Old Blast Players Return to Charm City Saturday
November 21, 2002 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore, MD â The Baltimore Blast will play the San Diego Sockers Saturday night for the first time in more than a decade and the 1983-84 MISL Championship Team will be in town to take part in the festivities. Nearly every member of the 1983-84 Baltimore Blast team that won the 1984 Championship in five games over the St. Louis Steamers will return to Baltimore for a 5:30 p.m. match up against the "Baltimore Legends".
The Baltimore and San Diego rivalry dates back to the 1982-83 season when the Sockers joined the MISL and defeated the Blast in the championship series. The Sockers won eight championships in the original MISL, four of which came against the Blast (1983, 1985, 1989 and 1990).
"Tribute Game": Nearly every member of the 1983-84 Championship Baltimore Blast Team will play Saturday at 5:30 p.m. against the "Baltimore Legends" Team. Admission to the "Tribute Game" is free with a ticket to the Blast vs. Sockers game. In addition to the Legends Game, the Blast will be honoring the memory of Stan "the Magician" Stamenkovic and Joey Maggitti, a local soccer player who passed away in the September 11th tragedy.
Game-Worn Jersey Silent Auction: The Blast will be auctioning off the jerseys worn Saturday night by the 1983-84 Blast team on the Arena stage beginning at 5 p.m. Bidding will end at the end of the third quarter of the Blast vs. Sockers game. Following the Tribute Game, the '83-84 Blast players will autograph the jerseys so the highest bidder will be able to take their jersey home Saturday night.
Meet the 1983-84 Blast at Luigi Petti Friday Night: The 1983-84 Blast team will be at Luigi Petti in Little Italy Friday night for a meet and greet with fans starting at 8 p.m. The players will be gathered in the bar area of Luigi Petti and available to meet fans and mingle with restaurant patrons.
The Blast has 12 remaining home games during the 2002-03 season, including this Saturday night's "Tribute Night" against the Sockers. Single-game tickets cost $18, $15 and $13 and are on sale now at the Baltimore Arena Box Office, by calling TicketMaster at 410-481-SEAT or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Group discounts are available for all games. For additional information on all Blast tickets, call the Blast office at 410-73-BLAST.
1983-84 Baltimore Blast Roster:
#00 Keith Van Eron
#2 Bobby McAvan
#3 Heinz Wirtz
#5 Mike Stankovic
#6 Dave MacWilliams
#7 Paul Kitson
#9 Max Thompson
#11 Pat Ercoli
#12 Jim Pollihan
#14 Joey Fink
#15 Richard Chinapoo
#17 Tim Wittman
#18 Adrian Brooks
#19 Nick Mangione
#21 Lou Nagy
#31 Scott Manning
#33 Juan Carlos Macchia
Head Coach: Kenny Coach
Baltimore "Legends" Roster:
George Taratsides
Kevin Willner
Mario Scilipoti
Pete Caringi
Mike Woodard
Gino Pennacchia
John Houska
Steve Zerhusen
Ron Szczybor
Frank Olszewski
Dale Rothe
Mike Wall
Scott Wittman
Nello Caltabiano
Dino Mangione
Sonny Askew
Pete Notaro
Rich Cuomo
Jack Quaranta
John Shields
Coaches: Ed Veit
George Barry
Jim Bullington
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from November 21, 2002
- Old Blast Players Return to Charm City Saturday - Baltimore Blast
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