St. Louis Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri
, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States
.
The merger brought St. Leo's from the AFBL into the SLSL, where the team, the league's only fully professional squad, dominated the standings for seven years.
In an attempt to undermine St. Leo’s, several individuals involved in the league attempted to remake the SLSL as an amateur league. The effort was defeated but it led to split. Those teams dedicated to full professionalism joined St. Leo’s in the Federal Park League while the amateur teams moved to Robison Park. The split brought the Ben Millers
into the Federal Park League. When the two leagues reunited in 1915, Ben Millers replaced St. Leo’s as the dominant team.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html
While the two leagues crowned separate champions during the 1913-1914 season, the 1914-1915 saw a city champion when the top team in each league, St. Leo’s from Federal Park and Innisfails
from Robison Field, played for the title. Innisfails won the championship, replacing St. Leo’s as the city’s top team. Following the 1914-1915 season, the two leagues reunited.
In 1916, the newly established U.S. Football Association assembled a team of U.S. players for a Scandinavia. These games became the first in the history of the national team. Of the players on the U.S. roster, only Matt Diedrichsen
from Innisfails was selected from outside the north east U.S.
The entry of the United States into World War I drained all four teams by drafting players into the military, with St. Leo’s affected the most.
In 1926, the SLSL briefly expanded to include Chicago Sparta, but the team did not complete the season, withdrawing on November 11, 1926. In 1935, the SLSL began a period of instability which led to its eventual dissolution four years later.
In 1939, the league expanded to include teams from Chicago and Cleveland. Teams from these two cities and St. Louis had competed against each other from time to time, but this year, the SLSL decided to formalize the competition, which was called the “Inter-city Soccer Loop”. The league, which had experienced considerable internal strife including lawsuits between teams over player tampering had finally collapsed.http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/genealogy/dad/soccer-2.html The St. Louis Municipal League, which ran the lower St. Louis city divisions, became the only league. As such its top division became the de facto St. Louis first division until the creation of the St. Louis Major Soccer League in 1948.
In 1913, the St. Louis Soccer League came to national attention when St. Leo’s tied the Paterson True Blues
, winners of the American Cup
. At the time, the American Cup was the most recognized regional cup and was the de facto East Coast
championship.
While the newly established United States Football Association established the National Challenge Cup in 1914, it was not until 1918 that the St. Louis teams entered the cup. This was first truly national competition and over the next few years, replaced the regional cups. They initially had difficulty getting past the Chicago and Cleveland teams, but in 1920 Ben Millers
stunned the east coast teams by knocking off Fore River
to become the first club outside of the northeast to win the cup. SLSL teams then went to the next four finals, taking only the 1922 title. SLSL team also went to the final in 1926, 1929 and every season from 1932 to 1939.
When the SLSL was established, St. Louis boasted dozens of other leagues. In 1913, the St. Louis Municipal League consolidated many of these disparate leagues into a multi-division organization which sat below the SLSL.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html While St. Louis did not have a promotion / relegation system between the SLSL and MUNY, teams moved easily between the two leagues.
Finally, St. Louis soccer teams depended on sponsorship. When sponsorship changed, the teams changed their names as well. When the team remained the same, except for their names, the new names are listed immediately below the original name when those changes are known. Some of the teams, such as St. Matthews, may have been the same team, but the information available does not allow us to make that determination, so they are listed as different teams.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
St. Louis teams, which began competing in citywide leagues in 1890, organized the Association Foot Ball League in 1903. In 1907, the St. Louis Soccer League was established as a rival to the AFBL. In 1908, the two leagues merged. Typically, the league featured four teams each season.The merger brought St. Leo's from the AFBL into the SLSL, where the team, the league's only fully professional squad, dominated the standings for seven years.
