×
Changes Afoot

1951 – Around the World and Close to Home

As the Korean War rages on, passage of the 22nd Amendment limits Presidents to two terms and the Rosenbergs are sentenced to death for treason. Washington launches its state ferry system and Seattle’s KING broadcasts the first live television news program in the Pacific Northwest.

Changes Afoot

While the Washington top tier’s geographical footprint would shrink, the state senior league would add two sponsored clubs’ whose names would grow synonymous with championship contenders for many years to come.

Throughout the Twenties and Thirties the Vikings moniker was activated and associated with squads primarily of Scandinavian heritage. The pirates of the Norse are brought back once more, following a 13-year hiatus, for the 1950-51 season. It’s not truly a new team, as the Vikings are a rebrand of Acme Tyee, the defending champions. Different name, same outcome the Vikings claim a total of five prizes, including the league, knockout cup and finally the Northwest champions with a resounding 7-0 rout of Oregon’s Clan McCleay.

The other new club is just growing into its skin. The Buchan Baking Co. sponsors the youngest entry in the top division, a cast created predominantly from the Fremont Boys Club. Eddie Craggs brings his Bakers into the senior circuit. They debut versus eventual league finalist Seattle SC and only fall, 1-0. They would take their share of lumps but also stayed out of the league cellar by winning a few matches.

By the second half of the campaign all six teams are from Seattle, a city celebrating its centennial year. Black Diamond, once a force in the region, leaves the league after a humbling first half when the Miners were humiliated by the Vikings, 11-nil, and only managed to field a respectable side by picking-up players from the disbanded E&E Meats.

The Vikings found themselves on the other end of such lopsided loss, albeit in a friendly, a few months later. Stockholm’s AIK, just the second touring professional club to visit Seattle, delivers a 12-2 beating. Still, it’s an occasion to bring together the game’s extended family, with an outstanding turnout of 5,000 at West Seattle Stadium.

Northwest Champion
Vikings 7:0 Clan McCleay (Portland))
State Men's Champion
Seattle SC
State Knockout Cup
Vikings 3:1 Sunny Jim
Largest Attendance
5,000, Vikings v AIK (Sweden), West Seattle

Close ×

  1950 1952  

1951: Changes Afoot

There's some new kids in town, the Bakers, and Vikings become the team to beat. Meanwhile, Black Diamond's days on pitch are done.

YEAR IN REVIEW
Vikings Avenge Cup Loss
March 25, 1951

In their second cup final meeting in three weeks, the Vikings avenge a loss to Sunny Jim in the league knockout cup. A goal in each half by Thor Ronning carries Norselander to a 3-1 win at White Center.

Briscoe Wins Parochial League
November 25, 1951

Briscoe School wins the Seattle Parochial League with 3-2 victory over St. Anne’s at Lower Woodland despite Oliver Flor’s 2 goals. St. Mary’s finishes the CYO league unbeaten by beating St. Benedict’s of Broadway, 5-4.

Seattle SC Clinches on Own Goal
February 11, 1951

A late own goal gifts Seattle SC the decisive goal in the second-half title race with Sunny Jim. SSC (8-0-2) earns the title with a 2-1 win at Lower Woodland. The decline for Sunny Jim began a week earlier when league secretary Vic Weston ruled they had used an ineligible player in a 9-1 victory over Buchan. The Bakers were awarded a forfeit, the Jims’ first loss of the stage.

Brothers Score Six-Pack
January 15, 1951

Brothers Gene and Merle Mjelde score three goals apiece in Seattle Soccer Club’s seventh straight league win, 6-1 win over Black Diamond.

Norselander Wins State League
April 1, 1951

Vikings get two goals and an assist from Norwegian Per Petersen to overpower Seattle SC, 5-2, for the league championship and McMillan Cup at White Center Stadium.

Stockholm's AIK Routs Vikings
June 17, 1951

A crowd of 5,000 packs West Seattle Stadium for an international friendly featuring Sweden’s AIK. The Stockholm side, which had already beaten the ASL All-Stars in New York, 4-0, throttle the state champion Vikings, 12-2. G. Nillson opens the scoring after three minutes and B. Blackwell nets four times for the Swedes.

