Nat Krinsky

A member of the CCNY Athletic Hall of Fame, Krinsky played at City College of New York in the late 1910s and early 1920s. He later taught at James Madison High School and coached track and field. His son, Ed Krinsky, was Harvard University's basketball captain in 1954.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. Jan. 8, 1899 - d. May 1984

Career Highlights:
Born in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn to Russian immigrant parents, Krinsky began playing basketball at an early age. Learning the game on the playgrounds, Krinsky was a star on organized club teams like the Mercurys, the Beavers, and the Invincibles. As a member of the Invincibles, he played against teams from settlement houses, amateur clubs, and even some pro teams (at this time -- in the early 1910s -- professional basketball had yet to be fully organized).

Krinsky, who attended Boys High School, went to CCNY (City College of New York) and played three seasons during the early days of City's ascension to the top of college basketball. In 1919, the Beavers were a good team and finished the season with a mark of 8-4. The following year, the legendary Nat Holman became City's head coach and the team immediately improved. They finished the 1920 season rated among the nation's best with a record of 13-3; only a season-ending defeat to NYU prevented City from playing Penn for the eastern college crown and a chance at the national championship.

In 1921, Krinsky's senior season, CCNY continued its success with a 11-4 record. Upon his graduation in 1921, Nat was praised for both his athletic and academic accomplishments -- he was president of the senior class and a charter member of the senior honorary society (Lock and Key). In 1930, Krinsky was named to coach Nat Holman's (CCNY's coach), all-time All-Star CCNY team. (New York Evening Post, March 30, 1930)

While teaching at Boys High School -- and later at James Madison -- Krinsky continued to play basketball in the 1920s. In the middle of the decade, he played with the Nonpareils, a Jewish club team that became one of the top independent professional teams. Along with teammates Davey Banks and Jammy Moskowitz, Krinsky helped the "Nons" beat such Hall of Fame teams as the New York Rens and Original Celtics.

Origin:
Brooklyn, New York

Career Dates:
Krinsky played at CCNY, 1919-1921.