National Soccer Hall of Fame

National Soccer Hall of Fame

Established	1950 (as institution in 1979)
Location	Oneonta, New York
Coordinates	42°26′55″N 75°06′46″W / 42.448676°N 75.112807°W
Type	Professional sports hall of fame
Visitors	17,000 per year [1][2]

The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States. Induction into the hall is widely considered the highest honor in American soccer.^[3][4][5][6]

History

The Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 by the Philadelphia "Old-timers" Association, a group of former professional and amateur soccer players that wanted to recognize the achievements of soccer in America.^[7]

Museum

Former National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum in Oneonta, New York

Giant ball going out of the Former National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum

The Hall of Fame museum opened on June 12, 1999 and hosted Hillary Rodham Clinton during the same year. The museum featured the hall of fame, a library, and an interactive soccer play area.

The United States National Soccer Team Players Association partnered with the Hall of Fame to create the Time In program, which honored people with a connection to soccer battling Leukemia. Since the disease disproportionately targets children a majority of the honorees were youth soccer players.^[8]

Prior to the 2005 induction of the "Magnificent Five" individuals from the early and mid 20th century had been largely ignored. This change was brought about by the acquisition of a large volume of historical records relating to this period. These records combined with previously developed eligibility criteria led to the induction of Tommy Fleming, Alex McNab, Johnny Nelson, Werner Nilsen and Fabri Salcedo. The notable careers of these five players all took place prior to 1950. The "Magnificent Five" were inducted post-humously into the Hall of Fame in August 2005.^[9]

Sports Illustrated reported on September 4, 2009 that the Hall announced it would be closing to the public. It was open only on certain match days. As a result of financial difficulties the Hall of Fame cut six of its nine employees during that same month.^[2] The director of the Hall of Fame for almost 10 years, Jack Huckel, left his position on December 18, 2009.^[1] On February 10, 2010, it was announced that the Hall would close its facility, though inductions will continue.^[10][11]

In September 2015, it was announced that a new Hall of Fame museum would be built at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, the home of Major League Soccer club FC Dallas.^[12]

Archive

After the museum was closed, a collection of more than 80,000 items was distributed to various locations across the country, including the headquarters of Eurosport, a long-term corporate sponsor, in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The collection includes the following notable items:^[7][13]

• The oldest soccer ball made in the USA
• The 1991, 1999 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophies
• The North American Soccer League archive
• The 1994 FIFA World Cup USA archive
• A rare soccer photography collection from New York depression-era photographer John Albok
• Materials from the U.S. national teams in World Cup competition
• Artifacts from the American Soccer League of the 1920s and 1950s.
• Pelé’s New York Cosmos jersey.
• The Lamar Hunt Open Cup trophy.
• Mia Hamm’s cleats.
• Commemorations of the first U.S. World Cup team in 1930.

Eligibility

Eligible individuals may be inducted into one of three categories: Player, Builder and Veteran (player). New individuals are inducted on an annual basis.

Players

To be eligible in the Player category, an individual must have met number 1, and either number 2 or number 3, of the following three criteria:

1. Retired as a player for at least three years, but for no more than 10 years
2. Played at least 20 full international games for the United States. This requirement is reduced to 10 games if the games were prior to 1990.
3. Played at least five seasons in an American first-division professional league (currently MLS or NWSL), and won either the league championship, or the U.S. Open Cup, or was selected as a league all-star at least once.

Veterans

Players who have met either no. 2 or no. 3 but who retired more than 10 years ago are automatically placed on the veteran eligibility list.

Builders

To be eligible in this category, an individual must have made his or her mark in soccer in a non-playing capacity and have had a major, sustained and positive impact on soccer in the United States at a national or first division professional level. Due to the broad, general nature of the criteria, nominations for this category may be considered. Nominations are screened by the Hall of Fame Historian and Researcher who submit their recommendations to the Hall as to the appropriateness of the nominee's inclusion on the eligibility list.

