USISL/A-League
In 1995, he left Hoisdorf to return to the U.S. where he joined the Sacramento Scorpions of USISL in 1996. He played only six games with the Scorpions late in the 1996 season before moving to the California Jaguars of the USISL A-League for the 1997 season. Baena scored twenty goals that year, putting him at second on the league’s goals and points list. That year he was invited to the Major League Soccer (MLS) combine, but was not drafted. That season Baena was also named to the mid-season All Star team as well as First Team All League. He began the 1998 season with the Jaguars, but was traded to the Seattle Sounders after eight games. He continued his torrid scoring pace in Seattle, this time topping the league’s goals list with twenty-four goals in twenty-eight games. Again he was named to both the All Star team and the First Team All League team, as well as earning the league MVP honor. On February 17, 1999, Baena signed a two year contract with the Sounders. That year, he was called up to the San Jose Clash in June 1999 after three Clash players suffered three injuries in a mid-season friendly with the Sounders. However, Baena never appeared with the Clash. Instead, he returned to the Sounders, tying again for first on the league's goals list and garnering his third straight All Star and third straight First Team All League nod.
On November 9, 1999, the Sounders traded Baena to the San Diego Flash for Michael N’Doumbe, Anthony Farace, cash and San Diego’s first two picks in the 2000 draft. In 2000, Baena was continuing his scoring pace, again leading the league in goals (eight goals in ten games) when an ankle injury sidelined him for the second half of the season. He finished the season with nine goals in sixteen games. On March 23, 2001, Baena moved again, joining the Portland Timbers. He had another productive season, scoring thirteen goals in twenty-four games. However, on November 27, 2001, the Timbers released Baena at his request in order to allow him to pursue business opportunities.
In 2003, the USL inducted Baena into the league’s Hall of Fame.
Read more about this topic: Mark Baena