Biographical Information:
George's parents immigrated from Bavaria and eventually settled in Rockland County, where they raised four children to adulthood. Their two oldest daughters had died in childhood before George was born. According to census records, George's parents and grandparents were all born in Bavaria (Bayern). His father opened a boot and shoe store in Piermont in 1866. George's other sisters, Minnie and Lizzy, married two Lediger brothers.
George began attending St. Joseph's Academy in Madison, N.J. about 1875. At age 12 he entered St. John's College and after seven years he had received his Artium Baccalaureus (Class of 1885) and his Magister Artium from Fordham University.
Source: "Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century in Rockland County," Edited by Arthur Sydney Tompkins, Van Deusen and Joyce, Publishers, Nyack, N.Y., 1902, pp. 88-9 (also 214, 224, 226 and 372).
George completed his medical studies at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating on March 12th, 1888. He was one of four receiving honorable mention among 144 graduates. The ceremony took place at the Carnegie Laboratory, East-twenty-sixth-street, despite the 'Great White Hurricane'.
Sources:
1. "Winning Their Diplomas," New York Times, Tuesday, 13 March 1888, p. 3;
2. "27th Annual Commencement," https://archives.med.nyu.edu/islandora/object/nyumed%3A1150/datastream/OBJ/view
3. General Alumni Catalogue of New York University, 1833-1907: Medical Alumni, p. 411
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1888
From 1888 to 1889 Dr. Leitner absolved his internship as assistant house physician at St. Francis Hospital located at 603-617 East 5th Street in Manhattan. He corrected false reports of his being an assistant surgeon at a Jersey City hospital with the same name.
Sources:
1. "Baseball Up The River," NY Times, Sunday, 1 April 1888, p. 8;
2. "Base-Ball Notes," Indianapolis Journal, Sunday, 15 April 1888, p. 11, column ii;
3. "St. Francis Hospital's Work," NY Times, Monday, 1 April 1889, p. 8
4. The Rockland County Journal of October 17th, 1891;
5. "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Dr. George A. Leitner, running on the Democratic ticket, was elected Coroner of Piermont in 1891, defeating Republican, Dr. L.B. Couch.
Source: Rockland County Journal, October 24th and 31st, 1891, p. 8, certified by Cyrus M. Crum
ST. ANN'S FAIR.
"The Last Articles Disposed of Saturday Night. The final disposition of the articles on sale at St. Ann's Church Fair occurred on Saturday night... Dr. Leitner, of Piermont, became the possessor of a beautiful silver pitcher..."
Source: Rockland County Journal, 10 September 1892, p. 1.
In October 1892, Leitner himself fell ill and was hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital. This was cause for alarm among his friends.
Source: "Personal," Rockland County Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1892, p. 4
Dr. Leitner had been surgeon of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey until January 1st of 1897.
Source: Rockland County Journal of February 27th 1897
George was elected as a delegate to the New York Democratic Convention to be held on June 5th, 1900.
Source: Rockland County Times, May 19th, 1900
Dr. Leitner was a member of the Rockland County Medical Association in affiliation with the American Medical Association (later he became president of the Rockland County Association).
Source: New York Journal of Medicine, January 18th, 1901
Dr. Leitner presided over a commission to ensure sanitary conditions for milk production in the county.
In 1904 Dr. Leitner pitched in a benefit game for Nyack Hospital. The opposing team of clergymen won against the doctors.
Source: "Still More Meanderings in Medical History: The Third of a Trilogy," by Michael Nevins, pp. 101-102
In 1906 he was quoted in the Los Angeles Herald of October 4th on page 6 as saying, "The nomination of Hearst is one of the most outrageous and disgraceful things ever perpetrated in this state (N.Y.). Last evening I was in a company of eight well known Democrats, who said they would work for Hughes (a Republican)." Most of them were not willing to be quoted publicly.
At a charter members' luncheon of the Rockland County Society of the State of New York at the Hotel Astor in NYC on January 15th, 1913, Dr. Leitner was elected Vice-President. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/1579/filename/1565.pdfpage/page/6
Dr. Leitner relied on a Ford to tend to patients. Doctors in Nyack were referred to as "shoe town pill providers".