Medal of Honor

The National Soccer Hall of Fame's Medal of Honor is the highest honor given to people who have grown the sport of soccer in the United States.^[14] The Medal is awarded to individuals who has "demonstrated vision and played an historic role in changing the course of soccer in America."^[15] The Medal has been given out only four times in history.

Number	Awarded	Name	Achievements
1	1998	Alan Rothenberg	Director of the 1994 World Cup;[16] President of U.S. Soccer (1990–98); Oversaw the establishment of MLS.
2	1999	Lamar Hunt	Co-founder of the NASL (1967–84); Owner of 3 MLS teams during the early 2000s;[17] Built the first soccer-specific stadium.[17]
3	2001	1991 Women's national team	Won the inaugural Women's World Cup.
4	2006	Phil Anschutz	The most influential person in growing soccer in the US;[14] Owned 6 of 10 MLS teams during the early 2000s;[14] Pushed MLS's development of soccer-specific stadiums.[14]

Annual ballots

2009 ballot

In 2009, the Hall of fame inducted Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett into the Hall of Fame in the player category.

2010 ballot

In 2010, Thomas Dooley and Preki Radosavljević were inducted in the player category, Kyle Rote, Jr. in the Veteran category and Bruce Arena in the Builder category.

2011 ballot

On February 17, 2011, the Hall of Fame announced the candidates eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011. This list included individuals for all three categories, Player, Veteran and Builder. On March 29, 2011, the Hall of Fame announced that Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope and Earnie Stewart had been elected for induction into the Hall of Fame in the 2011 Player category. Bruce Murray was selected in the Veteran category, and Bob Gansler was elected in the Builder category.^[18]

2012 ballot

On January 31, 2012 the United States Soccer Federation announced that the ballots were finalized for the Class of 2012. Voting began on the day of the announcement and will continue until February 17. Twelve players were added to the ballot after qualifying for the first time. They included Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, Jose Burciaga Jr., Ronald Cerritos, Lorrie Fair, Jen Lalor-Nielsen, Ronnie O'Brien, Ante Razov, David Regis, Thori Staples Bryan, Greg Vanney and Kerry Zavagnin. Of the remaining nine players in the pool, Mike Burns, Peter Nowak, Carlos Valderrama and Peter Vermes are in their final year of eligibility.^[19]

On February 29, 2012 the USSF announced the induction of Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, Tony DiCicco, and Desmond Armstrong into the Hall of Fame. Reyna and Meola greatly exceeded the two-thirds threshold required to enter the Hall, receiving 96.08% and 90.20% of the vote respectively.^[20]

2013 ballot

On October 11, 2013 the USSF inducted two former U.S. international and MLS stars into the Hall of Fame. Forward Joe-Max Moore and the versatile Peter Vermes were the only players inducted in 2013.

Inductees

Players

Jeff Agoos – 2009 Michelle Akers – 2004 Carlos Alberto – 2003 Robert Annis – 1976 Desmond Armstrong – 2012 Andrew Auld – 1986 Adolph Bachmeier – 2002 Walter Bahr – 1976 Marcelo Balboa – 2005 George Barr – 1983 Fred Beardsworth – 1965 Franz Beckenbauer – 1998 Raymond Bernabei – 1978 Vladislav Bogićević – 2002 Mike Bookie – 1986 Frank Borghi – 1976 John Boulos – 1980 Harold Brittan – 1951 Davey Brown – 1951 George Brown – 1995 Jim Brown – 1986 Paul Caligiuri – 2004 Ralph Caraffi – 1959 Joe Carenza, Sr. – 1982 Efrain Chacurian – 1992 Stanley Chesney – 1966 Paul Child – 2003 Giorgio Chinaglia – 2000 Fernando Clavijo – 2005