In an attempt to undermine St. Leo’s, several individuals involved in the league attempted to remake the SLSL as an amateur league. The effort was defeated but it led to split. Those teams dedicated to full professionalism joined St. Leo’s in the Federal Park League while the amateur teams moved to Robison Park. The split brought the Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
into the Federal Park League. When the two leagues reunited in 1915, Ben Millers replaced St. Leo’s as the dominant team.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html
While the two leagues crowned separate champions during the 1913-1914 season, the 1914-1915 saw a city champion when the top team in each league, St. Leo’s from Federal Park and Innisfails
Innisfails
Innisfails was a U.S. soccer team which competed in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1907 to 1921.-History:Innisfails was a charter member of the newly founded St. Louis Soccer League in 1907. The SLSL was created as a rival to the city’s Association Football League which was established in 1903...
from Robison Field, played for the title. Innisfails won the championship, replacing St. Leo’s as the city’s top team. Following the 1914-1915 season, the two leagues reunited.
In 1916, the newly established U.S. Football Association assembled a team of U.S. players for a Scandinavia. These games became the first in the history of the national team. Of the players on the U.S. roster, only Matt Diedrichsen
Matt Diedrichsen
Matthew B. Diedrichsen was an American soccer half back who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1916.When the United States Football Association selected the first national team for a 1916 tour of Scandinavia, Diedrichsen was the only player on the team who did not play on the East Coast...
from Innisfails was selected from outside the north east U.S.
The entry of the United States into World War I drained all four teams by drafting players into the military, with St. Leo’s affected the most.
In 1926, the SLSL briefly expanded to include Chicago Sparta, but the team did not complete the season, withdrawing on November 11, 1926. In 1935, the SLSL began a period of instability which led to its eventual dissolution four years later.
In 1939, the league expanded to include teams from Chicago and Cleveland. Teams from these two cities and St. Louis had competed against each other from time to time, but this year, the SLSL decided to formalize the competition, which was called the “Inter-city Soccer Loop”. The league, which had experienced considerable internal strife including lawsuits between teams over player tampering had finally collapsed.http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/genealogy/dad/soccer-2.html The St. Louis Municipal League, which ran the lower St. Louis city divisions, became the only league. As such its top division became the de facto St. Louis first division until the creation of the St. Louis Major Soccer League in 1948.
National competition
Before the establishment of the National Challenge Cup in 1914, most teams participated in city, state or regional competitions. The only opportunity for teams from one region to test themselves against the best on a national level came from ad hoc cups and off-season tours.In 1913, the St. Louis Soccer League came to national attention when St. Leo’s tied the Paterson True Blues
Paterson True Blues
Paterson True Blues was a professional U.S. soccer team founded in 1887 and disestablished after 1915. The True Blues, based out of Paterson, New Jersey, are best known as one of the dominant soccer teams of its era and one of the first U.S...
, winners of the American Cup
American Cup
The American Cup was the first major U.S. soccer competition open to teams beyond a single league. It was first held in 1885. In the 1910s, it gradually declined in importance with the establishment of the National Challenge Cup...
. At the time, the American Cup was the most recognized regional cup and was the de facto East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
championship.
While the newly established United States Football Association established the National Challenge Cup in 1914, it was not until 1918 that the St. Louis teams entered the cup. This was first truly national competition and over the next few years, replaced the regional cups. They initially had difficulty getting past the Chicago and Cleveland teams, but in 1920 Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
stunned the east coast teams by knocking off Fore River
Fore River (soccer)
Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
to become the first club outside of the northeast to win the cup. SLSL teams then went to the next four finals, taking only the 1922 title. SLSL team also went to the final in 1926, 1929 and every season from 1932 to 1939.
