Brazilian soccer legend Pele signed with the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League on this date in 1975. He signed a three year- 7 million dollar contract. This was the biggest contract in sports at the time. The Cosmos didn’t stop there they later brought in the great Franz Beckinbauer {Der Kaiser} Giorgio Chinaglia, Pele’s Brazilian teammate Carlos Alberto. The signing of Pele to play in America [at the end of his career- he would play until 1977} still the biggest thing to ever happen to soccer in America.That and the World Cup 1994 . Pele fever took over- I remember the sellouts at Giant Stadium. Everyone was marvelling- can you imagine this- sell out crowds in America for soccer.  A great documentary was made a few years ago “Once In A Lifetime” about Pele and the Cosmos.

Pele may have been the greatest player ever. There are those who say Diego Maradona was just as great if not superior-but because of his off the field problems over the years soccer officials don’t want to give him the credit he is due.