Charlie Colombo – 1976 Geoff Coombes – 1976 Robert Craddock – 1976 Paul Danilo – 1996 Rick Davis – 2001 Walter Dick – 1989 Nicholas DiOrio – 1974 Aldo Donelli – 1954 Thomas Dooley – 2010 Jimmy Douglas – 1954 Tommy Duggan – 1955 Jimmy Dunn – 1974 Alex Ely – 1997 Joy Fawcett – 2009 Jock Ferguson – 1950 Tommy Fleming – 2005 Thomas Florie – 1986 Julie Foudy – 2007 Werner Fricker – 1992 William Fryer – 1951 Joe Gaetjens – 1976 Jimmy Gallagher – 1986 Gino Gardassanich – 1976 James Gentle – 1976 Rudy Getzinger – 1991 Teddy Glover – 1965 Billy Gonsalves – 1950 Bob Gormley – 1989 Sheldon Govier – 1950 Karl-Heinz Granitza – 2003

Joseph Gryzik – 1973 Mia Hamm – 2007 Al Harker – 1979 John Harkes – 2005 April Heinrichs – 1998 Shannon Higgins – 2002 Jack Hynes – 1977 Johnny Jaap – 1953 Carin Jennings-Gabarra – 2000 Cobi Jones – 2011 Kasey Keller – 2015[21] Harry Keough – 1976 Nicholas Kropfelder – 1996 Rudolph Kuntner – 1963 Alexi Lalas – 2006 Millard Lang – 1950 Bob Lenarduzzi – 2003 Kristine Lilly – 2014 William Looby – 2001 Joe Maca – 1976 Arnie Mausser – 2003 Brian McBride – 2014 Pat McBride – 1994 Bart McGhee – 1986 Johnny McGuire – 1951 Ed McIlvenny – 1986 Benny McLaughlin – 1997 Alex McNab – 2005 Tony Meola – 2012

Werner Mieth – 1974 Robert Millar – 1950 Lloyd Monsen – 1994 Joe-Max Moore – 2013 Johnny Moore – 1997 George Moorhouse – 1986 Robert Morrison – 1951 Ed Murphy – 1998 Bruce Murray – 2011 Glenn Myernick – 2015 John Nanoski – 1993 John Nelson – 2005 Werner Nilsen – 2005 Patrick Ntsoelengoe – 2003 Shamus O'Brien – 1990 Gene Olaff – 1971 Arnold Oliver – 1968 Len Oliver – 1996 Carla Overbeck – 2006 Gino Pariani – 1996 Bert Patenaude – 1971 Pelé – 1993 Hugo Perez – 2008 Eddie Pope – 2011 Preki – 2010 Tab Ramos – 2005 Harry Ratican – 1950 Peter Renzulli – 1951 Claudio Reyna – 2012 Jimmy Roe – 1997

Kyle Rote, Jr. – 2010 Werner Roth – 1989 Willy Roy – 1989 Francis Ryan – 1958 Fabri Salcedo – 2005 Willy Schaller – 1995 Philip Slone – 1986 Bobby Smith – 2007 Ed Souza – 1976 John Souza – 1976 Dick Spalding – 1950 Archie Stark – 1950 Earnie Stewart – 2011 Thomas Swords – 1951 George Tintle – 1952 Raphael Tracey – 1986 Al Trost – 2006 Frank Vaughn – 1986 Peter Vermes – 2013 Frank Wallace – 1976 Alex Weir – 1975 Alan Willey – 2003 Bruce Wilson – 2003 Peter Wilson – 1950 Mike Windischmann – 2004 Adam Wolanin – 1976 Alexander Wood – 1986 Eric Wynalda – 2004 Al Zerhusen – 1978[22]

