The Baltimore Comets were a professional soccer team based in

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

. Founded in 1974, the Comets were an expansion team that played two seasons in the North American Soccer League. The team originally played its home matches at Memorial Stadium but moved to Burdick Field located at

Towson University Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university h ...

during the 1975 season. At the conclusion of the

1975 NASL season Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1975. This was the 8th season of the NASL. Overview The league comprised 20 teams with the Tampa Bay Rowdies winning the championship. Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in 1975. 1975 was the ...

the team moved to

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...

rebranding as the Jaws.

History

Looking to build off what was considered positive momentum in public interest in professional soccer, in January 1974 the North American Soccer League announced Baltimore as one of six cities awarded an expansion team for the upcoming 1974 season. Former

Baltimore Bays The Baltimore Bays were a professional soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1967 as one of the ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). When the NPSL and the rival United Soccer Association (USA) me ...

head coach Doug Millward returned to the city to manage the team. The Comets played their first game at home on May 4, 1974, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. The team finished in second place in the Eastern Division qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card. Peter Silvester, on

loan In finance, a loan is the lending of money by one or more individuals, organizations, or other entities to other individuals, organizations, etc. The recipient (i.e., the borrower) incurs a debt and is usually liable to pay interest on that ...

from Southend United F.C. was named 1974 league MVP. On August 15, 1974, Baltimore lost 0–1 in the quarterfinals to the

Boston Minutemen The Boston Minutemen were an American professional soccer team based out of Boston that played in the North American Soccer League (NASL). They played from 1974 to 1976. Their home fields included Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Schaefer Stadium ...

Alumni Stadium Alumni Stadium is a football stadium located on the lower campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, approximately west of downtown Boston. It is the home of the Boston College Eagles. Its present seating capacity is 44,500. Offic ...

. The Comets participated in the

1975 NASL Indoor tournament In early 1975, the North American Soccer League hosted its first league-wide indoor soccer tournament over the course of seven weeks. All but four NASL teams participated. Overview Though the Dallas Tornado had won the NASL's 1971 Hoc-Soc Tourna ...

as part of Region 3 playing at the

Bayfront Center Bayfront Center was an indoor arena located in St. Petersburg, Florida that hosted many concerts, sporting and other events. Depending on the configuration, it could hold up to 8,600 people. The arena was opened in 1965 and demolished in 2004. It ...

St. Petersburg, Florida St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 258,308, making it the fifth-most populous city in Florida and the second-largest city in the Tampa Bay Area, after Tampa. It is the ...

, and losing the two matches in which they played. During the

1975 North American Soccer League season Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1975. This was the 8th season of the NASL. Overview The league comprised 20 teams with the Tampa Bay Rowdies winning the championship. Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in 1975. 1975 was the f ...

, the Comets were evicted from Memorial Stadium due to non-payment of rent and played the remaining part of the season at Burdick Field on the campus of

Towson State University Towson University (TU or Towson) is a public university in Towson, Maryland. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first training school for teachers, Towson University is a part of the University System of Maryland. Since its founding, the university h ...

. The team ended the season in last place in the Eastern Division with a record of 9 wins and 13 loses and an average attendance of 2,641, the lowest in the league. Following the season, the team was sold and moved to

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...

Year-by-year

Honors

NASL MVP * 1974: Peter Silvester NASL All-Stars * 1974: Geoff Butler, Peter Silvester Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame members * 2019:

Alan Mayer Alan Mayer (born July 3, 1952) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team. In 2019 ...

Notes

References

{{North American Soccer League (1966–85) Defunct indoor soccer clubs in the United States Defunct soccer clubs in Maryland North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams Soccer clubs in Baltimore 1974 establishments in Maryland 1975 disestablishments in Maryland Soccer clubs in Maryland Association football clubs established in 1974 Association football clubs disestablished in 1975

History

Year-by-year

Honors

See also

Notes

References