Bernie Fliegel
Encyclopedia
Bernard "Bernie" Fliegel (May 13, 1918 – December 3, 2009) was an American
standout basketball player for the City College of New York
(CCNY) during the late 1930s, and later, a professional in the American Basketball League. As a senior
in 1937–38, he received the Haggerty Award
, given to the best men's basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area, and remains the only winner from CCNY in the award's long history.
n and his father was Lithuania
n. At age 12, his family moved to the Bronx from Manhattan
on account of his father's illness and retirement.
In high school, Fliegel began playing basketball at DeWitt Clinton High School
. He grew to be tall and became known for his basketball abilities. He led DeWitt to the Public Schools Athletic League
(PSAL) championship over powerhouse Thomas Jefferson High School
of Brooklyn as a senior in 1933–34. Fliegel, a center
, was named to the all-city third team despite rarely even shooting the basketball. He then graduated in 1934, at age 16, and enrolled at the City College of New York.
year, however, was spent on the junior varsity
squad, but when he became a sophomore
Fliegel suited up for Nat Holman
's varsity team.
Midway through his sophomore season, Fliegel became a regular starter. Although he had played the center position in high school, Holman also used him as a guard and forward. The Beavers finished 10–4 in his first year on varsity, including a close four-point loss to the defending national champions, New York University. The following year, he accounted for approximately one-fifth of CCNY's total scoring (119 out of 596 points) en route to a 10–6 record. That season, Basketball Hall of Fame
coach Clair Bee
said that Fliegel was "...the best player in the city. He can do it all."
Fliegel's senior season in 1937–38 was one filled with awards, records and accolades. He was the only player on CCNY over tall, so he routinely played taller players than himself. In a game against All-American Hank Luisetti
and the Stanford Cardinal
(who had three players taller than Fliegel) at Madison Square Garden
, he almost led a stunning comeback after being down by 16 points in the second half before falling, 45–42. Despite the frequent height disadvantage, he still led all of New York City's college players with 12.8 points per game. He scored 205 points in 16 games, which was a school record for 12 years, and the Beavers went 13–3 on the year. Fliegel was the only player named as a consensus First Team All-Metropolitan selection, and he received the Haggerty Award
as the area's top college player. Newspaper Enterprise Association
(NEA) also named him a First Team All-American
.
. He also began playing professionally in the American Basketball League (ABL) for Kate Smith
's Celtics, but the team moved shortly thereafter and became known as the Kingston Colonials
. The Colonials won the regular season championship but were upset by the Jersey Reds in the playoffs.
The next season (1939–40), Fliegel's team was eliminated in the playoffs once again after finishing 19–15. Fliegel stayed with the franchise despite it being relocated once again in 1940–41. The Brooklyn Celtics
, as they became known, played well in the regular season with Fliegel as their third-leading scorer. They lost to the Philadelphia Sphas
, however, in the championship series. In the spring of 1941, Fliegel graduated from law school.
For the rest of his professional career, which was interrupted for three years due to his enlistment in the U.S. Army for World War II
, he played for either the Wilmington Bombers
or Jersey City Atoms. He finished his ABL career in 1947 having scored 911 points in 151 games (6.0 average). Fliegel was offered to play for the New York Knicks
in the newly developed Basketball Association of America
(which became the modern NBA), but his desire to practice law made him refuse the invitation. Playing in the BAA would have been a full-time job, so Fliegel decided to become a lawyer as his profession.
He moved to Naples, Florida
in 1972 with his wife where he died on December 3, 2009. He has been inducted in the New York City and CCNY Halls of Fame.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
standout basketball player for the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
(CCNY) during the late 1930s, and later, a professional in the American Basketball League. As a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
in 1937–38, he received the Haggerty Award
Haggerty Award
The Haggerty Award is given to the All-Metropolitan New York Division I men's college basketball player of the year, presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association...
, given to the best men's basketball player in the New York City metropolitan area, and remains the only winner from CCNY in the award's long history.
Early life and high school
Fliegel was born in New York City on May 13, 1918. His parents were both immigrants; his mother was RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n and his father was Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n. At age 12, his family moved to the Bronx from Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
on account of his father's illness and retirement.
In high school, Fliegel began playing basketball at DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School
DeWitt Clinton High School is an American high school located in the Bronx, New York City, New York.-History:Clinton opened in 1897 at 60 West 13th Street at the northern end of Greenwich Village under the name of Boys High School, although this Boys High School was not related to the one in Brooklyn...
. He grew to be tall and became known for his basketball abilities. He led DeWitt to the Public Schools Athletic League
PSAL
The Public Schools Athletic League, known by the acronym PSAL, is an organization that promotes student athletics in the public schools of New York City. It was founded in 1903 to provide and maintain a sports program for students enrolled in New York City public schools. The PSAL serves both boys...
(PSAL) championship over powerhouse Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn, New York)
Thomas Jefferson High School is a former high school in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York. The New York City Department of Education closed the school and broke it into several different schools in 2007, owing to low graduation rates....
of Brooklyn as a senior in 1933–34. Fliegel, a center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, was named to the all-city third team despite rarely even shooting the basketball. He then graduated in 1934, at age 16, and enrolled at the City College of New York.