Builders

Umberto Abronzino – 1971 Milton Aimi – 1991 Julius A. Alonso – 1972 William Anderson – 1956 Philip Anschutz – 2006 John Ardizzone – 1971 Bruce Arena – 2010 James Armstrong – 1952 Joseph J. Barriskill – 1953 Clay Berling – 1995 John O. Best – 1982 Joseph Booth – 1952 Matthew Boxer – 1961 Bob Bradley – 2014 Gordon Bradley – 1996 Lawrence E. Briggs – 1978 John Brock – 1950 Andrew M. Brown – 1950 Thomas W. Cahill – 1950 Walter Chyzowych – 1997 John Coll – 1986 George M. Collins – 1951 Peter Collins – 1998 Colin Commander – 1967 Ted Cordery – 1975 Robert B. Craddock – 1976 Edmund Craggs – 1969 George Craggs – 1981 Wilfred R. Cummings – 1953

Joseph Delach – 1973 Enzo DeLuca – 1979 Tony DiCicco – 2012 Edward J. Donaghy – 1951 George Donnelly – 1989 Anson Dorrance – 2008 John W. Dresmich – 1968 Duncan Duff – 1972 Gene Edwards – 1985 Rudy Epperlein – 1951 Ahmet Ertegun – 2003 Nesuhi Ertegun – 2003 Harry Fairfield – 1951 Ernst Feibusch – 1984 John A. Fernley – 1951 Charles Ferro – 1958 George E. Fishwick – 1974 Jack Flamhaft – 1964 Harry G. Fleming – 1967 Powys A.L. Foulds – 1953 Samuel T.N. Foulds – 1969 Daniel W. Fowler – 1970 Margaret Fowler – 1979 Bob Gansler – 2011 Pete Garcia – 1964 Walter Giesler – 1962 David Gould – 1953 Donald Greer – 1985 Bob Guelker – 1980 G.K. Guennel – 1980

George Healey – 1951 Herbert Heilpern – 1988 William Hemmings – 1961 Bob Hermann – 2001 Ted Howard – 2003 Maurice Hudson – 1966 Lamar Hunt – 1982 Alfredda Iglehart – 1951 William Jeffrey – 1951 Jack Johnston – 1952 Mike Kabanica – 1987 John Kalloch – 1964 Bob Kehoe – 1989 Frank J. Kelly – 1994 George Kempton Paul Klein – 1953 Alfred Kleinaitis – 1995 Oscar Koszma – 1964 Frank Kracher – 1983 Raymond G. Kraft – 1984 Harry Kraus – 1963 Kurt Lamm – 1979 Bertil Larson – 1988 Horace Edgar Lewis – 1950 Giuseppe "Joseph" Lombardo – 1984 Dennis Long – 1993 John J. MacEwan – 1953 Enzo Magnozzi – 1977 Jack Maher – 1970

G. Randolph Manning – 1950 John Marre – 1953 Allan McClay – 1971 Frank J. McGrath – 1978 James McGuire – 1951 Dent McSkimming – 1951 Peter Merovich – 1961 Al Miller – 1995 Milton Miller – 1961 Jimmy Mills – 1954 James Moore – 1971 William Morrissette – 1967 Fred Netto – 1958 Ron Newman – 1992 Dimitrious Niotis – 1963 William Palmer – 1952 Edward Pearson – 1990 Peter Peel – 1951 Wally Peters – 1967 Don Phillipson – 1987 Giorgio Piscopo – 1978 Edgar Pomeroy – 1955 Arnold Ramsden – 1957 Vernon R. Reese – 1957 J. Eugene Ringsdorf – 1979 Elizabeth Robbie – 2003 Joe Robbie – 2003 Steve Ross – 2003 Jack J. Rottenberg – 1971

