Jimmy Dunn (soccer)
Encyclopedia
James “Jimmy” or “Ebbie” Dunn (born August 21, 1898 in St. Louis, Missouri
; died St. Louis, Missouri
) was a U.S. soccer forward
. He spent nine seasons with Ben Millers
in the St. Louis Soccer League
and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1974.
(CBC) of the St. Louis Municipal League, the city’s de facto second division. CBC won the league title, but Dunn moved to the Missouri Athletic Club
for the 1915-1916 season. Dunn won a second Municipal League title that season before turning professional with the Ben Millers
of the St. Louis Soccer League
. Dunn played the 1916-1917 season with Ben Millers, winning another league title. At the end of the season, Dunn enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years. When he returned to St. Louis in 1919, he re-signed with Ben Millers
becoming the team’s starting center forward. Ben Millers won the 1919-1920 league title. In May 1920, Ben Millers won the National Challenge Cup over Fore River
of the Southern New England Soccer League
. Dunn, captain for the game, scored the winning goal, twelve minutes into the second half for the 2-1 win. Ben Millers did not win another league title until the 1924-1925 season. However, that championship put them into the one-time American Professional Soccer Championship. In 1925, the St. Louis Soccer League
and American Soccer League
boycotted the National Challenge Cup. In its place, they competed in what they called the American Professional Soccer Championship which pitted the champions of the two leagues. The Ben Millers
faced the Boston Wonder Workers
for a two game series. The first, played in St. Louis, went to Ben Millers, with Dunn scoring the game’s lone goal. On the return game in Boston, the Wonder Workers won 3-1, with Dunn again scoring. The final, and deciding, game took place two weeks later in St. Louis. The Wonder Workers won the game and the title with a 3-2 victory. Dunn again scored in the loss. Ben Millers repeated as league champion in each of the next two seasons and finished runner-up to Bethlehem Steel F.C.
in the 1926 National Challenge Cup. Over his nine seasons with Ben Miller, Dunn scored fifty-three goals.
in 1974. Since 1986, the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame has awarded an annual “Jimmy Dunn Memorial High School Coach of the Year” award.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
; died St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
) was a U.S. soccer forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He spent nine seasons with Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
in the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1974.
Biography
Dunn began his career with Christian Brothers CollegeChristian Brothers College
Christian Brothers College can refer to one of several schools:* Christian Brothers College, Adelaide* Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo* Christian Brothers College, Burwood* Christian Brothers College, Cork* Christian Brothers College, Monkstown Park...
(CBC) of the St. Louis Municipal League, the city’s de facto second division. CBC won the league title, but Dunn moved to the Missouri Athletic Club
Missouri Athletic Club
The Missouri Athletic Club , founded in 1903, is a traditional gentlemen's club and athletic club in Downtown St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with a separate athletic campus in the St. Louis County suburb of Town and Country. The MAC awards the annual Hermann Trophy, the highest award in American...
for the 1915-1916 season. Dunn won a second Municipal League title that season before turning professional with the Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
of the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
. Dunn played the 1916-1917 season with Ben Millers, winning another league title. At the end of the season, Dunn enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years. When he returned to St. Louis in 1919, he re-signed with Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
becoming the team’s starting center forward. Ben Millers won the 1919-1920 league title. In May 1920, Ben Millers won the National Challenge Cup over Fore River
Fore River (soccer)
Fore River was an amateur U.S. soccer team which had its origins as the Fore River Shipbuilding company team of Quincy, Massachusetts.-History:...
of the Southern New England Soccer League
Southern New England Soccer League
The Southern New England Soccer League was a semi-professional soccer league based in New England which was established in 1914 and collapsed in 1921. During its short existence, it featured some of the top teams in the northeast United States...
. Dunn, captain for the game, scored the winning goal, twelve minutes into the second half for the 2-1 win. Ben Millers did not win another league title until the 1924-1925 season. However, that championship put them into the one-time American Professional Soccer Championship. In 1925, the St. Louis Soccer League
St. Louis Soccer League
The St. Louis Soccer League was a soccer league based in St. Louis, Missouri, that existed from 1907 to 1938. At its founding, it was the only fully professional soccer league in the United States.-History:...
and American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
boycotted the National Challenge Cup. In its place, they competed in what they called the American Professional Soccer Championship which pitted the champions of the two leagues. The Ben Millers
Ben Millers
Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.-History:In 1913, Ben Millers...
faced the Boston Wonder Workers
Boston Wonder Workers
The Boston Soccer Club was a member of the American Soccer League. They were renamed the Boston Bears for the Fall 1929 ASL season.In 1925, the ASL and the St. Louis Soccer League boycotted the National Challenge Cup, now known as the U.S. Open Cup. The "Wonder Workers", as they were dubbed, had...
for a two game series. The first, played in St. Louis, went to Ben Millers, with Dunn scoring the game’s lone goal. On the return game in Boston, the Wonder Workers won 3-1, with Dunn again scoring. The final, and deciding, game took place two weeks later in St. Louis. The Wonder Workers won the game and the title with a 3-2 victory. Dunn again scored in the loss. Ben Millers repeated as league champion in each of the next two seasons and finished runner-up to Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel F.C.
Bethlehem Steel Football Club was one of the most successful early American soccer clubs. Known as the Bethlehem Football Club from 1911 until 1915 when it became the Bethlehem Steel Football Club, the team was sponsored by the Bethlehem Steel corporation and played their home games first at East...
in the 1926 National Challenge Cup. Over his nine seasons with Ben Miller, Dunn scored fifty-three goals.
Honors
Dunn was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 1971 and the National Soccer Hall of FameNational Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1974. Since 1986, the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame has awarded an annual “Jimmy Dunn Memorial High School Coach of the Year” award.