Nicholas Kropfelder
Encyclopedia
Nicholas "Nick" Kropfelder (born Baltimore, Maryland) was a U.S. soccer center forward
. He played professionally in the American Soccer League
, leading the league twice in scoring. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1996.
, a secondary school, from 1938 to 1940. In soccer, he was a high scoring centerforward. From 1941 to 1942, then played for Santa Maria K of C in the Baltimore Catholic soccer league. From September to November 1941, he went on trial with Baltimore SC of the American Soccer League
, but returned to Santa Maria as it made a run to the semifinals of the 1942 National Amateur Cup
. In the fall of 1942, he signed as an amateur with the Baltimore Americans
of the ASL. His younger brother Charley played for the Americans during this time as well. In 1943, Kropfelder's career was interrupted by military service during World War II
and he didn’t return to the Americans until 1946. In addition to playing for the Americans, he also attended Loyola College
where he played on the school's soccer team. In 1947, he was named as an Honorable Mention (third team) All American. Kropfelder led the ASL in scoring during the 1947-1948 season with 19 goals. In 1948, he moved to the Philadelphia Nationals
and played with them through the end of the 1952-1953 season. He led the league in scoring for a second time with seventeen goals in 1950-1951. In addition to his personal achievements, he also won the 1950 and 1951 league titles, 1951, 1952 and 1953 league cups. He was also part of two teams which lost the U.S. Open Cup championship (1949 and 1952). He finished his career with one season with the Baltimore Rockets before retiring in 1954.
Kropfelder was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1996.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He played professionally in the 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...
, leading the league twice in scoring. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1996.
Playing career
Kropfelder grew up in Baltimore where he played baseball, basketball, and soccer at Mount Saint Joseph CollegeMount Saint Joseph College
Mount Saint Joseph High School, is a private, Catholic high school located in Baltimore, Maryland in the community of Irvington. The campus consists of four academic buildings, an athletic field house, and housing for the school's chaplains. It was founded by the Xaverian Brothers in November 1876...
, a secondary school, from 1938 to 1940. In soccer, he was a high scoring centerforward. From 1941 to 1942, then played for Santa Maria K of C in the Baltimore Catholic soccer league. From September to November 1941, he went on trial with Baltimore SC of the 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...
, but returned to Santa Maria as it made a run to the semifinals of the 1942 National Amateur Cup
National Amateur Cup
The National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
. In the fall of 1942, he signed as an amateur with the Baltimore Americans
Baltimore Americans
-Baltimore Canton/S.C./Americans:The Baltimore Canton was an American soccer club based in Baltimore, Maryland that was a member of the American Soccer League....
of the ASL. His younger brother Charley played for the Americans during this time as well. In 1943, Kropfelder's career was interrupted by military service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and he didn’t return to the Americans until 1946. In addition to playing for the Americans, he also attended Loyola College
Loyola College in Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a Roman Catholic, Jesuit private university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Established as Loyola College in Maryland by John Early and eight other members of the Society of Jesus in 1852, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges...
where he played on the school's soccer team. In 1947, he was named as an Honorable Mention (third team) All American. Kropfelder led the ASL in scoring during the 1947-1948 season with 19 goals. In 1948, he moved to the Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Nationals
Philadelphia Passon was an American soccer club based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that was a member of the professional American Soccer League.Before the 1941/42 season, the club became the Philadelphia Nationals...
and played with them through the end of the 1952-1953 season. He led the league in scoring for a second time with seventeen goals in 1950-1951. In addition to his personal achievements, he also won the 1950 and 1951 league titles, 1951, 1952 and 1953 league cups. He was also part of two teams which lost the U.S. Open Cup championship (1949 and 1952). He finished his career with one season with the Baltimore Rockets before retiring in 1954.
Post playing career
After retiring from playing professionally, Kropfelder served as both an NCAA and amateur referee for several decades. In 1993, he was elected president of the Maryland Old Timers Soccer Association in 1993.Kropfelder was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1996.