Baltimore Stars
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars were a professional American football
team which played in the United States Football League
in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of them.
season. They played their home games at Veterans Stadium
(the "Vet"), compiled the league's best regular season record (15-3), and made it to the 1983 USFL championship game before losing. The 1983 squad's "Doghouse Defense" allowed only 204 points in an 18 game season—the least in the history of the league. They were led by fourth-year QB Chuck Fusina
(1978 Heisman Trophy
runner-up), fifth-year WR Scott Fitzkee
, Rookie HB Kelvin Bryant
of UNC
, Rookie OT Irv Eatman
of UCLA, Rookie LB Sam Mills
, and second-year S Scott Woerner
. The team also featured TSN all-star rookie punter Sean Landeta
.
The Stars were able to defeat the preseason favorites to win the 1983 title—George Allen's Chicago Blitz
—by withstanding 7 turnovers and coming back from 21 down in the fourth quarter to win 44-38 in overtime. In the league title game, the Stars were edged out by Jim Stanley
's Michigan Panthers
, 24-22. Just as they had against the Blitz, the Stars opened the game sluggishly, but finished with a flourish, after allowing the Panthers to carry a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Stars' solid season led some to suggest that they could have been a fairly competitive NFL team, along with Michigan and Chicago. The fact this comparison was even being made gave the USFL much-needed credibility.
season, but were forced to relocate postseason home games to Franklin Field
due to a conflict with the Philadelphia Phillies
. The Stars roared through the regular season with the league best (16-2) record, and routed George Allen's Arizona Wranglers
, 23-3 for the league title. The Stars played Tampa Bay at Wembley Stadium in an exhibition game on July 21, 1984.
(New Jersey Generals
), voted to move play to the fall after the 1985 season. Although the Stars had a strong following, Tanenbaum knew he couldn't hope to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles
and moved the team to Baltimore
. Unfortunately, he was unable to get a lease for Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
. As a condition of the settlement between the city and the NFL's Colts
after the Colts moved to Indianapolis
, no pro football team could play at Memorial Stadium until 1986. Tanenbaum was forced to play at the University of Maryland
's Byrd Stadium
in College Park
, 40 miles south of Baltimore and in fact closer to Washington
. Meanwhile, the team continued to practice in Philadelphia.
At least in part due to all the moving, the Stars struggled in 1985. Still, they qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. However, they managed to upend the favored Generals and Stallions in successive weeks to reach the title game. Once there the Stars again won the USFL title beating the Bobby Hebert
-led Oakland Invaders
in what was seen as a rematch of the first USFL title game.
As it turned out, this was the last USFL game ever played. On July 29, 1986, a federal grand jury found in favor of the USFL in its antitrust suit against the NFL. However, it only awarded the USFL a dollar in damages (trebled to $3 under antitrust law). The league's abandonment of Philadelphia, the nation's fourth-largest market, was one factor in the adverse jury award. The league suspended operations a day later, never to return.
The Stars won 41 of 54 regular season games and 7 of 8 post-season affairs. For the team's entire run, they were coached by Jim Mora (Sr)
, who later became a head coach in the NFL
for the New Orleans Saints
and Indianapolis Colts
. Mora was actually the Stars' second choice; Tannenbaum originally hired Pittsburgh Steelers
defensive coordinator George Perles
, but Perles opted instead to take the open job at his alma mater, Michigan State
.
Carl Peterson
, who later became the President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Chiefs
, served as the team's General Manager
for all three seasons.
Sean Landeta
and Sam Mills
both also had successful careers in the NFL. Landeta was one of the top punters in the NFL for two decades, and was the last former USFL player still active in the NFL at the time of his retirement. Mills had a sterling career with the Saints (alongside Mora) and the Carolina Panthers
. The Panthers retired Mills' #51 after his death from cancer in 2005.
Bart Oates
, drafted by the New York Giants in 1985, went on to win three Super Bowl rings throughout his NFL career. He won two with the Giants in 1986 and 1990, and one with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. Oates was selected to five Pro Bowls during his career and to the UPI All-NFC team three times. He was extremely durable, starting 125 consecutive games during his Giants career.
