Happy 65th birthday to Jerry Bevans, the American defender who spent the 1978 NASL season with the San Jose Earthquakes.
Photos, courtesy of the Wee Man, from the San Jose contingent at the NASL 50th Anniversary Reunion at the US Soccer Hall of Fame in Dallas in October 2018.
Yeah, Zungul came the US for a "vacation", at least that is what he told his club, Hajuk Split, in the then country of Yugoslavia. He was one of the top players in Europe at the time and a member of their non-World Cup national side. He was not eligible to play FIFA tournament games for Yugoslavia because he had not completed his compulsory military service (a rule for Yugoslavian Federation rule for tournament play)...so no World Cup appearances. He appeared in several "friendlies", but none (friendlies or otherwise) after he came to the US because he did not honor his contract with Hajuk Split. He was a top goal scorer in Europe and playing the indoor game in America, he was a natural. There were seasons when he personally scored almost as many goals as other teams' total from all players combined. After Quakes owner Carl Berg won a court order, he played two outdoor seasons for the Quakes, continuing his penchant for goal scoring. He played 18 indoor games his first year with the Arrows, scoring 43 goals in those 18 games. His first indoor season with the Quakes, he played 28 games, with 48 goals. Outdoors with the Quakes, he had 16 goals and 15 assists in 1983, on one of the greatest teams ever for the Quakes. In 1984, the team was pretty bad, but he still tallied 20 goals and 10 assists in 24 games (unfortunately, no one else did much).
To honor our MLS current all-time goals scored hero, here’s Ilija Mitic, the NASL Quakes, first all-time goals scored hero. I’m lucky to have seen both of them play in person, and to have been there when Wondo scored in the ASG in Philly in 2012.
Wow, I didn't know that Herfy's had made it down into the bay area. They were an iconic Northwest burger chain that was founded in Everett, WA. They finally went under more than a decade ago, but, someone has taken over the name and logo and opened up new locations.
I vaguely remember my family eating at a local Herfy's once or twice way back when, though my family's regular fast food haunt for much of my early childhood was The Red Barn (I think there's a Peet's Coffee there now). . I'm old! GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
Figured these posts belonged here.... Hewitt was a great GK but it was sad that in those years, 1978-1981 and part of 82, the team wasn't that great. When Hewitt went down, Chris Turner provided some excitement but then somehow, was traded. I think he was too young to stick around. Phil Parkes filled in for Mike when he was injured and was actually on the field when George Best scored his most famous goal. I recall him saying, "I was on the other then of the field and he nearly faked me out"! Parkes was one of the greatest GK's to play in the old NASL but sadly, he only lasted 10 games with the Quakes and was past his prime in San Jose. Bill Irwin was also a great GK and he finally unseated Mike Hewitt who was traded to Montreal in 1983.
Always felt Irwin and Stetler were cut from the same cloth. I didn't rate them much, certainly not on Hewitt's level. About the only thing that was a positive, at least from a management perspective, was that they played for less and they came from the Carbray tree of talent (or lack there of - See Boyce, Barney...)
Ouch Barney Boyce! He used to live around the corner from me. He was a nice guy but a horrid defender. How funny. He stayed with the Quakes in the WSA league after they went amateur and eventually became coach. Owners Bill Lunghi, Tony Zanotto and the Mexican International player Tomas Boy finally got rid of him in 1988. The team folded shortly after that paving way for Dan Van Voorhis and the SF Bay Blackhawks. I can't believe 30 years have passed since those days.