College
Fliegel played basketball for the Beavers all four years he attended. His freshmanFreshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year, however, was spent on the junior varsity
Junior varsity
Primarily in North America, junior varsity or JV players are the members of a team who are not the main players in a competition , usually at the high school and college levels in the United States and Canada. The main players comprise the varsity team...
squad, but when he became a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
Fliegel suited up for Nat Holman
Nat Holman
Nat Holman was one of the early pro basketball players and one of the game's most important innovators.-Career:...
's varsity team.
Midway through his sophomore season, Fliegel became a regular starter. Although he had played the center position in high school, Holman also used him as a guard and forward. The Beavers finished 10–4 in his first year on varsity, including a close four-point loss to the defending national champions, New York University. The following year, he accounted for approximately one-fifth of CCNY's total scoring (119 out of 596 points) en route to a 10–6 record. That season, Basketball Hall of Fame
Basketball Hall of Fame
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
coach Clair Bee
Clair Bee
Clair Francis Bee was an American basketball coach, who led the team at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York to undefeated seasons in 1936 and 1939, as well as two National Invitation Tournament titles...
said that Fliegel was "...the best player in the city. He can do it all."
Fliegel's senior season in 1937–38 was one filled with awards, records and accolades. He was the only player on CCNY over tall, so he routinely played taller players than himself. In a game against All-American Hank Luisetti
Hank Luisetti
Angelo "Hank" Luisetti was an American college men's basketball player and one of the great innovators of the game. In an era that featured the traditional two-handed set shot, Luisetti developed the running one-handed shot...
and the Stanford Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal men's basketball
The Stanford Cardinal Men's Basketball team represents Stanford University, located in Stanford, California, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference. The team has won 13 conference championships , the last in 2004, and one NCAA championship, in 1942...
(who had three players taller than Fliegel) at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, he almost led a stunning comeback after being down by 16 points in the second half before falling, 45–42. Despite the frequent height disadvantage, he still led all of New York City's college players with 12.8 points per game. He scored 205 points in 16 games, which was a school record for 12 years, and the Beavers went 13–3 on the year. Fliegel was the only player named as a consensus First Team All-Metropolitan selection, and he received the Haggerty Award
Haggerty Award
The Haggerty Award is given to the All-Metropolitan New York Division I men's college basketball player of the year, presented by the National Invitation Tournament and the Met Basketball Writers Association...
as the area's top college player. Newspaper Enterprise Association
United Media
United Media is a large editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States, owned by The E.W. Scripps Company. It syndicates 150 comics and editorial columns worldwide. Its core business is the United Feature Syndicate and the Newspaper Enterprise Association...
(NEA) also named him a First Team All-American
1938 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1938 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, the Newspaper Enterprise...
.
Professional and later life
After graduating at age 19, Fliegel enrolled in the Fordham University School of LawFordham University School of Law
Fordham University School of Law is a part of Fordham University in the United States. The School is located in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, and is one of eight ABA-approved law schools in that city.-Overview:According to the U.S. News & World Report, 1,516 J.D. students attend...
. He also began playing professionally in the American Basketball League (ABL) for Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith was an American Popular singer, best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s.Smith was born in Greenville, Virginia...
's Celtics, but the team moved shortly thereafter and became known as the Kingston Colonials
Kingston Colonials
The Kingston Colonials were an American basketball team based in Kingston, New Jersey that was a member of the American Basketball League.During the 1939/40 season, the team was merged into the Troy Celtics on December 19, 1939.-Year-by-year:...
. The Colonials won the regular season championship but were upset by the Jersey Reds in the playoffs.
The next season (1939–40), Fliegel's team was eliminated in the playoffs once again after finishing 19–15. Fliegel stayed with the franchise despite it being relocated once again in 1940–41. The Brooklyn Celtics
Brooklyn Celtics
The Brooklyn Celtics were an American basketball team based in Brooklyn, New York that was a member of the American Basketball League.During the first half of the 1940/41 season, the Troy Celtics moved to Brooklyn to become the Brooklyn Celtics....
, as they became known, played well in the regular season with Fliegel as their third-leading scorer. They lost to the Philadelphia Sphas
Philadelphia Sphas
The Philadelphia Sphas, also written SPHAs and SPHAS, were a team that competed in the Eastern Basketball League and then the American Basketball League 1925-55. They played their home games in social halls and, from 1938, in the ballroom of the Broadwood Hotel...
, however, in the championship series. In the spring of 1941, Fliegel graduated from law school.
For the rest of his professional career, which was interrupted for three years due to his enlistment in the U.S. Army for 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...
, he played for either the Wilmington Bombers
Wilmington Bombers
-Wilmington Blue Bombers:The Wilmington Blue Bombers were an American basketball team based in Wilmington, Delaware that was a member of the American Basketball League.-Year-by-year:-Wilmington Bombers:...
or Jersey City Atoms. He finished his ABL career in 1947 having scored 911 points in 151 games (6.0 average). Fliegel was offered to play for the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the newly developed Basketball Association of America
Basketball Association of America
The Basketball Association of America was a professional basketball league in North America, founded in 1946. The league merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, forming the National Basketball Association ...
(which became the modern NBA), but his desire to practice law made him refuse the invitation. Playing in the BAA would have been a full-time job, so Fliegel decided to become a lawyer as his profession.
He moved to Naples, Florida
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
in 1972 with his wife where he died on December 3, 2009. He has been inducted in the New York City and CCNY Halls of Fame.