, 1406 (1984), Kelvin Bryant
, 1207 (1985), Kelvin Bryant
Receiving Yards: 731 (1983), Scott Fitzkee
, 895 (1984), Scott Fitzkee
, 882 (1985), Scott Fitzkee
Passing Yards: 2718 (1983), Chuck Fusina
, 3837 (1984), Chuck Fusina
, 3496 (1985), Chuck Fusina
| colspan="6" align="center" | Philadelphia Stars
|-
|1983 || 15 || 3 || 0 || 1st Atlantic || Won Semifinal (Chicago
)
Lost USFL Championship (Michigan
)
|-
|1984 || 16 || 2 || 0 || 1st EC Atlantic || Won Quarterfinal (New Jersey
)
Won Semifinal (Birmingham
)
Won USFL Championship (Arizona
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Baltimore Stars
|-
|1985 || 10 || 7 || 1 || 4th EC || Won Quarterfinal (New Jersey
)
Won Semifinal (Birmingham
)
Won USFL Championship (Oakland
)
|-
!Totals || 48 || 13 || 1
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team which played in the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
in the mid-1980s. They were owned by real estate magnate Myles Tanenbaum. They were the league's dominant team, playing in all three championship games and winning two of them.
1983 Season
The Stars began in Philadelphia in the 19831983 in sports
1983 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, United States** Women's overall season champion: Tamara McKinney, United States-American football:...
season. They played their home games at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
(the "Vet"), compiled the league's best regular season record (15-3), and made it to the 1983 USFL championship game before losing. The 1983 squad's "Doghouse Defense" allowed only 204 points in an 18 game season—the least in the history of the league. They were led by fourth-year QB Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
(1978 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
runner-up), fifth-year WR Scott Fitzkee
Scott Fitzkee
Scott Austin Fitzkee is a former professional American football wide receiver. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and starred at Penn State University in 1978...
, Rookie HB Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin LeRoy Bryant is a former American football running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-College career:...
of UNC
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, Rookie OT Irv Eatman
Irv Eatman
Irving Humphrey Eatman is a former American football offensive tackle, who played professionally for 2 seasons in the United States Football League and 11 seasons with the National Football League ....
of UCLA, Rookie LB Sam Mills
Sam Mills
Samuel Davis "Sam" Mills, Jr. was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.-Early life:...
, and second-year S Scott Woerner
Scott Woerner
Scott Allison Woerner is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League for the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs...
. The team also featured TSN all-star rookie punter Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
.
The Stars were able to defeat the preseason favorites to win the 1983 title—George Allen's Chicago Blitz
Chicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
—by withstanding 7 turnovers and coming back from 21 down in the fourth quarter to win 44-38 in overtime. In the league title game, the Stars were edged out by Jim Stanley
Jim Stanley
James L. Stanley is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Oklahoma State University–Stillwater from 1973 to 1978, compiling a record of 35–31–2. Stanley was also the head coach of the USFL's Michigan Panthers in 1983 and 1984, their own...
's Michigan Panthers
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
, 24-22. Just as they had against the Blitz, the Stars opened the game sluggishly, but finished with a flourish, after allowing the Panthers to carry a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Stars' solid season led some to suggest that they could have been a fairly competitive NFL team, along with Michigan and Chicago. The fact this comparison was even being made gave the USFL much-needed credibility.
1984 Season
They remained in Philadelphia for the 19841984 in sports
1984 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine Skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Erika Hess, Switzerland...
season, but were forced to relocate postseason home games to Franklin Field
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
due to a conflict with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The Stars roared through the regular season with the league best (16-2) record, and routed George Allen's Arizona Wranglers
Arizona Wranglers
The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:...
, 23-3 for the league title. The Stars played Tampa Bay at Wembley Stadium in an exhibition game on July 21, 1984.
1985 Season
The league's owners, led by Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
(New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
), voted to move play to the fall after the 1985 season. Although the Stars had a strong following, Tanenbaum knew he couldn't hope to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and moved the team to Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. Unfortunately, he was unable to get a lease for Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
. As a condition of the settlement between the city and the NFL's Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
after the Colts moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, no pro football team could play at Memorial Stadium until 1986. Tanenbaum was forced to play at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
's Byrd Stadium
Byrd Stadium
Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium , is an outdoor athletic stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. It is the home of the Maryland Terrapins football and lacrosse teams, which compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
, 40 miles south of Baltimore and in fact closer to Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Meanwhile, the team continued to practice in Philadelphia.
At least in part due to all the moving, the Stars struggled in 1985. Still, they qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. However, they managed to upend the favored Generals and Stallions in successive weeks to reach the title game. Once there the Stars again won the USFL title beating the Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
-led Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
in what was seen as a rematch of the first USFL title game.
As it turned out, this was the last USFL game ever played. On July 29, 1986, a federal grand jury found in favor of the USFL in its antitrust suit against the NFL. However, it only awarded the USFL a dollar in damages (trebled to $3 under antitrust law). The league's abandonment of Philadelphia, the nation's fourth-largest market, was one factor in the adverse jury award. The league suspended operations a day later, never to return.
