Know Your History, MLS Sounders, Washington Soccer

USMNT: Grown in Washington

So exactly when did DeAndre Yedlin become an old man? Answer: The moment this list of of the youngest capped homegrown Washingtonians was compiled.

Tuesday night in Dublin, Mercer Island native Jordan Morris became the ninth Evergreen State native to play for the US Men’s National Team while under the age of 21. In fact, at only 23 days past his 20th birthday, Morris is the second-youngest on the list, behind Everett native Chris Henderson. Now Sounders FC sporting director, Henderson (19 years, 119 days) is the only teen on the list.

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On Tuesday, Sounders FC Academy product Jordan Morris became the second-youngest Washington native to earn a full cap for the USMNT (Courtesy Sounders FC)

Morris is currently a Stanford sophomore and product of the Sounders FC Academy. In the U.S. loss to Ireland (4:1) he came on in the 76th minute for Timmy Chandler.

It’s a list of distinguished gentlemen, with all nine figuring prominently at at least one era of the Sounders’ 40-year history. Olympia’s Kasey Keller, now Washington’s third-youngest to debut, went on to earn a then-record 102 caps as goalkeeper over 17 years.

Yedlin, who earned his first cap some ninth months ago, is No. 8 on the list. The Tottenham signing will soon join Keller and Henderson as those on the list who later played in Europe. Marcus Hahnemann and Brent Goulet are other Washington overseas exports.

Incidentally, Federal Way’s Justi Baumgardt (Yamada) is the youngest Washington native to appear for the USWNT. She was age 17 years and 326 days when earning her first cap in 1993.

Under Age 21 Washington USMNT Debuts

  1. Chris Henderson (79 caps) B’date 12/11/70  Debut 4/8/90  Age 19 yrs/119 days
  2. Jordan Morris (1)  B’date  10/26/94  Debut 11/18/14  Age 20 yrs/23 days
  3. Kasey Keller (102)  B’date  11/29/69  Debut 2/4/90  Age 20 yrs/68 days
  4. Chance Fry (5)  B’date  6/29/64  Debut 10/6/84  Age 20 yrs/100 days
  5. Jimmy McAlister (6)  B’date  4/5/57  Debut 9/15/77  Age 20 yrs/164 days
  6. Mark Peterson (6)  B’date  4/19/60  Debut 10/5/80  Age 20 yrs/170 days
  7. Tony Crudo (7)  B’date  3/25/59  Debut 10/7/79  Age 20 yrs/197 days
  8. DeAndre Yedlin (10)  B’date  7/9/93  Debut 2/1/14  Age 20 yrs/208 days
  9. Bill Crook (1)  B’date  4/3/64  Debut 11/30/84  Age 20 yrs/242 days