Baltimore Blast (1980–1992)

The Baltimore Blast were a longtime member of the Major Indoor Soccer League. From 1978 to 1980, the team played as the Houston Summit, but moved prior to the 1980–81 season. The team won the league's championship in the 1983–84 season. The team folded when the MISL ceased operation in the summer of 1992.

This article is about the original Baltimore Blast that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1992. For the current team, see Baltimore Blast.
Baltimore Blast
Full nameBaltimore Blast
Founded1980
Dissolved1992
GroundBaltimore Arena
Baltimore, Maryland
Capacity11,271
ManagerKenny Cooper
LeagueMajor Indoor Soccer League

History

The aggressive promotion of the team by radio partner WFBR (then 1300 AM) was instrumental in the Blast's popularity. Art Sinclair and Charley Eckman handled the play-by-play.

The team was owned by Bernie Rodin, who also owned the Rochester Lancers and the New York Arrows. Mike Zolotorow was the long-time Equipment Manager for 20 years.

The 1983–84 championship team

In the 1983–84 playoffs, Baltimore advanced to the championship series by defeating the New York Arrows 3–1 in the quarterfinal best-of-five series, then beating the Cleveland Force 3–0 in the semifinal series. In the best-of-seven championship series, Baltimore defeated the St. Louis Steamers 4–1 to claim the 1984 MISL championship.[1]

In 1991, the Blast contested the Trans-Atlantic challenge, a one-off indoor soccer game at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. They beat English First Division team Sheffield Wednesday to win the trophy. Wednesday had American international John Harkes in their ranks. The game was the one and only occasion that Eric Cantona played for Sheffield Wednesday during his infamous trial.

Year-by-year
Year League Reg. season Playoffs Attendance average
1980–81 MISL 2nd, Atlantic Semifinals 6,540
1981–82 MISL 3rd, Eastern Semifinals 9,557
1982–83 MISL 1st, Eastern Finals 10,729
1983–84 MISL 1st, Eastern Champions 11,189
1984–85 MISL 1st, Eastern Finals 11,051
1985–86 MISL 4th, Eastern Quarterfinals 10,189
1986–87 MISL 2nd, Eastern Division Semifinals 9,936
1987–88 MISL 4th, Eastern Division Semifinals 8,221
1988–89 MISL 1st Finals 8,170
1989–90 MISL 1st, Eastern Finals 8,530
1990–91 MSL 3rd, Eastern did not qualify 7,432
1991–92 MSL 4th Semifinals 8,206

Personnel

Head coach

Players

Retired numbers
Mike Reynolds playing for the Blast in 1988

Arenas

References
  1. Major Indoor Soccer League (1984). "MISL 1984–85 Media Guide". p. 67.
  2. "Blast to honor Reynolds". The Evening Sun. 18 October 1991. p. C6.
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