John Abe
Encyclopedia
John Abe is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the American Professional Soccer League
and National Professional Soccer League.
Born in Germany to an American military father and a German mother, Abe moved to Baltimore, Maryland when he was thirteen. He graduated from Northern High School
before attending Essex Community College where he was a two-time junior college All American. In 1981, the Baltimore Blast
drafted Abe but did not sign him. Abe then spent five years working as a bank teller.
In 1988, Abe signed with the Maryland Bays
of the newly created American Soccer League
. He remained with the Bays through the 1991 season and scored the game winning penalty kick in the 1990 APSL Championship game against the San Francisco Blackhawks. In the fall of 1988, he moved indoors with the Hershey Impact
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. In 1991, the Impact moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and became the Harrisburg Heat
. Abe was named the first ever captain of the Heat but after just two season in Harrisburg, the team released Abe after they could not agree on contract terms. On November 23, 1993, Abe signed with the Baltimore Spirit. In 1995, he played his last season of professional soccer with the Albany Alleycats
of the USISL. In 2001 Abe was named to the Harrisburg Heat All Decade team (1991–2001). Abe currently lives in Harrisburg, works for the Pennsylvania State Education Association and coaches youth soccer in Central Pennsylvania. Abe has his USSF National "B" License.
He was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 2000.
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and National Professional Soccer League.
Born in Germany to an American military father and a German mother, Abe moved to Baltimore, Maryland when he was thirteen. He graduated from Northern High School
Northern High School (Baltimore)
Northern High School was a high school in the Baltimore City Public Schools system.In 1997 the administration issued a wave of mass suspensions to members of the student body to try to curb discipline issues....
before attending Essex Community College where he was a two-time junior college All American. In 1981, the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast
The name Baltimore Blast has been used by two different indoor soccer teams:*Baltimore Blast , the original team that played in the first Major Indoor Soccer League...
drafted Abe but did not sign him. Abe then spent five years working as a bank teller.
In 1988, Abe signed with the Maryland Bays
Maryland Bays
The Maryland Bays were an inaugural franchise of the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1988.They were based in Catonsville, Maryland, and played their games at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL...
of the newly created American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. He remained with the Bays through the 1991 season and scored the game winning penalty kick in the 1990 APSL Championship game against the San Francisco Blackhawks. In the fall of 1988, he moved indoors with the Hershey Impact
Hershey Impact
The Hershey Impact was an indoor soccer club based in Hershey, Pennsylvania that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team played its home games at the Hersheypark Arena for all of its 3 seasons.-Staff & Ownership:...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association. In 1991, the Impact moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and became the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
. Abe was named the first ever captain of the Heat but after just two season in Harrisburg, the team released Abe after they could not agree on contract terms. On November 23, 1993, Abe signed with the Baltimore Spirit. In 1995, he played his last season of professional soccer with the Albany Alleycats
Albany Alleycats
The Albany Alleycats was a soccer club in Albany, New York that competed in the United Soccer Leagues from 1995 to 1999. The club became the New York Capital District Alleycats in 1997...
of the USISL. In 2001 Abe was named to the Harrisburg Heat All Decade team (1991–2001). Abe currently lives in Harrisburg, works for the Pennsylvania State Education Association and coaches youth soccer in Central Pennsylvania. Abe has his USSF National "B" License.
He was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 2000.