This Day in US Open Cup History… and the Holiday

Today’s historical look back in time will be a two-parter. First we’ll do the usual ‘This Day’ feature, followed by a look back at the tournament in honor of Presidents Day.

This Day in US Open Cup History: 

In 1944, Brooklyn Hispano defeated Eintracht SC 3-0 in the Quarterfinals of their championship tournament campaign. It was an impressive run by Brooklyn Hispano as they won every game in that tournament by shutout with the exception of the Second Round in which they were forced to play two replays to get past local rival Brooklyn Wanders. They opened the tournament with a 4-0 victory against Brooklyn Germans in the Round of 32. The following round the Wanderers took them to a 3-3 stalemate January 23 that continued in a 4-4 extra time draw a week later. On February 6, Hispano finally had the edge, 3-2, when the final whistle sounded, once again in overtime. After two weeks off, it became smooth sailing as they blanked Eintracht to advance to the semifinals, where they posted another 3-0 victory against Kearny Celtic March 5. The Final, May 14, finished as the tournament began with a 4-0 win against Morgan Strasser at the Polo Grounds in New York.

PRESIDENTS DAY

Public observance of the holiday has changed over the years for a day that is still officially a federal holiday for Washington’s Birthday. Since it was unofficially expanded to include Lincoln’s birthday and other applicable presidents in other states, I thought it would be interesting to take a look back in Open Cup regard to who the President of the United States was when the tournament started in 1913-14: Woodrow Wilson. Upon review, I have to say: for a president that is not discussed much, a lot happened before, during and because of his presidency that had long-term effects for the nation.

Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States was in office for two terms from 1913-1921, serving over the course of the First World War. Prior to becoming President, the Democrat served as Governor from 1911-13 for the state of New Jersey – a hotbed for American soccer at the time.

President Wilson & Sports: Wilson has a few interesting sports facts related to him. He was the first sitting President to attend a World Series game, and also first to throw out the first pitch at a World Series game (1915). He was also an avid cyclist and holds the record among presidents for most rounds of golf, playing over 1,000 rounds, which is almost every other day – the Secret Service even painted the balls black so he could play during the winter on the White House lawn... In an indirect soccer link: Among all the things named after him (and other US Presidents), one is section of a major roadway, the Rambla Presidente Wilson, in Montevideo, Uruguay - the site of the first World Cup in 1930.

President Wilson Facts: In 1929 he was the President issued on the $100,000 bill - the highest ever issued by the United States, though only used as transfers between Federal Reserve banks... He is the only president buried in Washington DC (Washington National Cathedral)... He is the only president to hold an earned PhD and only one to serve in a political office in New Jersey... As president, he nominated the first Jew to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis (1916)... During the 1912 election, Wilson was the candidate that was the impetus behind the African American population shifting from Abraham Lincoln' Republican Party to the Democratic Party... Wilson was also a large rationale for the 25th Amendment concerning ‘succession to the Presidency’ due to his struggles with incapacitation during the presidency... In 1914, the US made a declaration of neutrality regarding World War I and he was re-elected in 1916 with a campaign of "He kept us out of war," but war would later be declared in 1917... His first wife Ellen died in August 1914, but he would remarry in 1915... Though Wilson worked to integrate immigrants into the Democratic Party, he had issues due to the Irish-American community's dislike of the UK. They opposed the idea of the US being war allies with the British, but liked that Wilson promised to request Ireland independence only to be disappointed when he reneged at Versailles. 
 
US OPEN CUP DURING WILSON PRESIDENCY

The US Open Cup, then known as the National Challenge Cup, was launched by the new USFA with 40 of the 287 invited clubs taking part. The tournament began in November of 1913 and concluded May 16 the following year with Brooklyn Field Club defeating Brooklyn Celtic, 2-1, at Coates Field (Pawtucket, RI) in front of an approximated 10,000. The club also won the 1913-14 National Association Football League (NAFBL) title and would later join the American Soccer League in 1921 before disbanding in 1924.

The tournament featured only four teams from New Jersey, where Wilson served as governor before becoming president.

Bethlehem Steel were, by far, the dominant team of the tournament during Wilson’s Presidency. They reached the final five consecutive years after Brooklyn FC won the inaugural event. Bethlehem Steel defeated Brooklyn Celtic in 1915 for their first of four championships over that span, also claiming titles in 1916, 1918 and 1919 with Fall River Rovers snaring a title of their own in 1917 to spoil a perfect run. In 1920, Ben Millers won the final National Challenge Cup title of Wilson’s Presidency, defeating Fore River. The Missouri club was the first club to not only host the final, but win the tournament championship outside of the Northeast. 

PRE-US OPEN CUP

Whilst Wilson served as governor in New Jersey, two of the three American Cup (mostly clubs from northeast) champions hailed from his state. Paterson True Blues won the tournament for a third time (1896, 1909) in their eighth championship appearance in 1913 - the last edition prior to the National Challenge Cup, though the tournament continued until 1924. The club, established in 1887, disbanded two years later. In 1912, West Hudson Athletic Association became three-time champions of the American Cup (1906, 1908) in the third of four championship appearances. They defeated Paterson True Blues in the final of both of the first two titles they claimed. The 1912 win was the nation's first 'double' as they also won the NAFBL championship.

USASA Qualifying Update

DC / Virginia Final

The 2012 DC/Virginia Open Cup Final is this Sunday, February 19 at 2 pm ET. The match features the only two entries from the region, Aegean Hawks and Atletico VA, and will be played at Long Bridge Park in Arlington, VA.

Region IV Deadline Reminder

The registration deadline for the Region IV USASA Open Cup tournament is April 6. Teams interested in participating from the following states are eligible to play in the tournament: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The event will be held May 4-6 at a site to be announced.