Champions
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1907-08 1907-08 St. Louis Soccer League season -League standings:-References:*... |
Innisfails Innisfails Innisfails was a U.S. soccer team which competed in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1907 to 1921.-History:Innisfails was a charter member of the newly founded St. Louis Soccer League in 1907. The SLSL was created as a rival to the city’s Association Football League which was established in 1903... |
| 1908-09 1908-09 St. Louis Soccer League season -League standings:-References:**... |
St. Leo's |
| 1909-10 1909-10 St. Louis Soccer League season -League standings:-References:**... |
St. Leo's |
| 1910-11 1910-11 St. Louis Soccer League season -League standings:-External links:**... |
St. Leo's |
| 1911-12 | St. Leo's |
| 1912-13 | St. Leo's |
| 1913-14 | St. Leo's |
| 1914-15 | St. Leo's |
| 1915-16 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| 1916-17 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| 1917-18 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| > Scullin Steel | |
| 1919-20 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| 1920-21 | Scullin Steel St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C. St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:... |
| 1921-22 | Scullin Steel St. Louis Scullin Steel F.C. St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:... |
| 1922-23 | Vesper Buick St. Louis Vesper Buick Vesper Buick was a U.S. soccer team established in 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning two league titles and losing the 1924 National Challenge Cup. The team changed sponsorship in 1926, becoming White Banner.... |
| 1923-24 | Vesper Buick St. Louis Vesper Buick Vesper Buick was a U.S. soccer team established in 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning two league titles and losing the 1924 National Challenge Cup. The team changed sponsorship in 1926, becoming White Banner.... |
| 1924-25 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| 1925-26 | Ben Millers Ben Millers Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers... |
| > Ben Millers | |
| > Tablers | |
| 1928-29 | Tablers Tablers Tablers was an American soccer team which spent four season in the St. Louis Soccer League, from 1927 to 1931. During that time it won three league titles.-History:... |
| 1929-30 | Tablers Tablers Tablers was an American soccer team which spent four season in the St. Louis Soccer League, from 1927 to 1931. During that time it won three league titles.-History:... |
| 1930-31 | Coca Colas |
| 1931-32 | Coca Colas |
| 1932-33 | Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. was a U.S. soccer club which played in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1931 to 1934. The team was known as Hellrungs from 1929 to 1931, St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. from 1934 to 1935 and St. Louis Shamrocks from 1935 to 1938. During its short existence, it won two... |
| 1933-34 | Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. was a U.S. soccer club which played in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1931 to 1934. The team was known as Hellrungs from 1929 to 1931, St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. from 1934 to 1935 and St. Louis Shamrocks from 1935 to 1938. During its short existence, it won two... |
| 1934-35 | St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. |
| > Burke's Undertakers | |
| 1936-37 | Burke's Undertakers Burke's Undertakers Burke’s Undertakers was an American soccer team which competed in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally established as the Spanish Sports Club, it played in the St. Louis Municipal League for several years under the name of Spanish Sports Club. In 1935, the team moved up to the St. Louis Soccer League... |
| 1937-38 | St. Matthew's |
| 1938-39 | Chicago Sparta Chicago Sparta The Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States... |
Teams
The list includes the years in the SLSL and their city if not St. Louis. During the 1913-1915 seasons, the SLSL expanded to eight teams competing in two separate leagues, the Federal Park League and the Robison Field League. For those teams which competed during those two seasons, their leagues are noted in italics.When the SLSL was established, St. Louis boasted dozens of other leagues. In 1913, the St. Louis Municipal League consolidated many of these disparate leagues into a multi-division organization which sat below the SLSL.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1913.html While St. Louis did not have a promotion / relegation system between the SLSL and MUNY, teams moved easily between the two leagues.
Finally, St. Louis soccer teams depended on sponsorship. When sponsorship changed, the teams changed their names as well. When the team remained the same, except for their names, the new names are listed immediately below the original name when those changes are known. Some of the teams, such as St. Matthews, may have been the same team, but the information available does not allow us to make that determination, so they are listed as different teams.
- Andersons 1931-1935
- Athletics 1913-1914 (Robison Field League 1913-1914)
- Barrett Hoovers 1923-1924
- Bartunek Slavias (Cleveland, Ohio) 1938-1939
- Ben MillersBen MillersBen Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
1913-1935 (Federal Park League 1913-1915) - Blue Bells 1909-1911
- Burke's UndertakersBurke's UndertakersBurke’s Undertakers was an American soccer team which competed in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally established as the Spanish Sports Club, it played in the St. Louis Municipal League for several years under the name of Spanish Sports Club. In 1935, the team moved up to the St. Louis Soccer League...