Source: "Doctors Know Good Thing," Rockland County Times, 19 September 1914, p. 1.
G. A. Leitner was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1915. In the Convention Manual (Cornell Library), a small biography can be found:
"HON. GEORGE A. LEITNER
(Democrat — Twenty-Third Senate District Delegate)
Mr. Leitner was born in Piermont in 1865. At the age of thirteen he entered Fordham Preparatory School and in 1881 entered the college, from which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of A.B. Later he was given an A.M. degree by the college. He is also a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He has served as house surgeon in the St. Francis Hospital, Nyack, and is now surgeon in the Nyack Hospital, where he has met with remarkable success. He is a trustee of Piermont Village and a member of the school board."
Dr. Leitner is recorded as having attended second year courses in public health at New York University Medical College in 1916/17.
Source: "Announcements For The Year 1917-18," New York University Bulletin, University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, Vol. XVII, 26 June 1917, No. 6, p. 101.
In an article on page 11 of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from November 1st, 1918, it was reported that Dr. Leitner attended a gathering of Democrats at the Biltmore Hotel who supported the candidate, Alfred E. Smith (aka Al Smith), for Governor of New York. On January 11th, 1926 Smith sent names of new appointees to the Senate Chamber. Among these 13 persons was G. A. Leitner who was reappointed as manager of the New York State Orthopedic Hospital for Children. Mr. Smith ran for President in 1928 as a Democrat.
In September of 1926 Doc was on a banquet committee to Honor Justice Arthur Tompkins upon his 81st birthday.
Source: "To Honor Tompkins on 81st Birthday," NY Times, Sunday, 12 September 1926, p. 30.
In 1928 Dr. Leitner was awarded the Degree of Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons at a conference in Chicago. It was not required for him to take the exam.
Source: "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
At the annual meeting of the Medical Society of New York State in April 1936, Dr. Leitner was designated to the standing committee for Trends in Medical Practice and as Delegate to the American Medical Association for 1936 and 1937.
In addition to serving the community as a surgeon and attending physician at Nyack Hospital, George was also attending physician at St. Agnes' and St. Joseph's Asylums in Sparkill and Blauvelt respectively. For further reading Michael Nevin's "Still More Meanderings in Medical History," pages 101-103, is recommended.
George A. Leitner was a golden jubilee graduate of Fordham College in 1935. He received a gold medal from Cardinal Hayes during the Fordham commencement on that occassion.
Source: New York Times, Wednesday, June 12th, 1935, page 16
Memberships included the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Royal Arearum, the Foresters of America, the Golf Club of Rockland, and Rockland, New York (state) and the American Medical Associations. Leitner was director of the Nyack National Bank and the Closter National Bank (See Tribute of 31 October 1914 below).
Dr. Leitner died at the Harkness Pavilion of the New York-Presbytarian Columbia University Medical Center.
On November 29th, 1938, upon the death of his widow, the NY Times referred to Dr. George A. Leitner as "a leader in State Democratic politics."
Examples of Medical Cases:
"Shooting Affray At Nyack," NY Times, Monday, 23 December 1895, p. 5;
"Woman Hurt by Train," Rockland County Journal, 2 May 1908, p. 1;
"Shot In Brain, Lives; Silent On Assailant," NY Times, Tuesday, 22 December 1925, pp. 1 & 3;
"Man Still Lives With Shot In Brain," NY Times, Wednesday, 23 December 1925, p. 20;
"Widowed Just A Year, A Woman Falls From the Pier...," NY Times, Tuesday, 7 April 1925, p. 23;
"Motorist Arrested For Friend's Death," NY Times, Tuesday, 10 August 1926, p. 23;
"Former District Attorney To Undergo Operation..." Journal News, Wednesday, 25 January 1933, p. 2.
In 1915, Tom Kelly was born at 4:40 A.M. at the two-story Piermont train depot, 20 minutes before Dr. Leitner could reach and assist Tom's mother.
