1983–84 Major Indoor Soccer League season


The 1983–84 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the sixth in league history and ended with the Baltimore Blast winning their first MISL championship. The Blast would beat the St. Louis Steamers in the championship series, the third time in five seasons the Steamers would lose in the MISL championship round. This would be the first time the MISL finals would be a best-of-seven series, part of the league's expanded playoff format.

Recap

With the North American Soccer League restarting their indoor league in the fall of 1983, the defending champion San Diego Sockers, Chicago Sting and Golden Bay Earthquakes would not rejoin the MISL for the upcoming season. To replace the teams, the Tacoma Stars began play this season.
While there were some franchises who would begin a run of respectability at the box office, the Cleveland Force chief among them, others would see the end of their run. The New York Arrows, Buffalo Stallions and Phoenix Pride would all go out of business at the end of the season. Despite winning the first four MISL titles, the Arrows never gained a foothold in the New York market. Changing the name of the Phoenix franchise would not bring about an improved record and new owner Bruce Merrill was ready to fold after losing $2 million in less than a year. The Stallions, in particular, would be caught trying to move out of their Buffalo Memorial Auditorium offices without paying back rent, similar to what had happened with the NFL's Baltimore Colts a few months earlier.
Not all news was bad. The Force and Blast routinely drew strong crowds, and the new franchise in Tacoma nearly made the playoffs. The MISL drew 2.5 million to their games, and another 300,000 attended the playoff games. One game was televised on CBS, as well.
After the season, the Memphis Americans would move to Las Vegas.

Teams

Regular season schedule

The 1983–84 regular season schedule ran from November 4, 1983, to April 21, 1984.
It would be the first time in MISL history that the length of the schedule stayed the same as the previous year. In this case, each team continued to play 48 games apiece.

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.
Eastern DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
Baltimore Blast3414.708--28020320-414-10
Pittsburgh Spirit3216.667224520419-513-11
Cleveland Force3117.646326922918-613-11
New York Arrows2028.4171423228012-128-16
Memphis Americans1830.3751621628414-104-20
Buffalo Stallions1533.3131922627912-123-21

Western DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
St. Louis Steamers2622.542--22020216-810-14
Wichita Wings2523.521123722817-78-16
Los Angeles Lazers2424.500222323913-1111-13
Kansas City Comets2325.479323224615-98-16
Tacoma Stars2226.458422623214-108-16
Phoenix Pride1830.375822124912-126-18

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship Series

Regular Season Player Statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Stan StamenkovicBaltimore Blast46346997
Kai HaaskiviCleveland Force47375188
Craig AllenCleveland Force44493786
Mark LivericNew York Arrows48582684
Fred GrgurevNew York/Memphis50423476
Andy ChapmanWichita Wings46532174
Poli GarciaLos Angeles Lazers48393372
Keith FurphyCleveland Force48393170
Gordon HillKansas City Comets41462470
Louie NanchoffCleveland Force42363369

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWL
Slobo IlijevskiSt. Louis Steamers4023361433.672215
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast2815521044.02188
Joe PapaleoPittsburgh Spirit2514551004.12168
Mike MahoneyLos Angeles Lazers4223901724.321918
Mike DowlerWichita Wings4627241964.322521
Krys SobieskiCleveland Force3217161254.37197
John BarettaTacoma Stars3017411304.481114
Blagoje TamindzicPhoenix Pride3014861164.68914
Enzo DiPedeKansas City Comets3921801744.791818
Wieslaw SurlitBuffalo Stallions3517361555.361020

Playoff Player Statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Stan StamenkovicBaltimore Blast12132033
Dave MacWilliamsBaltimore Blast12121426
Njego PesaSt. Louis Steamers1315924
Pat ErcoliBaltimore Blast1016218
Don EbertSt. Louis Steamers129716

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWL
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast9500313.7280
Chris VaccaroCleveland Force6325224.0633
Enzo DiPedeKansas City Comets5286224.6222
Slobo IllijevskiSt. Louis Steamers10596484.8364
Mike DowlerWichita Wings7398345.1333

All-MISL Teams

Honorable Mention Position
Scott Manning, BaltimoreG
Helmut Dudek, MemphisD
Ray Evans, TacomaD
Batata, Los AngelesF
Poli Garcia, Los AngelesF

League Awards

Most Valuable Player: Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore
Scoring Champion: Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore
Pass Master: Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore
Defender of the Year: Kim Roentved, Wichita
Rookie of the Year: Kevin Maher, Pittsburgh
Goalkeeper of the Year: Slobo Ilijevski, St. Louis
Coach of the Year: Kenny Cooper, Baltimore
Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Scott Manning, Baltimore

Team Attendance Totals