Herman Fishman
Encyclopedia
Herman Fishman was an American basketball
and baseball
player and the founder of the sports camp, Camp Michigama. He played basketball and baseball for the University of Michigan
from 1935-1938 and was selected for the All Big Ten basketball team. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
in 2002. He was also inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
and attended Detroit Northern High School where he was named to the All-City teams in basketball, football, and baseball. He also won the state tennis championship while in high school.
where he played for the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He earned six varsity letter
s at Michigan, three in basketball (1936-38) and three in baseball (1936-38). In basketball, Fishman played guard and played in 54 games for Michigan. He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring, and was selected for the All Big Ten basketball team. He was also named to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's Jewish All-American team. In baseball, Fishman was a pitcher who helped Michigan win the Big Ten baseball championship. In 1936, he set a Big Ten conference pitching record with an ERA
of 0.86; his record was not broken until the 1950s.
minor league organization. Upon the United States entry into World War II
, Fishman enlisted in the U.S. Navy
. During the war, Fishman played on a military all-star team that included Bob Feller
. One newspaper account indicates he was a World War II intelligence veteran.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Fishman was active in Sports for Israel, an organization that raised money to stimulate sports in Israel. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Pistons
from 1957-1967.
. In a profile written about the 2002 Hall of Honor inductees, the Michigan Daily
called Fishman one of the university’s "most versatile athletes." In 2008, Fishman was selected by Bounce Magazine to the Detroit All-Decade basketball team for the 1930s.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and the founder of the sports camp, Camp Michigama. He played basketball and baseball for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1935-1938 and was selected for the All Big Ten basketball team. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 2002. He was also inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
Early years
Fishman grew up in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and attended Detroit Northern High School where he was named to the All-City teams in basketball, football, and baseball. He also won the state tennis championship while in high school.
University of Michigan
Fishman enrolled at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
where he played for the varsity basketball and baseball teams. He earned six varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s at Michigan, three in basketball (1936-38) and three in baseball (1936-38). In basketball, Fishman played guard and played in 54 games for Michigan. He led the Big Ten Conference in scoring, and was selected for the All Big Ten basketball team. He was also named to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's Jewish All-American team. In baseball, Fishman was a pitcher who helped Michigan win the Big Ten baseball championship. In 1936, he set a Big Ten conference pitching record with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 0.86; his record was not broken until the 1950s.
Professional baseball and World War II
After graduating from Michigan, Herman pitched in the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
minor league organization. Upon the United States entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Fishman enlisted in the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. During the war, Fishman played on a military all-star team that included Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
. One newspaper account indicates he was a World War II intelligence veteran.
Camp Michigama and sports promoter
After the war, Fishman and his brother Mickey Fishman founded a sports camp called Camp Michigama. The camp was staffed by former college athletes and became a popular summer camp for Michigan’s best Jewish athletes. Fishman and his brother ran the camp from 1946-1966.During the 1950s and 1960s, Fishman was active in Sports for Israel, an organization that raised money to stimulate sports in Israel. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
from 1957-1967.
Death and posthumous honors
Fishman died in 1967 at age 50. He was posthumously inducted into the Michigan Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2002, he was also inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor
The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
. In a profile written about the 2002 Hall of Honor inductees, the Michigan Daily
Michigan Daily
The Michigan Daily is the daily student newspaper of the University of Michigan. Its first edition was published on September 29, 1890. The newspaper is financially and editorially independent of the University's administration and other student groups, but shares a university building with other...
called Fishman one of the university’s "most versatile athletes." In 2008, Fishman was selected by Bounce Magazine to the Detroit All-Decade basketball team for the 1930s.