St Louis
Spirits
The Official Gridball Site
St Louis Spirits
Sixth 1959
Cup: 4th Place 1960
Formed 1951
Colours: Magenta
Feeder Teams: Kansas City Cowgirls, Springfield Ozarks, Columbia Athenians, Independence Starburst, Lee's Summit Climbers
Championship Sixth: 1959
Cup 4th place 1960
Record Appearances:
Jocelyn Arden {107} 1959-1961
Record Scorer:
Maggie Cresswell {68} {1956-1960}
Record Victory
7-0 vs Iowa {19th April 1958}
Record Defeat
1-9 at Houston {24th August 1958}
Most Goals in a Game: 5
Maggie Cresswell 7-0 vs Iowa {19th April 1958} & 6-0 vs Nord {28th June 1958}
Most Goals in a Season: 19
Maggie Cresswell {1958}
Season History
1954 First Round
1955 First Round
1956 First Round
1957 Second Round
1958 Second Round
1959 Quarter Finals [6th overall]
1960 13th {Cup 4th}
Players of the Year
None
Young Players of the Year
Marsha Blumenthal {1959}
Team of the Season
Marsha Blumenthal {1959}
Golden Bat
None
Silver Bat
Bronze Bat
Nations Cup Champions
None
International Representatives
Jocelyn Arden {United States 1960}
Dyanne Callen {United States 1960}
Amzie Dole {United States 1960-61}
The St Louis Story
Missouri was among the twelve franchises offered to join Gridball in 1954, by which time the team had been located in St Louis and given the nickname Spirits, in honour of the famous plane flown across the Atlantic by St Louis son, Charles Lindbergh. The team chose an all magenta kit as the team colour while setting up home in St Louis Arena.
The Spirits were the last team accepted for Gridball to be granted automatic entry to the Championship proper, being ranked 48th of 48 in the 1954 competition. The Spirits have been ever present since then, reaching the Second Round for the first time in 1956. They've never failed to make the last sixteen in the five years since, achieving a best ever finish of sixth in 1959. Their closest run to a trophy was in the 1960 Open Cup when they reached the semi finals.
St Louis @ Kent {won 7-4}
6th May 1961
Netminder: Linda Long: Age 22: Rated 4 {Very Good}
Replaced Dyanne Callen this season
Left Guard: Jocelyn Arden: Age 28: Rated 4 {Very Good}
USA International
Right Guard: Barbara Franklin: Age 22: Rated 4 {Very Good}
Signed from Memphis this season
Sweeper: Judy Peaker: Age 19: Rated 4 {Very Good}
Signed from Oklahoma this season
Centre: Amzie Dole: Age 21: Rated 8 {Superstar}
USA International
Coach: Mary Norton: Age 42: Rated 2 {Respected}
Took the team to best ever 6th place 1959
Attacker: Marjorie Bloom: Age 21: Rated 5 {Excellent}
{6} World Class Shooter new from Philadelphia
Shooter: Jean Allen: Age 20: Rated 7 {Star}
Golden Bat with Mississippi in 1957 New singing
1961 Team Rating {Very Good}
1961 World Ranking {8}
Highest {8} 1961
Dyanne Callan, in action against the late great Beryl Lugg-Neville of Willesden in 1957