1935-1939 - Business Men’s A.C. 1912-1913
- Chicago SpartaChicago SpartaThe Sparta Athletic and Benevolent Association Football Club, better known as Chicago Sparta, is one of the longest continually established soccer clubs in the United States...
1926 (withdrew during the 1926-1927 season), 1938-1939 - Central Brewery 1935-1936
- Coca Colas 1930-1933
- Columbia A.C. 1913-1915 (Federal Park League 1913-1915)
- Columbus Club 1910-1915 (Robison Field League 1913-1915)
- → Naval Reserve F.C. 1914-1918
- Compton Hills 1914-1915 (Federal Park League 1914-1915)
- DeAndreis 1921-1922
- Hellrungs 1929-1931
- → Stix, Baer and Fuller F.C. 1931-1934
- → St. Louis Central Breweries F.C. 1934-1935
- Hellrung & GrimmHellrung & GrimmHellrung & Grimm was a U.S. soccer team in St. Louis, Missouri which was sponsored by the Hellrung & Grimm Furniture Company. It spent the 1935-1936 season in the St. Louis Soccer League.-History:...
1935-1936 - Hoover Sweepers 1922-1923
- InnisfailsInnisfailsInnisfails was a U.S. soccer team which competed in the St. Louis Soccer League from 1907 to 1921.-History:Innisfails was a charter member of the newly founded St. Louis Soccer League in 1907. The SLSL was created as a rival to the city’s Association Football League which was established in 1903...
1907-1908, 1909-1921 (Robison Field League 1913-1915) - Irish American A.C. 1911-1912
- Lindell Trust 1938-1939
- Lotus 1936-1937
- Madison KennelSt. Louis Madison KennelSt. Louis Madison Kennel was a U.S. soccer team established in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League for two seasons. Madison Kennel reached the final of the 1929 National Challenge Cup where they lost 5-0 on aggregate to New York Hakoah in a two game, home...
1928-1930 - Manewals 1914-1915 (Robison Field League 1914-1915)
- Manhattan Beer (Chicago) 1938-1939
- Marre’s 1934-1936
- Minit-Rubs 1933-1934
- Morgan Haulers 1927-1928
- Optimists 1936-1937
- Ratican’sRatican’sRatican’s was a U.S. soccer team established by Harry Ratican in 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri. It spent three seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League before becoming Tablers in 1927.-History:...
1924-1927
- Hellrung & Grimm
- → Tablers 1927-1931
- Rock Church FC 1913-1914 (Federal Park League 1913-1914)
- Scullin SteelSt. Louis Scullin Steel F.C.St. Louis Scullin Steel was a U.S. soccer team established in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. It spent seven seasons in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning three league titles and one National Challenge Cup.-History:...
1918-1925 - South Side RadioSouth Side RadioSouth Side Radio was a U.S. soccer team in St. Louis, Missouri which spent one season, 1937-1938, in the St. Louis Soccer League.-History:South Side Radio, also known as the South Siders, spent most of its existence in the lower St. Louis leagues and divisions. In 1929, it won the Municipal...
1937-1938 - St. Leo's 1908-1918 (Federal Park League 1913-1915)
- → St. Louis Screws 1918-1922
- St. Matthew 1907-1908
- St. Matthew's 1937-1938
- St. Patricks 1937-1938
- St. Teresa 1907-1910, 1913-1915 (Robison Field League 1913-1915)
- Thistles (Bend, Illinois) 1907-1909
- Town Criers 1936-1937
- Vesper BuickSt. Louis Vesper BuickVesper Buick was a U.S. soccer team established in 1922 in St. Louis, Missouri. The team played in the St. Louis Soccer League, winning two league titles and losing the 1924 National Challenge Cup. The team changed sponsorship in 1926, becoming White Banner....
1922-1926
- → White Banner 1926-1927
- Wellston’s 1925-1929
- West Ends 1908-1909