Sponsors Step Up to Secure Swedes
May 27, 1951

Five major individual sponsors step up to provide a $2,000 guarantee for Sweden’s AIK to visit Seattle. AIK’s tour will begin on the East Coast, with matches in New York and Massachusetts before moving on to Detroit and then Vancouver and Seattle. Einar Carlson, Axel Thornberg, Ivan Anderson, Austin Gunderson and Barney Kempton are the sponsors for the June 17 friendly versus the state champion Vikings at West Seattle Stadium. AIK was recently relegated from Sweden’s first division, the Allsvenskan.

Teen Steps Up for Vikes
March 18, 1951

In the absence of regular keeper Perry Stangvik, 15-year-old Bob Moser, usually a midfielder, steps between the sticks for the Vikings’ 5-1 win over Black Diamond in the semifinals of the league knockout cup.

Vikings Rule Northwest
April 8, 1951

Erling Hansen’s hat trick is enough, but the Vikings add four more goals to decisively earn Northwest bragging rights with a 7-nil pounding of Portland’s Clan McCleay at White Center. Emmett Brennan, Sig Edngelstad, Austin Gunderson also score for the Vikes.

Sunny Jim Rises Again
March 4, 1951

Sunny Jim, after finishing the second half of league play with two defeats, regroups and rises to blank the Vikings, 3-0, in the George Washington Cup final at White Center. Sunny Jim, coached by Gordon Roberts, gets goals from Ben Weischer, Ivor Merryfield and Walter Clark.

Fyfe Bags 4 for Bakers
December 9, 1951

Dave Fyfe scores four goals for Buchans in a 5-0 win over United Restaurants. Meanwhile, the Vikings debut their three new recruits: Billy Smith, formerly of Pacific Coast League’s North Shore, Oslo’s Lars Torviw and Dane Carl Pedersen.

Vikings Lift 4th Trophy
April 15, 1951

The Vikings lift their fourth trophy of the season by winning the 16-team five-a side tournament at White Center. Five of the entries are form Vancouver, including Sunset Memorial, the British Columbia junior champions who fall to Vikes, 3-1 in the final. Erling Hansen, Einar Eliasson and Emmett Brennan score in the 15-minute match.

“
AIK carried the attack all the way, dribbling, butting and feinting the ball to coast to the lopsided win. The Swedes let the ball do the work while the Seattle eleven chased it under a warm afternoon sun.
— Seattle Times match report for Vikings v AIK

On this Day in History
November 10, 1996
Freshmen Jana Wilson and Katey Ward each score in their first Apple Cup meeting with Washington State, helping the Washington close-out the regular season with a 2-0 victory in Pullman. The Huskies earn their highest finish in the Pac-10, tying for second place, and the NCAA includes them in the tournament field for the third straight year. It's the third straight UW win over WSU in the series. No. 3 Portland eliminates Washington in the first round. Seven of eight losses are inflicted by ranked opponents.
More from 1996 ›
May 27, 2006
Camas becomes the first boys' champion from the southwest corner of the state in 14 years with a 1-0 victory over Lakeside in the 3A final at Sumner. Billy Keyser is the game's lone goal scorer, steering Greg Beasley's errant shot into the net in the 14th minute. Papermakers defender Jason Martschinske makes four saves with hustling clearances, including a header off the goal line late in the first half. It's the 17th shutout for Camas (19-2-1), which won its first title. It's the only loss for Lakeside (15-1-4).
More from 2006 ›
December 4, 1960
Seattle CYO Cadet champion St. John's forces the Vancouver North Shore All-Stars to overtime before losing, 2-1, at Lower Woodland. Usually a two-leg competition knowns as the Oldershaw Cup, this edition scrubs the B.C. leg due to a conflict with the Grey Cup and is rebranded Catholic War Veteran's Trophy.
More from 1960 ›
January 17, 1991
FC Seattle Storm joins a growing list of teams opting out of playing the 1991 APSL season. More than half of the 11 teams that made up the APSL's Western Soccer League Conference last year are expected to join Seattle on the sidelines. Portland, San Diego, New Mexico, California and Los Angeles are already out, and Santa Barbara is is doubtful. It leaves any survivors in a smaller league with increased travel costs. Coaching director Clive Charles and coach Stuart Lee remain on the payroll and will head up the Storm's summer camp and academy. Eight players are under contract, including APSL scoring champ Chance Fry.
More from 1991 ›
© Washington State Legends 2025.