Peter Ratican started one of the most famous soccer families in St. Louis. Ratican played halfback for Christian Brothers’ College in the 1904 Olympic soccer tournament, and later played professionally with St. Theresa in the St. Louis Soccer League, the first US professional soccer league. Ratican eventually became the owner-manager of Ben Millers soccer franchise, one of the most successful soccer clubs in US history during the 1910s. They won St. Louis Soccer League titles in 1915-18 and 1920 and the US Open Cup in 1920. Outside of sports, Ratican worked with the family firm Ratican Coal & Contracting, but died rather young, aged only 35, due to a brain tumor. His younger brother, Harry, was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame.
United States