Ben Millers was a U.S. soccer club sponsored by the Ben W. Miller Hat Company of St. Louis, Missouri.
Founded in 1913, it entered the St. Louis Soccer League two years later, winning seven league titles and one National Challenge Cup before its disbandment in 1935.
History
A Ben Millers team, managed by E. Brinkman, competed in the St. Louis Association Foot Ball League during the 1904–05 season.1904–05 Spalding's Soccer Foot Ball Guide, see p. 20 In 1913, Ben Millers entered the Athletic Park League in St. Louis, Missouri. The Athletic Park League had been created that season after disagreements about permissible levels of professionalism had split the St. Louis Soccer League."Soccer League To Play Games At Cards' Park". (September 18, 1913). St. Louis Post-Dispatch, p.19 col.5
St. Leo's, the city’s only fully professional team joined with several other St. Louis teams, including Ben Millers, to form the Federal Park League. This league existed only two seasons as the differences dividing the previous SLSL teams were reconciled leading to the re-establishment of the SLSL in 1915. Ben Millers joined the reconstituted SLSL, immediately asserting its dominance by winning three consecutive league titles. While the National Challenge Cup was established by the United States Football Association in 1914, the St. Louis teams did not enter it until 1918.
In 1920, Ben Millers became the first team outside of the northeast to win the trophy.Ben Millers of St. Louis Defeat Fore River For National Soccer Title While they never repeated as champions, they made the final in 1926. The team continued strong into the late 1920s but began to fade with the new decade. Frankie Vaughan took over as manager for the 1935–36 season.
Team ownership Peter Ratican owned Ben Millers in the early 1920s. Following his death in 1923, his widow owned the team for a time.January 22, 1923 The Globe article
Record Season Record League National Cup 1913–14 7–4–2 2nd did not participate 1914–15 8–3–2 2nd did not participate 1915–16 12–5–3 Champion did not participate 1916–17 10–8–2 Champion did not participate 1917–18 9–5–3 Champion did not participate 1918–19 5–9–7 4th did not participate 1919–20 8–6–7 Champion Champion 1920–21 8–3–6 2nd did not participate 1921–22 8–7–6 2nd Fourth Round 1922–23 4–8–5 4th did not participate 1923–24 2–8–4 4th did not participate 1924–25 11–4–3 Champion did not participate 1925–26 8–3–3 Champion Runners-up 1926–27 8–3–1 Champion Semifinals 1927–28 5–7–2 3rd Semifinals 1928–29 5–7–5 3rd First Round 1929–30 3–4–7 3rd First Round 1930–31 6–7–4 4th Semifinal 1931–32 7–7–2 2nd First Round 1932–33 5–8–2 3rd First Round 1933–34 6–6–1 2nd Second Round 1934–35 0–10–4 4th First Round 1935–36 2–6–0 4th First Round
References
External links St. Louis Soccer League standings