast of an international all-star line-up and tour every continent collecting gifts and memories to last a lifetime. 

World Cup Fever Grips Bonhams Football Auction

Bonhams Auctions (Chester, England) held their Sporting Memorabilia sale in conjunction with the first week of the 2010 World Cup. It was no surpise with the frenzy the global tournament reaches, that bidding was intense.

As expected, the England based auction company featured items from their finest moment - the 1966 World Cup - which the nation hosted and won. Topping the list was Geoff Hurst's red England shirt. Although it was only his spare, and never worn, it fetched 8,880 Pound Stirling (approximatly 1 Pound = $1.50) or about $13,138.00 US dollars.

Next in line was from the international career of Welsh legend - John Charles. His 1957-58 season winners medal with Italian club Juventus also brought 8,880.00 Pounds ($13,138). 

Former Scottish International and Newcastle United player Jimmy Scoular's career,   World Cup items, including David Beckham, were highlighted along with these medals and jerseys:

- 1966 England World Cup jersey - Ian Callaghan L2,280 ($3,375)

- 1966 West Germany World Cup jersey - Siegfred Held - L2,520 ($3,730)

- 1952 N. Ireland jersey - Danny Blanchflower - L1,740 (2,575)

- 1986 England World Cup jersey - Kenny Sansom - L1,020 ($1,509)

- 1998 England Team jacket - David Beckham - L264 ($391)

- 1955 Newcastle's F.A. Cup medal - J. Scoular - L6,960 ($10,297)

- 1951 Newcastle's F.A. Cup medal - Fairbrother - L6,000 ($8,877)

- 1984 Watford F.A. Cup runner-up medal - Les Taylor - L3,960 ($5,859)

Other artifacts from autographs to game programs filled the catalog including a 1966 hand-signed England World Cup Team photograph - 3,280 Pounds ($4,854), and a 1937 Scottish Cup match program between Celtic and Aberdeen L420  ($622).

Of interest to American soccer history were the USA jersey swapped with Jimmy Scoular in Scotland's 1952 match with United States L816 ($1,208) and the jersey of Ramon Mifflin who appeared for Team USA in the 1976 Bicentennial Cup against England L 720 ($1,066).

Also proving that paper is not pulp - An autographed poster of PELE's Farewell Game from 1977 rang up L744 ($1,102) and a game program from Liverpool's 1964 Tour match vs. the San Francisco Select Team hammered at L 240 ($355).

Bonhams is associated with Bonham & Buttefields of California. They are expected to feature more international sporting memorabilia in the future.

Noel Lemon Collection - Part 2

The array of soccer history that has been added to the I.S.A. Collection is rich indeed. The silver salver presented to the US National Team by the Colombian club "Millionarios" was made for the very first Marboro Cup in 1987.

The silverware (above) was finely crafted and engraved. The edging depicts the 11 districts that make up the Republic of Colombia.

Also included in the collection are several National and club penants that were exchanged before some of the international and friendly matches. The large satin banners like Peru (below), Colombia and Juventus are very ornate and colorful.

Lemon's organization - Mundial International Ltd., was a catalyst in expanding international tours and was the first to bring the Colombian National Team to play England at Wembley Stadium.

Mundial also facilitated the first tour for Peru on European soil. As a token to commemorate the match between Holland and Peru in October 1998, this ornate silver and gem stone statue (below) was created.

More in Part 3.

FIFA World Cup Winner Medal Up For Auction

The 1950 FIFA World Cup winner's medal awarded to Juan Alberto Schiaffino (1925-2002) was put to auction recently. The solid gold medal with ring suspension was given to the Uruguay squad members for defeating host Brazil in the 1950 World Cup final. It was offered on Ebay, the online auction site.

In addition to the FIFA medal, the auction contained several key items reflecting Schiaffino's duel international appearances - 20 caps for Uruguay and 4 for his adopted Italy.

The collection includes awards from his successful club career with CA Penarol before transferring to Italian giants AC Milan and later AS Roma.

The lot, which also included a commemorative Rolex watch engraved for services with Roma, did not meet the minimum bid of $150,000 USD or the "buy it now" option of $200,000 USD.

Bornstein's Boots - A Boost for Haiti

Sometimes a kick is just a kick, a smile is just a smile ... but in the case of USA international Jonathan Bornstein - the fundamentals of both worlds apply.

Recently, Bornstein offered up his game-worn soccer shoes to raise money for the American Red Cross and their humanitarian aid to earthquake ravaged Haiti.

The boots he wore (above) while scoring against Costa Rica on October 14, 2009 not only won the match for the USA, but allowed Honduras to also qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Jonathan kindly autographed the pair of shoes (above) which were sold on ebay, the online auction site. They drew 51 bids and finished with a final price of $1,725 USD - all which will go directly to the Haiti cause.

It is not often that such well publized memorabilia can make it into the hands of the general public. However, this item is well documented and a great addition to any international soccer collection.

Welcome ... To All New Things

As the footballing world changes, so does the archiving of its history. We have found that the vitual museum has reached its maximum capacity. This blog will serve as the news center for the I.S.A. and its progress.

We welcome you and your feedback.