Thomas Sagar – 1968 Harry Saunders – 1981 Manfred Schellscheidt – 1990 Emil Schillinger – 1960 Sigi Schmid – 2015 Elmer Schroeder – 1951 Ernő Schwarz – 1951 Fred Shields – 1968 Erwin Single – 1981 Alfred A. Smith – 1951 Patrick Smith – 1998 Reinhold Spath – 1996 Nicolaas Steelink – 1971 Hank Steinbrecher – 2005 Lee Stern – 2003 August Steuer – 1969 Douglas T. Stewart – 1950 Robert T. Stone – 1971 Clive Toye – 2003 Joseph Triner – 1952 James A. Walder – 1971 Adolph Washauer – 1977 Thomas Webb – 1987 Victor Weston – 1956 John W. Woods – 1953 Phil Woosnam – 1997 Jerry Yeagley – 1989 John Young – 1958 Daniel Zampini – 1963[22]

Colin Jose Media Award

• 2004 Jerry Trecker
• 2005 Seamus Malin
• 2007 George Tiedemann
• 2008 Ike Kuhns
• 2009 Alex Yannis
• 2010 Paul Gardner

MLS Hall of Fame Game

The MLS Hall of Fame Game was an annual friendly match between two MLS teams. It corresponded with the induction of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The game took place at At-A-Glance Field in Oneonta, NY.

Date	Winning Team	Score	Losing Team	Score
October 11, 2004	MetroStars	2	Chicago Fire	0
August 29, 2005	D.C. United	6	Colorado Rapids	2
September 6, 2006 [23]	New York Red Bulls	vs.	Columbus Crew	***

See also

• St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame

References

1. "Soccer Hall museum director leaves position". Utica Observer Dispatch. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
2. Shane Evans (4 September 2009). "National Soccer Hall of Fame to close". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
3. "Red Bulls' Jeff Agoos gets inducted into National Soccer Hall of Fame". Daily News.
4. "ROBERTS SAHAYDAK NAMED TO BALLOT FOR 2011 NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME CLASS".
5. "2010 Hall of Fame Induction Quote Sheet".
6. "Rutgers Standout Lalas Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame".
7. "Hall History". United States Soccer Federation. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
8. "Thursday's Daily: The Hall Without An Address". US Soccer Players. 11 February 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
9. "US Soccer Hall of Fame inducts five top veterans of the early 20th century". The American Soccer History Archives. Dave Litterer. 11 July 2005. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
10. Fran Perritano (10 February 2010). "Soccer Hall of Fame closes". Utica Observer Dispatch. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
11. "National Soccer Hall of Fame to Change Operating Model, Relocate Exhibits and Archives". National Soccer Foundation. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
12. MLSsoccer.com staff (30 September 2015). "US Soccer, FC Dallas announce new National Soccer Hall of Fame to be built at Toyota Stadium". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
13. L.E. Eisenmenger (2 February 2010). "National Soccer Hall Of Fame Looks Ahead". ussoccerplayers.com. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
14. Sports Business Journal, Soccer’s visionary: Phil Anschutz, June 5, 2006, http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2006/06/20060605/SBJ-In-Depth/Soccers-Visionary-Phil-Anschutz.aspx
15. Lamar Hunt Receives National Soccer Hall of Fame Medal of Honor, May 15, 1999, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.sport.soccer/ZlPN-XpO6C4
16. Sports Illustrated, From obscurity to respect, August 20, 1998, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/1998/08/20/rothenberg_legacy/
17. ESPN FC, Hunt a quiet pioneer of U.S. soccer, Dec. 13, 2006, http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=394199&root=us25&cc=5901
18. "Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011". United States Soccer Federation.
19. "National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Ballots Finalized". United States Soccer Federation. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
20. "Reyna, Meola Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2012". United States Soccer Federation. 29 February 2012.
21. "Kasey Keller, Sigi Schmid and Glenn "Mooch" Myernick Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame".
22. http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/hall.html
23. Game was cancelled due to injuries on both team.

External links

• A guide and brief history of the Hall of Fame
• Hall of Fame. U.S. Soccer official website
• US (National) Soccer Hall of Fame Membership (complete list). U.S. Soccer History Archives
• American (U.S.) Soccer History Archives