Source: "Our Towns," NY Times (Metropolitan), Friday, 19 April 1991, p. 31 (B3).
Another patient who had had a difficult delivery was reported to have named her son after Doc Leitner in 1930. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/5362/filename/5360.pdfpage/page/30
Baseball:
In addition to playing baseball for the Nyacks, George pitched for Fordham University and was drafted by the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League (under manager Horace Fogel) in 1887, which Leitner agreed to in order to finance his education. He later turned down a professional baseball career and went on to become one of the first physicians of Nyack Hospital, being instrumental in its founding.
See diverse articles regarding GAL's baseball setbacks and accomplishments:
"Notes of the Game," New York Times, Sunday, 31 July 1887, p. 3;
"Lost by the New-Yorks; Outplayed by the Indianapolis Team. Two new players help the home team to turn the tables on the New York Giants from New-York.," New York Times, Thursday, 11 August 1887, p. 3;
"Other Games," New York Times, Thursday, 25 August 1887, p. 3;
"Base Ball Enthusiasts," Philadelphia Times, August 27, 1887, p. 6;
"They Drew Nine Blanks; Bad Luck of the Indianapolis Ballplayers," New York Times, Wednesday, 31 August 1887, p. 2;
"New York Wins Once More," Indianapolis Journal, 31 August 1887, p. 3;
"A New Baseball Scheme," Indianapolis Journal, 11 December 1887, p. 12;
"Baseball Up The River," NY Times, 1 April 1888, p. 8.
Additional statistical information is provided at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Leitner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887_Indianapolis_Hoosiers_season
The only known photograph accurately identifying Doc Leitner as a baseball player and his Nyack teammates was taken in 1886 and reprinted in the Journal News on March 17th, 1934 (p. 3), and September 30th 1972.
Source:
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4302/rec/6
The newspaper may have a better copy of this photograph in its archives.
A comparison of this photograph with a studio photograph of a Nyack team referred to as "Leitner's Nyack Ball Club" on page 121 of a book entitled "The Nyacks" shows the same players at approximately the same age as in the first photograph. Unfortunately no one is identified, however, the studio photograph can not be from 1880 as recorded in Nyack Library's collection, when Doc would have only been about 15 years old. The man with the black hat is also not Doc Leitner.
A direct descendant identified the third man from the left in the back row of the studio photo as being the only Leitner in the photograph. It is either GAL or his father, John. The man in front holding the ball is not Leitner, as can be ascertained by comparing the two team photographs.
"Leitner's Nyack Ball Club":
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5286/rec/4
In an article entitled „BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYED IN NORTH ROCKLAND" (See the Historical Society of Rockland County's publication, "South of the Mountains", p. 15, Vol. 20, No. 2, April - June 1976) Daniel deNoyelles notes that Leitner's decision to become a physician despite a promising future in baseball was advantageous to the Nyack team's opponent, Haverstraw.
G.A. Leitner should not be confused with George Michael Leitner who was born in 1871 and known as "Dummy Leitner".
Photographs taken during his medical career include but are not limited to the following:
1910 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4954/rec/2
1929 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5168/rec/6
ca. 1930 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/6151/rec/1
Tributes:
Rockland County Times, 24 October 1914, p. 6 (campaign article);
"A Character Sketch," Rockland County Times, 31 October 1914, p. 7;
"Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Journal News, Monday, 16 September 1935, pp. 1 and 2;
Journal News, Thursday, 20 May 1937, p. 1;
Journal News, Friday, 21 May 1937, pp. 1-3;
Journal News, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1, 6 and 10 (poem);
Rockland County Times, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1 and 4;
The Rockland County Times, 29 May, 1937, p. 1;
Rockland County Leader, Thursday, 10 June 1937, p. 6;
Rockland County Times, 23 October 1937, pp. 1 and 4.
Obituaries:
Journal News, Tuesday, 18 May 1937, pp. 1 and 10.
"Dr. G. A. Leitner, Surgeon, Is Dead," New York Times, Wednesday, 19 May 1937, p. 23.
Rockland County Leader, 20 Thursday, May 1937, p. 1.
