National Professional Soccer League (1967)
Tombstone
Born: 1967 – NPSL founding franchise
Folded: 1968
First Game: April 16, 1967 (T 3-3 @ California Clippers)
Last Game: August 27, 1967 (W 3-2 vs. Baltimore Bays)
NPSL Championships: None
Stadium
Forbes Field (35,714)
Opened: 1909
Demolished: 1971
Marketing
Team Colors: Purple & White
Ownership
Owners: Peter Block & Richard George, et al.
Background
The Pittsburgh Phantoms soccer team played for a single season at Forbes Field in the summer of 1967. The Phantoms were one of ten original franchises in the National Professional Soccer League, a circuit formed in the wake of the 1966 World Cup, the first to be broadcast in the United States. Peter Block and Richard George, a pair of 32-year old stockholders in the city’s new NHL franchise, the Pittsburgh Penguins, headed the Phantoms 20-man ownership group.
The Phantoms endured a bumpy campaign, cycling through four coaches en route to a 10-14-7 5th place finish. The team also suffered several losses in the courtroom. The worst was a $50,000 settlement paid to Sparta Rotterdam for signing 27-year old defender Theo Laseroms while he was still under contract to the Dutch club.
German striker Manfred Rummel paced the team in scoring with 14 goals and 4 assists. Former Dutch National Team player and Ajax star Co Prins earned a bid to the NPSL’s post-season All-Star team at forward, Pittsburgh’s only selection. Prins also briefly served as head coach of the club.
Demise
The Phantoms folded after the 1967 season citing a $750,000 financial loss.
In 1994, a Roller Hockey International franchise called the Pittsburgh Phantoms began play at the Civic Arena. Like the soccer Phantoms of the 1960’s, the roller hockey Phantoms were backed financially by the owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins and lasted for only one season.
Pittsburgh Phantoms Shop
Contains Affiliate Links
Forbes Field T from Old School Shirts
In Memoriam
Player-coach Co Prins died of a heart attack while playing soccer on September 26, 1987. Prins was 49.
Defender Theo Laseroms suffered a fatal heart attack on April 25, 1991 at age 51.
Phantoms co-owner Peter Block died of cancer at age 82 on December 13, 2015. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette obituary.
Striker Manfred Rummel passed on July 27, 2017 at age 79.
Links
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