Legacy
The Stars are widely acknowledged to have been the best team to see the field in USFL history.The Stars won 41 of 54 regular season games and 7 of 8 post-season affairs. For the team's entire run, they were coached by Jim Mora (Sr)
Jim E. Mora
James Earnest Mora is the former head coach of the USFL's Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars and the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. He played football at Occidental College where he was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. His son Jim L...
, who later became a head coach in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. Mora was actually the Stars' second choice; Tannenbaum originally hired Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
defensive coordinator George Perles
George Perles
George J. Perles is a former American football player and coach. He was a defensive line coach, defensive coordinator, and assistant head coach for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972–1981 and the head coach at Michigan State University from 1983–1994...
, but Perles opted instead to take the open job at his alma mater, Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans
The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white...
.
Carl Peterson
Carl Peterson
Carl D. Peterson grew up in Long Beach, California, and is an alumnus of UCLA. He is best known as the former president, general manager, and chief executive officer of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
, who later became the President/General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, served as the team's General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
for all three seasons.
Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
and Sam Mills
Sam Mills
Samuel Davis "Sam" Mills, Jr. was an American football linebacker who played twelve seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.-Early life:...
both also had successful careers in the NFL. Landeta was one of the top punters in the NFL for two decades, and was the last former USFL player still active in the NFL at the time of his retirement. Mills had a sterling career with the Saints (alongside Mora) and the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. The Panthers retired Mills' #51 after his death from cancer in 2005.
Bart Oates
Bart Oates
Bart Steven Oates is a former American football player in the National Football League for the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. He played center for the Giants from 1985-93 and with the 49ers from 1994-95...
, drafted by the New York Giants in 1985, went on to win three Super Bowl rings throughout his NFL career. He won two with the Giants in 1986 and 1990, and one with the San Francisco 49ers in 1994. Oates was selected to five Pro Bowls during his career and to the UPI All-NFC team three times. He was extremely durable, starting 125 consecutive games during his Giants career.
Single season leaders
Rushing Yards: 1440 (1983), Kelvin BryantKelvin Bryant
Kelvin LeRoy Bryant is a former American football running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-College career:...
, 1406 (1984), Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin LeRoy Bryant is a former American football running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-College career:...
, 1207 (1985), Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin Bryant
Kelvin LeRoy Bryant is a former American football running back in the National Football League and the United States Football League.-College career:...
Receiving Yards: 731 (1983), Scott Fitzkee
Scott Fitzkee
Scott Austin Fitzkee is a former professional American football wide receiver. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and starred at Penn State University in 1978...
, 895 (1984), Scott Fitzkee
Scott Fitzkee
Scott Austin Fitzkee is a former professional American football wide receiver. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and starred at Penn State University in 1978...
, 882 (1985), Scott Fitzkee
Scott Fitzkee
Scott Austin Fitzkee is a former professional American football wide receiver. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and starred at Penn State University in 1978...
Passing Yards: 2718 (1983), Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
, 3837 (1984), Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
, 3496 (1985), Chuck Fusina
Chuck Fusina
Charles Anthony Fusina is a former professional American football quarterback. He played in both the National Football League and United States Football League and was an All-American and Maxwell Award winner at Penn State University in 1978.-Professional football:At 6'1" 195-lb., Fusina was a...
Season-by-season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Philadelphia Stars
|-
|1983 || 15 || 3 || 0 || 1st Atlantic || Won Semifinal (Chicago
Chicago Blitz
The Chicago Blitz were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.- Team history :...
)
Lost USFL Championship (Michigan
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League in the mid-1980s.-Team history:The Michigan Panthers were named as a charter member of the United States Football League on May 11, 1982....
)
|-
|1984 || 16 || 2 || 0 || 1st EC Atlantic || Won Quarterfinal (New Jersey
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
)
Won Semifinal (Birmingham
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field...
)
Won USFL Championship (Arizona
Arizona Wranglers
The Arizona Wranglers were a professional American Football team in the United States Football League in the mid 1980s. They played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, a suburb of Phoenix.-Founding:...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Baltimore Stars
|-
|1985 || 10 || 7 || 1 || 4th EC || Won Quarterfinal (New Jersey
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
)
Won Semifinal (Birmingham
Birmingham Stallions
The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field...
)
Won USFL Championship (Oakland
Oakland Invaders
Oakland Invaders was a professional American football team that played in the United States Football League from 1983 through 1985.-In reaction to the Raiders relocating to Los Angeles:...
)
|-
!Totals || 48 || 13 || 1
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
External links
- http://www.remembertheusfl.8m.com/teams/stars.html