Estate:
Journal News, Thursday, 27 May 1937, p. 1.
Biographical information accumulated by Jole
George's parents immigrated from Bavaria and eventually settled in Rockland County, where they raised four children to adulthood. Their two oldest daughters had died in childhood before George was born. According to census records, George's parents and grandparents were all born in Bavaria (Bayern). His father opened a boot and shoe store in Piermont in 1866. George's other sisters, Minnie and Lizzy, married two Lediger brothers.
George began attending St. Joseph's Academy in Madison, N.J. about 1875. At age 12 he entered St. John's College and after seven years he had received his Artium Baccalaureus (Class of 1885) and his Magister Artium from Fordham University.
Source: "Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century in Rockland County," Edited by Arthur Sydney Tompkins, Van Deusen and Joyce, Publishers, Nyack, N.Y., 1902, pp. 88-9 (also 214, 224, 226 and 372).
George completed his medical studies at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating on March 12th, 1888. He was one of four receiving honorable mention among 144 graduates. The ceremony took place at the Carnegie Laboratory, East-twenty-sixth-street, despite the 'Great White Hurricane'.
Sources:
1. "Winning Their Diplomas," New York Times, Tuesday, 13 March 1888, p. 3;
2. "27th Annual Commencement," https://archives.med.nyu.edu/islandora/object/nyumed%3A1150/datastream/OBJ/view
3. General Alumni Catalogue of New York University, 1833-1907: Medical Alumni, p. 411
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1888
From 1888 to 1889 Dr. Leitner absolved his internship as assistant house physician at St. Francis Hospital located at 603-617 East 5th Street in Manhattan. He corrected false reports of his being an assistant surgeon at a Jersey City hospital with the same name.
Sources:
1. "Baseball Up The River," NY Times, Sunday, 1 April 1888, p. 8;
2. "Base-Ball Notes," Indianapolis Journal, Sunday, 15 April 1888, p. 11, column ii;
3. "St. Francis Hospital's Work," NY Times, Monday, 1 April 1889, p. 8
4. The Rockland County Journal of October 17th, 1891;
5. "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Dr. George A. Leitner, running on the Democratic ticket, was elected Coroner of Piermont in 1891, defeating Republican, Dr. L.B. Couch.
Source: Rockland County Journal, October 24th and 31st, 1891, p. 8, certified by Cyrus M. Crum
ST. ANN'S FAIR.
"The Last Articles Disposed of Saturday Night. The final disposition of the articles on sale at St. Ann's Church Fair occurred on Saturday night... Dr. Leitner, of Piermont, became the possessor of a beautiful silver pitcher..."
Source: Rockland County Journal, 10 September 1892, p. 1.
In October 1892, Leitner himself fell ill and was hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital. This was cause for alarm among his friends.
Source: "Personal," Rockland County Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1892, p. 4
Dr. Leitner had been surgeon of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey until January 1st of 1897.
Source: Rockland County Journal of February 27th 1897
George was elected as a delegate to the New York Democratic Convention to be held on June 5th, 1900.
Source: Rockland County Times, May 19th, 1900
Dr. Leitner was a member of the Rockland County Medical Association in affiliation with the American Medical Association (later he became president of the Rockland County Association).
Source: New York Journal of Medicine, January 18th, 1901
Dr. Leitner presided over a commission to ensure sanitary conditions for milk production in the county.
In 1904 Dr. Leitner pitched in a benefit game for Nyack Hospital. The opposing team of clergymen won against the doctors.
Source: "Still More Meanderings in Medical History: The Third of a Trilogy," by Michael Nevins, pp. 101-102
In 1906 he was quoted in the Los Angeles Herald of October 4th on page 6 as saying, "The nomination of Hearst is one of the most outrageous and disgraceful things ever perpetrated in this state (N.Y.). Last evening I was in a company of eight well known Democrats, who said they would work for Hughes (a Republican)." Most of them were not willing to be quoted publicly.
