Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92)

History

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 would change city/name) – had played in the MISL.

Over its life, MISL teams would be based in 27 different cities – with two different teams, at different times, playing in Cleveland, East Rutherford, New Jersey, St. Louis 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, were the 13 seasons of the Wichita Wings team, which missed only the inaugural 1978–79 season. The third longest-lived franchise was the 12 seasons of the Detroit Lightning (1979–80)/San Francisco Fog (1980–81)/Kansas City Comets (1981–91) franchise, which missed the first and last seasons.

The San Diego Sockers was the most successful franchise on the soccer pitch, winning 8 of the MISL's 14 championships (57%) – which also equates to 8 championships during the team's 9 seasons in the league (89%). The New York Arrows won the MISL's first 4 championships, then folded after the league's sixth season.

The most successful player in the MISL is arguably Steve Zungul, a Yugoslav American striker who was MISL Most Valuable Player 6 times, was the Scoring Champion 6 times, the Pass Master (most assists) 4 times, played on 8 championship-winning teams (and one runner-up), and won Championship Series Most Valuable Player 4 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 was a huge success. The league averaged 7,644 fans per game over its 14 regular seasons, and averaged 9,049 fans per game over its 14 playoff runs.

After the MISL folded in 1992, four of the league's seven franchises would continue operation: Cleveland Crunch and Wichita Wings joined the National Professional Soccer League; Dallas Sidekicks and San Diego Sockers helped found the Continental Indoor Soccer League.

MISL inspires Arena Football

The concept was so popular that in 1981, it helped pave the way for the creation of another indoor sports league, the Arena Football League. 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. 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.

MISL Teams

*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.

The "Denver Avalanche" had declared bankruptcy and ceased operations after the 1981–82 season, but the franchise still existed and was transferred to Tacoma after a dormant season.

In June 1987, the MISL granted a conditional franchise to NBA Denver Nuggets owner Sidney Shlenker, to commence play in the 1988–89 season. 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.

By year

*Single-game championship, game score rather than series results.

Commissioners

Points

1. 1,123 – Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 841 – Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St.Louis Storm)
3. 690 – Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
4. 686 – Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
5. 683 – Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
6. 682 – Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
7. 664 – Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
8. 612 – Chico Borja (Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
9. 544 – Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
10. 542 – Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)

Goals

1. 652 – Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 463 – Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
3. 406 – Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
4. 406 – Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
5. 344 – Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
6. 332 – Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
7. 331 – Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
8. 307 – Andy Chapman (Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast)
9. 297 – Craig Allen (New Jersey Rockets, Cleveland Force)
10. 297 – Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)

Assists

1. 471 – Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 386 – Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
3. 378 – Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
4. 338 – Chico Borja (New York Cosmos, Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
5. 338 – Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
6. 332 – Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
7. 311 – Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)
8. 284 – Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
9. 280 – Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
10. 271 – Jorgen Kristensen (Wichita Wings, Kansas City Comets)

Goals against average

(9,500 minutes minimum)

1. 4.03 – Zoltán Tóth (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
2. 4.09 – Tino Lettieri (Minnesota Strikers)
3. 4.14 – Krzysztof Sobieski (Pittsburgh Spirit, Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks)
4. 4.18 – Victor Nogueira (Chicago Sting, Cleveland Force, San Diego Sockers)
5. 4.21 – David Brcic (New York Cosmos, Wichita Wings, Pittsburgh Spirit, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
6. 4.26 – Slobo Ilijevski (St. Louis Steamers, Baltimore Blast, St. Louis Storm)
7. 4.32 – P.J. Johns (Cleveland Force, Tacoma Stars, Cleveland Crunch)
8. 4.35 – Jim Gorsek (San Diego Sockers, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
9. 4.3972 – Joe Papaleo (Pittsburgh Spirit, Tacoma Stars, Dallas Sidekicks)
10. 4.3979 – Keith Van Eron (Cincinnati Kids, Wichita Wings, Philadelphia Fever, Baltimore Blast, Las Vegas Americans)

MISL Pass Master

The Pass Master award was given out to the player with the most assists during the regular season.

Newcomer of the Year

This award was given to 'the most outstanding player in his first year of competition in the Major Indoor Soccer League' in order to differentiate it from the Rookie of the Year award.

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.'