American League of Professional Football
Encyclopedia
American League of Professional Football was the first professional soccer league in the United States
, existing for one season in 1894. It was also one of the earliest professional leagues in the world. It was created by the owners of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs
, partly to fill their dormant stadiums in the winter months and partly for publicity reasons to keep their baseball seasons visible to the public during the off-season.
teams that played a total of 23 games. Although the club owners encouraged attendance by setting ticket prices low, typically 25 cents, the turn out was light averaging about 500 spectators—by comparison, average crowds in the National League that year ranged from as much as about 6000 (New York Giants
) to as few as about 600. Baltimore Orioles F. C. regularly attracted crowds as large as 8,000 for some matches. However, other club owners accused Baltimore of illegally employing British players, and U.S. immigration officials soon began to investigate the allegations. At the same time, with rumors circulating that a new baseball league was being formed, the club owners became convinced that the soccer league was a distraction from the serious business of possible competition from a new, rival league. This was combined with a move by the American Football Association
to ban players from the ALPF from playing in the AFA. This came as the AFA saw the ALPF encroaching on its territory. The combination of these new competitive pressures and the ongoing immigration investigation scuppered the planned 1895 season and the League itself.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, existing for one season in 1894. It was also one of the earliest professional leagues in the world. It was created by the owners of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
, partly to fill their dormant stadiums in the winter months and partly for publicity reasons to keep their baseball seasons visible to the public during the off-season.
Schedule
The 1894 schedule included six teams sponsored by National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
teams that played a total of 23 games. Although the club owners encouraged attendance by setting ticket prices low, typically 25 cents, the turn out was light averaging about 500 spectators—by comparison, average crowds in the National League that year ranged from as much as about 6000 (New York Giants
New York Giants (soccer)
New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894...
) to as few as about 600. Baltimore Orioles F. C. regularly attracted crowds as large as 8,000 for some matches. However, other club owners accused Baltimore of illegally employing British players, and U.S. immigration officials soon began to investigate the allegations. At the same time, with rumors circulating that a new baseball league was being formed, the club owners became convinced that the soccer league was a distraction from the serious business of possible competition from a new, rival league. This was combined with a move by the American Football Association
American Football Association
American Football Association was the first attempt in the United States to form an organizing soccer body. It is best known for being the second oldest sports league to form, behind Major League Baseball in 1876, as well as being the oldest soccer league in the United States. The Association was...
to ban players from the ALPF from playing in the AFA. This came as the AFA saw the ALPF encroaching on its territory. The combination of these new competitive pressures and the ongoing immigration investigation scuppered the planned 1895 season and the League itself.
League standings
| Place | Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brooklyn Bridegrooms | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 10 |
| 2 | Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles F.C. Baltimore Orioles F.C. were a soccer club based in Baltimore, Maryland. The club was formed in 1893 and in 1895 the club folded. They were sponsored by the National League 19th century Baltimore Orioles baseball club. They played in the shortly lived league of the American League of Professional... |
4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 8 |
| 3 | Boston Beaneaters | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 8 |
| 4 | New York Giants New York Giants (soccer) New York Giants was a name used by three different New York soccer teams. Two of these teams were associated with the New York Giants baseball franchise. The first team that used the name played in the American League of Professional Football in 1894... |
6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 4 |
| 5 | Philadelphia Phillies | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 37 | 4 |
| 6 | Washington Senators | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 2 |