At a charter members' luncheon of the Rockland County Society of the State of New York at the Hotel Astor in NYC on January 15th, 1913, Dr. Leitner was elected Vice-President. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/1579/filename/1565.pdfpage/page/6
Dr. Leitner relied on a Ford to tend to patients. Doctors in Nyack were referred to as "shoe town pill providers".
Source: "Doctors Know Good Thing," Rockland County Times, 19 September 1914, p. 1.
G. A. Leitner was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1915. In the Convention Manual (Cornell Library), a small biography can be found:
"HON. GEORGE A. LEITNER
(Democrat — Twenty-Third Senate District Delegate)
Mr. Leitner was born in Piermont in 1865. At the age of thirteen he entered Fordham Preparatory School and in 1881 entered the college, from which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of A.B. Later he was given an A.M. degree by the college. He is also a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He has served as house surgeon in the St. Francis Hospital, Nyack, and is now surgeon in the Nyack Hospital, where he has met with remarkable success. He is a trustee of Piermont Village and a member of the school board."
Dr. Leitner is recorded as having attended second year courses in public health at New York University Medical College in 1916/17.
Source: "Announcements For The Year 1917-18," New York University Bulletin, University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, Vol. XVII, 26 June 1917, No. 6, p. 101.
In an article on page 11 of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from November 1st, 1918, it was reported that Dr. Leitner attended a gathering of Democrats at the Biltmore Hotel who supported the candidate, Alfred E. Smith (aka Al Smith), for Governor of New York. On January 11th, 1926 Smith sent names of new appointees to the Senate Chamber. Among these 13 persons was G. A. Leitner who was reappointed as manager of the New York State Orthopedic Hospital for Children. Mr. Smith ran for President in 1928 as a Democrat.
In September of 1926 Doc was on a banquet committee to Honor Justice Arthur Tompkins upon his 81st birthday.
Source: "To Honor Tompkins on 81st Birthday," NY Times, Sunday, 12 September 1926, p. 30.
In 1928 Dr. Leitner was awarded the Degree of Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons at a conference in Chicago. It was not required for him to take the exam.
Source: "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
At the annual meeting of the Medical Society of New York State in April 1936, Dr. Leitner was designated to the standing committee for Trends in Medical Practice and as Delegate to the American Medical Association for 1936 and 1937.
In addition to serving the community as a surgeon and attending physician at Nyack Hospital, George was also attending physician at St. Agnes' and St. Joseph's Asylums in Sparkill and Blauvelt respectively. For further reading Michael Nevin's "Still More Meanderings in Medical History," pages 101-103, is recommended.
George A. Leitner was a golden jubilee graduate of Fordham College in 1935. He received a gold medal from Cardinal Hayes during the Fordham commencement on that occassion.
Source: New York Times, Wednesday, June 12th, 1935, page 16
Memberships included the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Royal Arearum, the Foresters of America, the Golf Club of Rockland, and Rockland, New York (state) and the American Medical Associations. Leitner was director of the Nyack National Bank and the Closter National Bank (See Tribute of 31 October 1914 below).
Dr. Leitner died at the Harkness Pavilion of the New York-Presbytarian Columbia University Medical Center.
On November 29th, 1938, upon the death of his widow, the NY Times referred to Dr. George A. Leitner as "a leader in State Democratic politics."
Examples of Medical Cases:
"Shooting Affray At Nyack," NY Times, Monday, 23 December 1895, p. 5;
"Woman Hurt by Train," Rockland County Journal, 2 May 1908, p. 1;
"Shot In Brain, Lives; Silent On Assailant," NY Times, Tuesday, 22 December 1925, pp. 1 & 3;
"Man Still Lives With Shot In Brain," NY Times, Wednesday, 23 December 1925, p. 20;
"Widowed Just A Year, A Woman Falls From the Pier...," NY Times, Tuesday, 7 April 1925, p. 23;
"Motorist Arrested For Friend's Death," NY Times, Tuesday, 10 August 1926, p. 23;
"Former District Attorney To Undergo Operation..." Journal News, Wednesday, 25 January 1933, p. 2.
