Ralph Black 1992

Ralph Black was born October 6th, 1963. He began his career with the Denver Avalanche of the MISL. The Avalanche folded at the end of 1981-1982 season. He then moved to the Baltimore Blast. However, in 1984, MISL granted a franchise in Washington State, known as the Tacoma Stars. Ralph established himself as a mainstay in the Stars defense.

He was on the roster of the San Jose Earthquakes of the Western Soccer League during the 1988 outdoor season. He spent at least the 1989-1990 season with the San Diego Sockers in the MISL.

However, he was back in Tacoma for the 1991-1992 indoor season. The Stars and MISL folded in 1992.

Ralph joined the Rowdies for the 1992 APSL season, he would go onto make 14 appearances.

He then moved to the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League for two seasons, 1992-1994. However, in 1993 he moved back west to sign with the expansion Anaheim Splash of the newly established Continental Indoor Soccer League. In 1994, he was the CISL Defender of the Year as well as a member of the All-CISL First Team. In 1995, he moved back to the Pacific Northwest League to play for the Seattle SeaDogs. He was named to the 1995 CISL All Star game, but was unable to play due to an injury. However, in 1996, he moved to the Portland Pride. He played that and the 1997 season with the Pride.

At the end of the 1997 season, the CISL folded and the Pride, under new ownership, changed its name to the Portland Pythons. The Pythons then helped found the Premier Soccer Alliance. The PSA played one season, 1998, before changin its name to the World Indoor Soccer League. Ralph remained with the team through all these changes, becoming the Pythons’ head coach for 1998 and 1999, after retiring as a player. At the end of the 1999 season, the Pythons folded when a rumoured move to Tacoma, Washington fell through.

Today, Ralph turns out for the Tacoma Stars Reunions.
He has been a boys' youth soccer coach in recent years and currently coaches boys' youth teams with Washington Premier Football Club in Tacoma, Washington. More details can be found at: http://www.washingtonpremierfc.com/