Lloyd Monsen
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Monsen
Lloyd Monsen (born May 7, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York is a retired American soccer forward
and baseball
pitcher
. Monsen spent eleven seasons in the American Soccer League
as well as several years in the lower division German American Soccer League
and National Soccer League of New York
. He earned three caps with the U.S. national team between 1952 and 1957 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer teams at both the 1952
and 1956 Summer Olympics
. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
before he was born. He grew up in New York City
, attended Fort Hamilton High School
. His soccer career began when he joined the Gjoa Juniors, an ethnically Norwegian team, of the Empire State Junior League when he was sixteen. In his first season, Monsen scored fifty-six goals in both league and cup play leading to his moving up to the Gjoa first team of the National Soccer League of New York
when he was seventeen. In his first season, he scored eighteen goals in league competition.
of the American Soccer League
in 1949. At the time, he was still in high school. He played with the Americans until 1952 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. While serving in Germany, he played briefly for Hoechst S.C. He returned to the U.S. in 1953, rejoined the Americans were he was selected as team captain. In 1954, the Americans won the league title and defeated St. Louis Kutis S.C.
to win the U.S. Open Cup to gain a double for Monsen and his team mates. In 1956, the Americans merged with Brooklyn Hakoah
to form the New York Hakoah-Americans. The Hakoah-Americans went on to win three consecutive league titles 1957, 1958, and 1959. The team also went to the 1958 Open Cup only to fall to Kutis. During the 1957-1958 season, Monsen led the ASL with twenty-two goals. 1958-1959. He was on track for a second scoring title, Pasquale Pepe gained the title with several goals in the last game of league play. Lloyd Monsen nearly won his second consecutive scoring title, but lost at the last minute to Pasquale Pepe of Newark Portuguese
. During his ASL career, Monsen scored ninety-eight league and forty-seven cup goals. He was also an 11 times an ASL All Star. As Monsen’s career began to wane, he moved to the New York German-Hungarians of the German American Soccer League
before finishing his playing career with Swedish F.C. of the National Soccer League of New York
. He retired from playing professionally in 1964, but remained active with amateur over age teams until 1988.
on April 30, 1952. He did not play again until a 3-2 loss to Iceland
on August 25, 1955. His last game was a 7-2 loss to Mexico
in an April 28, 1957 World Cup qualifier.
Monsen was selected for the U.S. soccer team
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
. At that tournament, the U.S. lost 8-0 to Italy in the first round. He was again selected to the U.S. team
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
. This time, Yugoslavia defeated the U.S., 9-1, in the first round.
, the coach of the U.S. soccer team, to organize a U.S. team. As his soccer players had nothing else to do, they formed the bulk of the U.S. baseball team. This team, with Lloyd Monsen as pitcher, defeated a Venezuelan team, 14-6, on July 29. On August 5, the U.S. defeated the Finnish team, 19-1, at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
.
.
Monsen was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1994 and the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He currently lives in Clearwater, Florida
.
Lloyd Monsen (born May 7, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York is a retired American 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...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Monsen spent eleven seasons in the 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...
as well as several years in the lower division German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
and National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
. He earned three caps with the U.S. national team between 1952 and 1957 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer teams at both the 1952
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
and 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. He is a member of 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:...
.
Youth
Monsen’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
before he was born. He grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, attended Fort Hamilton High School
Fort Hamilton High School
Fort Hamilton High School is a public high school in Brooklyn, New York, USA, under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Education. Students in Bay Ridge, Sunset Park and Dyker Heights are zoned to Fort Hamilton HS. It has stood overlooking the Narrows and Lower New York Bay since...
. His soccer career began when he joined the Gjoa Juniors, an ethnically Norwegian team, of the Empire State Junior League when he was sixteen. In his first season, Monsen scored fifty-six goals in both league and cup play leading to his moving up to the Gjoa first team of the National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
when he was seventeen. In his first season, he scored eighteen goals in league competition.
