Bahr, of World Cup team in ’50, dies at 91

When Walter Bahr walked off the field in Brazil after the 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 two NFL placekickers, 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 Boalsburg, Penn., at age 91. His death was caused by complications from a broken hip.

“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 unknowns, the U.S. won 1-0 over an England side that included Alf Ramsey and Tom Finney, who earned knighthoods. Bahr was portrayed by Wes Bentley in the 2005 movie “The Game of Their Lives.”

Bahr started all three U.S. matches at the 1950 World Cup. A defender who scored one goal in 19 international appearances, he made his debut in a World Cup qualifier against Cuba in 1949, joining a national team that had lost its seven previous international matches by a combined 45-2. The Americans tied Cuba 1-1 in his debut, lost to Mexico, then beat Cuba as Bahr scored and earned a trip to the 1950 tournament in Brazil.

The U.S. wasted a late lead to Spain in its opener and lost 3-1. England was coming off a win over Chile. In the match 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 in the first half. Frank Borghi’s spectacular saves made the lead stand up.

Bahr was a Temple University graduate and part of the 1948 U.S. Olympic team. He coached Penn State to 12 NCAA tournament appearances from 1974-88 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame with the entire 1950 team in 1976.