July 4 (1976)

The U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame inducts the entire 1950 U.S. World Cup team that defeated England, 1-0. The team includes St. Louisans Bob Annis, Frank Borghi, Charley Colombo, Harry Keough, Gino Pariani and Frank “Pee Wee” Wallace. Borghi, Colombo, Keough, Pariani and Wallace played in all three of the USA’s Cup matches in 1950 at a time when no substitutions were allowed. The USA opened the tournament against Spain and led, 1-0, on a goal by Pariani until Spain scored three times in the final 12 minutes. Wallace scored in a 5-2 loss to Chile in the USA’s final game of the tournament. St. Louisan and U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Walter Giesler, who was credited with putting together the 1950 U.S. team as president of the federation at the time, collapses while delivering a speech at the induction ceremonies in Philadelphia on July 4, 1976. He will die the next day.