The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the United States that played matches from fall 1978 to spring 1992.
The MISL was founded by businessmen Ed Tepper and Earl Foreman in October 1977.
The league fielded six teams for its inaugural 1978–79 season. Before folding after 14 seasons of competition, at the conclusion of the 1991–92 season, a total of 24 franchises – under 31 team names (seven teams changed city/name) – had played in the MISL.
Over its life, MISL teams were based in 27 different cities – with two different teams, at different times, playing in Cleveland, Ohio; East Rutherford, New Jersey; St. Louis, Missouri; and Uniondale, New York.
The Houston Summit (1978–80)/Baltimore Blast (1980–92) franchise was the only one to compete for the entire 14 seasons of the MISL's existence. The next longest-lived franchise, and the longest in a single city, was the Wichita Wings team, which played for 13 seasons and missed only the inaugural 1978–79 season. The third longest-lived franchise was the Detroit Lightning (1979–80)/San Francisco Fog (1980–81)/Kansas City Comets (1981–91) franchise, which played for 12 seasons, missing only the first and last seasons.
The San Diego Sockers was the most successful franchise, winning eight of the MISL's 14 overall championships during the team's nine seasons in the league. The New York Arrows won the MISL's first four championships, then folded after the league's sixth season.
The most successful player in the MISL is arguably Steve Zungul, a Yugoslav Americanstriker who was MISL Most Valuable Player six times, was the Scoring Champion six times, the Pass Master (most assists) four times, played on eight championship-winning teams (and one runner-up), and won Championship Series Most Valuable Player four times. Zungul is the MISL's all-time leader in goals (652, nearly 200 ahead of the second highest scorer), assists (471, nearly 100 ahead of second) and points (1,123, nearly 300 ahead of second).
Despite ongoing financial hardships, the MISL had some success.[1] The league averaged a respectable 7,644 fans per game over its 14 regular seasons, and averaged 9,049 fans per game over its 14 playoff runs.
The league changed its name to the Major Soccer League (MSL) in 1990, and then folded in 1992. Four of the league's seven franchises continued to operate: Cleveland Crunch and Wichita Wings joined the National Professional Soccer League; Dallas Sidekicks and San Diego Sockers helped found the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
Arena football inspiration
The concept was initially so popular that in 1981, it helped pave the way for the creation of another indoor sports league, the Arena Football League, and subsequently the entire sport of indoor "gridiron" football. During the MISL All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, National Football League promotions director Jim Foster sketched a design of what a football field would look like on the back of a 9x12 manila envelope.[2] That inspiration gave birth to the concept now known as arena football (also indoor football) and the AFL was born six years later. Foster credits the MISL for the inspiration.[1][3][4]
*Three North American Soccer League (NASL) teams temporarily joined the MISL for the 1982–83 season, as the NASL did not play indoors for that season. As the NASL was folding in 1985, four of its former teams (Chicago, Minnesota, New York and San Diego) joined the MISL in late 1984.
The "Denver Avalanche" had declared bankruptcy and ceased operations after the 1981–82 season, but the franchise still existed and was purchased out of bankruptcy and moved to Tacoma after a dormant season. The MISL, however, considered the Stars a new franchise and, thus, team records did not transfer to Tacoma.
In June 1987, the MISL granted a conditional franchise to NBA Denver Nuggets owner Sidney Shlenker, to commence play in the 1988–89 season.[5] When the tentative "Denver Desperados" attracted deposits on 400 season tickets, rather than the required 5,000 within four months, the franchise was revoked in November 1987.[6]
612 – EcuadorChico Borja (Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
544 – United StatesCroatiaFred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
This award was given to 'the most outstanding player in his first year of competition in the Major Indoor Soccer League'[7] in order to differentiate it from the Rookie of the Year award.
Year
Winner
1986–87
Steve Kinsey, Minnesota
1987–88
Nenad "Ziggy" Zigante, Wichita
1988–89
Domenic Mobilio, Baltimore
1989–90
Claudio DeOliviera, St. Louis
1990–91
Paul Peschisolido, Kansas City
Coach of the Year
Year
Winner
1978–79
Timo Liekoski, Houston
1979–80
Len Bilous, Pittsburgh and Pat McBride, St. Louis
1980–81
Don Popovic, New York
1981–82
Dave Clements, Denver
1982–83
Pat McBride, Kansas City
1983–84
Kenny Cooper, Baltimore
1984–85
Peter Wall, Los Angeles
1985–86
Gordon Jago, Dallas
1986–87
Dave Clements, Kansas City
1987–88
Ron Newman, San Diego
1988–89
Kenny Cooper, Baltimore
1989–90
Billy Phillips, Dallas
1990–91
Trevor Dawkins, Cleveland
1991–92
Gordon Jago, Dallas
Championship Series Most Valuable Player
Year
Winner
1978–79
Shep Messing, New York
1979–80
Steve Zungul, New York
1980–81
Steve Zungul, New York
1981–82
Steve Zungul, New York
1982–83
Juli Veee, San Diego
1983–84
Scott Manning, Baltimore
1984–85
Steve Zungul, San Diego
1985–86
Brian Quinn, San Diego
1986–87
Tatu, Dallas
1987–88
Hugo Perez, San Diego
1988–89
Victor Nogueira, San Diego
1989–90
Brian Quinn, San Diego
1990–91
Ben Collins, San Diego
1991–92
Thompson Usiyan, San Diego
Championship Series Unsung Hero
This award was given to the player 'in the Championship Series whose impact to his team's success was measured by hustle, determination and leadership.'[8]
The MISL made inroads on national television in 1982–83. While the spring would see the end of the league's two-year deal with the USA Network, CBS would broadcast a playoff game live from Cleveland on May 7 that drew an estimated four million viewers. One game during the 1983–84 season was televised on CBS (Game 3 of the championship series on June 2) as well.
1984–85 would be the final year the MISL would have games aired on network television, CBS broadcast Game 4 of the championship series live on May 25.[9]
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