Club career
Monsen’s success with Gjoa led to his signing with the New York AmericansNew York Americans (soccer)
The New York Americans were an American soccer club founded in 1931. Based in New York, New York, it played in both the first and second American Soccer Leagues.-History:...
of the 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...
in 1949. At the time, he was still in high school. He played with the Americans until 1952 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. While serving in Germany, he played briefly for Hoechst S.C. He returned to the U.S. in 1953, rejoined the Americans were he was selected as team captain. In 1954, the Americans won the league title and defeated St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
to win the U.S. Open Cup to gain a double for Monsen and his team mates. In 1956, the Americans merged with Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah
Brooklyn Hakoah is a former United States soccer team club based in Brooklyn, New York that played in the American Soccer League.-Brooklyn Hakoah I:Originally formed by former players of SC Hakoah Wien, they played in the American Soccer League in 1929...
to form the New York Hakoah-Americans. The Hakoah-Americans went on to win three consecutive league titles 1957, 1958, and 1959. The team also went to the 1958 Open Cup only to fall to Kutis. During the 1957-1958 season, Monsen led the ASL with twenty-two goals. 1958-1959. He was on track for a second scoring title, Pasquale Pepe gained the title with several goals in the last game of league play. Lloyd Monsen nearly won his second consecutive scoring title, but lost at the last minute to Pasquale Pepe of Newark Portuguese
Newark Portuguese
The Newark Portuguese were an American soccer club based in Newark, New Jersey that was a member of the American Soccer League. The club had been around since 1922 and bought out the Kearny Celtic franchise after the 1950/51 season....
. During his ASL career, Monsen scored ninety-eight league and forty-seven cup goals. He was also an 11 times an ASL All Star. As Monsen’s career began to wane, he moved to the New York German-Hungarians of the German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
before finishing his playing career with Swedish F.C. of the National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
. He retired from playing professionally in 1964, but remained active with amateur over age teams until 1988.
National and Olympic teams
His first game with the senior team came in a 6-0 loss to ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on April 30, 1952. He did not play again until a 3-2 loss to Iceland
Iceland national football team
The Iceland national football team is the national football team of Iceland and is controlled by the Football Association of Iceland. It has never advanced to the finals of any major international competition....
on August 25, 1955. His last game was a 7-2 loss to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in an April 28, 1957 World Cup qualifier.
Monsen was selected for the U.S. soccer team
United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. 286 competitors, 245 men and 41 women, took part in 133 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Lindy Remigino — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1952 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Olympic football tournament signalled the arrival of the 'Golden Team'; the 'Magical Magyars': Hungary. Ferenc Puskás, the great Hungarian known as the 'Galloping Major' for his military title, said of the 1952 competition: "It was during the Olympics that our football first started to...
. At that tournament, the U.S. lost 8-0 to Italy in the first round. He was again selected to the U.S. team
United States at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. 297 competitors, 251 men and 46 women, took part in 139 events in 18 sports.- Gold:*Bobby Morrow — Athletics, Men's 100 metres...
at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Olympic Games football tournament with just 11 competing nations suffered from cancellations. It was an undistinguished tournament that featured mis-matches and walkovers.-Background:...
. This time, Yugoslavia defeated the U.S., 9-1, in the first round.
Referee and administrator
On retiring from playing professionally, Monsen turned towards other soccer related activities. In 1966, he became a referee and oversaw both amateur club and collegiate games until 1975. He also was also an administrator and coach in the Long Island Soccer Football League.Baseball
In 1952, Monsen was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the Helsinki Olympics. The team was eliminated in its first game, an 8-0 loss to Italy. The Finnish Olympic Committee put on a demonstration of a local version of baseball then asked the Americans to provide a team to play the locals. The U.S. team asked Walter GieslerWalter Giesler
Walter John Giesler was an American soccer player, referee, and businessman.-Early life and career:Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Giesler would become a towering figure on the Midwestern sports landscape. After playing at McBride High School, he would compete in several amateur and professional...
, the coach of the U.S. soccer team, to organize a U.S. team. As his soccer players had nothing else to do, they formed the bulk of the U.S. baseball team. This team, with Lloyd Monsen as pitcher, defeated a Venezuelan team, 14-6, on July 29. On August 5, the U.S. defeated the Finnish team, 19-1, at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium , located in the Töölö district about from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952...
.
Non-soccer employment
In addition to his playing, refereeing, coaching and administering soccer, Monsen managed Republic Aviation property in Long IslandLong Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
.
Monsen 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 1994 and the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 1997. He currently lives in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
.