Leo Fishel
Encyclopedia
Leo Fishel was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played one game for the New York Giants
in 1899. He also attended Columbia University
and became a lawyer
after his professional baseball career was over. Fishel stood at 6' 0" and weighed 175 lbs.
, as the youngest of eight children to Leopold and Theresa Fishel. He entered Columbia in the fall of 1894 and pitched for the baseball team there while also playing for various semi-pro teams around New York and New Jersey. He was once offered US$20 plus expenses to pitch in a game for White Plains.
On May 3, 1899, Fishel made his major league debut for the New York Giants, pitching a complete game
and taking the loss. He was the first Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball. Later that summer, he played for the New London Whalers and New Haven Blues of the Connecticut State League
. Fishel went 2-4 in the CSL and did not play any professional baseball after 1899.
Fishel graduated from Columbia Law School
in 1900 and was admitted to the bar
later that year. He became coach of the Columbia baseball team in early 1901 and over the next few years played and coached various teams in the area while setting up his law practice. In 1905, he won a championship while coaching the Freeport High School team.
Fishel was married twice. His first marriage to Mary Blossom Searle in 1903 produced one daughter, but it ended in divorce. He later married Laura Duerstein, and his second child, a son, was born in 1917.
Fishel died in Hempstead, New York, in 1960.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played one game for the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
in 1899. He also attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
after his professional baseball career was over. Fishel stood at 6' 0" and weighed 175 lbs.
Biography
Leo Fishel was born in Babylon, New YorkBabylon (town), New York
The Town of Babylon is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York . Located on Long Island, the town population was 211,792 as of the 2000 census. There is also a Village of Babylon located within the town. It borders Nassau County to the West, and the Atlantic Ocean to the South...
, as the youngest of eight children to Leopold and Theresa Fishel. He entered Columbia in the fall of 1894 and pitched for the baseball team there while also playing for various semi-pro teams around New York and New Jersey. He was once offered US$20 plus expenses to pitch in a game for White Plains.
On May 3, 1899, Fishel made his major league debut for the New York Giants, pitching a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
and taking the loss. He was the first Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball. Later that summer, he played for the New London Whalers and New Haven Blues of the Connecticut State League
Connecticut League
The Connecticut League, also known as the Connecticut State League is a now defunct minor baseball league based in Connecticut. The league began as off-shoot of the original Connecticut State League in 1902 as a Class D league with teams in eight cities...
. Fishel went 2-4 in the CSL and did not play any professional baseball after 1899.
Fishel graduated from Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
in 1900 and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
later that year. He became coach of the Columbia baseball team in early 1901 and over the next few years played and coached various teams in the area while setting up his law practice. In 1905, he won a championship while coaching the Freeport High School team.
Fishel was married twice. His first marriage to Mary Blossom Searle in 1903 produced one daughter, but it ended in divorce. He later married Laura Duerstein, and his second child, a son, was born in 1917.
Fishel died in Hempstead, New York, in 1960.