Last player from 1950 U.S. team
When Walter Bahr walked off the field in Brazil after the famous United States victory over England at the 1950 World Cup, he didn’t expect to become a soccer celebrity.
Known for many years as the father of NFL placekickers Matt and Chris, Bahr regained prominence in his own right when the Americans returned to soccer’s showcase in 1990 after a 40-year-absence.
The last living player from that 1950 team, Bahr died Monday in Pennsylvania at age 91, according to granddaughter Lindsey D. Bahr, a film writer for the Associated Press. His death was caused by complications that resulted from a broken hip.
“I say the older I get, the more famous I become,” Bahr told the AP in 2010. “I wasn’t famous for 50 years.”
A team of soccer unknowns, the U.S. won 1-0 over an England side that included Alf Ramsey and Tom Finney, who earned knighthoods.
“Walter Bahr was one of the greatest people to ever be part of soccer in the United States,” former U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. “Not only was he a pioneer and a fantastic ambassador for our game over many years, he was a true gentleman.”
Bahr was portrayed by Wes Bentley in the 2005 movie “The Game of Their Lives.”
In the match against England at Belo Horizonte on June 29, 1950, Bahr collected a throw-in from Ed McIlvenny and took a shot from about 25 yards that Joe Gaetjens deflected past goalkeeper Bert Williams with a diving header late in the first half.
“As much as we were very thrilled and pleased to win the game, most of us felt the same way: ‘How’s that English club going to go back home and face their fans?’ ” Bahr said. “It was a lot easier for us to explain the victory than for them to go back and explain that defeat.”
Bahr is survived by his wife of 71 years, the former Davies Uhler; daughter Davies Ann Desiderio and sons Matt, Chris and Casey.