25 sierpnia 2007
This Is Me Being a Geek
There was news this week that Jaime Moreno scored his 109th goal, putting him on top of all MLS players. So, that led me to wonder, how does he stack up with players in the history of all North American first division leagues?
Not well. Moreno's history making goal puts him solidly in 18th place. These stats come from the American Soccer History Archives.
The top eleven, save one, are all from ASL teams of the 20's and 30's. To be fair, these people played in an era when there most teams used only two defenders. The only non-ASL player in the top 11 is Giorgio Chinaglia, who played for the New York Cosmos of the late 1970's and early 80's. Tell you what, you put me in front of Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto for a season, and I'll score 30 goals.
So, who are some of these other people? Archie Stark was a Scottish born striker who played for a couple of teams, but most famously for Bethlehem Steel. He was the leading scorer in the league for most of his career, scoring 67 goals in 1926 (a ridiculous number even by that league's standards).
The man that Moreno could pass given one more good season is Bert Patenaude. Patenaude not only had a remarkable career in the ASL, but played in the very first World Cup. He is officially on record (as certified by FIFA only last year) as the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, scoring three against Paraguay.
Moreno, Razov and Kreis have all played longer than any of the people on the list did at eleven seasons (that's counting Kreis's retirement shortened season this year). Many of the NASL players on the list had shorter careers here since they came over after careers in Europe. Now, there is the opposite situation with some MLS players. Brian McBride, for example, would surely be on the list had he not gone to Europe. If reckoned in terms of goals per season, the top person on the list would be Bobby Blair, who averaged 32.8 goals in four seasons. The trio from MLS only scored an average of between 9 and 10. If reckoned in goals per game, Patenaude takes all comers at .952 with Chinaglia coming up behind at .906 and Johnny Nelson at .892.
The list only includes those who have scored more than 100 goals. Jeff Cunningham and Taylor Twellman could easilly be on this list at the end of next season. MLS's top single-season goal scorer, Roy Lassiter, notched 88 during his career, putting him just behind Billy Gonzalves (91 goals).
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
Not well. Moreno's history making goal puts him solidly in 18th place. These stats come from the American Soccer History Archives.
- Archie Stark, Bethlehem Steel - 253
- Johnny Nelson, Brooklyn Wanderers - 223
- Giorgio Chinaglia, New York Cosmos - 193
- Davey Brown, New York Giants - 189
- Bill Patterson, various teams - 152
- Andy Stevens, New Bedford Whalers - 150
- Jerry Best, New Bedford Whalers - 138
- Bart McGhee, various teams - 137
- Harold Brittain, Fall River Marksmen - 135
- Bobby Blair, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
- Werner Nilsen, Boston Wonder Workers - 131
- Alan Willey, Minnesota Kicks - 129
- Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago Sting - 128
- Tommy Florie, Providence/New Befford - 126
- Tec White, Fall River Marksmen - 124
- Ron Futcher, Minnesota Kicks - 119
- Bert Patenaude, Fall River Marksmen - 118
- Jaime Moreno*, DC United - 109
- Mike McLeavey, New Bedford Whalers - 108
- Jason Kreis, Dallas Burn - 108
- Herbert Carlson, New York Nationals - 107
- Ante Razov*, Chicago Fire/Chivas USA - 104
- Paul Child, San Jose Earthquakes - 102
- Illja Mitic, Dallas Tornado - 101
- Steve David, various teams - 100
The top eleven, save one, are all from ASL teams of the 20's and 30's. To be fair, these people played in an era when there most teams used only two defenders. The only non-ASL player in the top 11 is Giorgio Chinaglia, who played for the New York Cosmos of the late 1970's and early 80's. Tell you what, you put me in front of Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer and Carlos Alberto for a season, and I'll score 30 goals.
So, who are some of these other people? Archie Stark was a Scottish born striker who played for a couple of teams, but most famously for Bethlehem Steel. He was the leading scorer in the league for most of his career, scoring 67 goals in 1926 (a ridiculous number even by that league's standards).
The man that Moreno could pass given one more good season is Bert Patenaude. Patenaude not only had a remarkable career in the ASL, but played in the very first World Cup. He is officially on record (as certified by FIFA only last year) as the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, scoring three against Paraguay.
Moreno, Razov and Kreis have all played longer than any of the people on the list did at eleven seasons (that's counting Kreis's retirement shortened season this year). Many of the NASL players on the list had shorter careers here since they came over after careers in Europe. Now, there is the opposite situation with some MLS players. Brian McBride, for example, would surely be on the list had he not gone to Europe. If reckoned in terms of goals per season, the top person on the list would be Bobby Blair, who averaged 32.8 goals in four seasons. The trio from MLS only scored an average of between 9 and 10. If reckoned in goals per game, Patenaude takes all comers at .952 with Chinaglia coming up behind at .906 and Johnny Nelson at .892.
The list only includes those who have scored more than 100 goals. Jeff Cunningham and Taylor Twellman could easilly be on this list at the end of next season. MLS's top single-season goal scorer, Roy Lassiter, notched 88 during his career, putting him just behind Billy Gonzalves (91 goals).
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