In 1915, Tom Kelly was born at 4:40 A.M. at the two-story Piermont train depot, 20 minutes before Dr. Leitner could reach and assist Tom's mother.
Source: "Our Towns," NY Times (Metropolitan), Friday, 19 April 1991, p. 31 (B3).
Another patient who had had a difficult delivery was reported to have named her son after Doc Leitner in 1930. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/5362/filename/5360.pdfpage/page/30
Baseball:
In addition to playing baseball for the Nyacks, George pitched for Fordham University and was drafted by the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League (under manager Horace Fogel) in 1887, which Leitner agreed to in order to finance his education. He later turned down a professional baseball career and went on to become one of the first physicians of Nyack Hospital, being instrumental in its founding.
See diverse articles regarding GAL's baseball setbacks and accomplishments:
"Notes of the Game," New York Times, Sunday, 31 July 1887, p. 3;
"Lost by the New-Yorks; Outplayed by the Indianapolis Team. Two new players help the home team to turn the tables on the New York Giants from New-York.," New York Times, Thursday, 11 August 1887, p. 3;
"Other Games," New York Times, Thursday, 25 August 1887, p. 3;
"Base Ball Enthusiasts," Philadelphia Times, August 27, 1887, p. 6;
"They Drew Nine Blanks; Bad Luck of the Indianapolis Ballplayers," New York Times, Wednesday, 31 August 1887, p. 2;
"New York Wins Once More," Indianapolis Journal, 31 August 1887, p. 3;
"A New Baseball Scheme," Indianapolis Journal, 11 December 1887, p. 12;
"Baseball Up The River," NY Times, 1 April 1888, p. 8.
Additional statistical information is provided at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Leitner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887_Indianapolis_Hoosiers_season
The only known photograph accurately identifying Doc Leitner as a baseball player and his Nyack teammates was taken in 1886 and reprinted in the Journal News on March 17th, 1934 (p. 3), and September 30th 1972.
Source:
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4302/rec/6
The newspaper may have a better copy of this photograph in its archives.
A comparison of this photograph with a studio photograph of a Nyack team referred to as "Leitner's Nyack Ball Club" on page 121 of a book entitled "The Nyacks" shows the same players at approximately the same age as in the first photograph. Unfortunately no one is identified, however, the studio photograph can not be from 1880 as recorded in Nyack Library's collection, when Doc would have only been about 15 years old. The man with the black hat is also not Doc Leitner.
A direct descendant identified the third man from the left in the back row of the studio photo as being the only Leitner in the photograph. It is either GAL or his father, John. The man in front holding the ball is not Leitner, as can be ascertained by comparing the two team photographs.
"Leitner's Nyack Ball Club":
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5286/rec/4
In an article entitled „BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYED IN NORTH ROCKLAND" (See the Historical Society of Rockland County's publication, "South of the Mountains", p. 15, Vol. 20, No. 2, April - June 1976) Daniel deNoyelles notes that Leitner's decision to become a physician despite a promising future in baseball was advantageous to the Nyack team's opponent, Haverstraw.
G.A. Leitner should not be confused with George Michael Leitner who was born in 1871 and known as "Dummy Leitner".
Photographs taken during his medical career include but are not limited to the following:
1910 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4954/rec/2
1929 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5168/rec/6
ca. 1930 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/6151/rec/1
Tributes:
Rockland County Times, 24 October 1914, p. 6 (campaign article);
"A Character Sketch," Rockland County Times, 31 October 1914, p. 7;
"Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Journal News, Monday, 16 September 1935, pp. 1 and 2;
Journal News, Thursday, 20 May 1937, p. 1;
Journal News, Friday, 21 May 1937, pp. 1-3;
Journal News, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1, 6 and 10 (poem);
Rockland County Times, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1 and 4;
The Rockland County Times, 29 May, 1937, p. 1;
Rockland County Leader, Thursday, 10 June 1937, p. 6;
Rockland County Times, 23 October 1937, pp. 1 and 4.
Obituaries:
Journal News, Tuesday, 18 May 1937, pp. 1 and 10.
"Dr. G. A. Leitner, Surgeon, Is Dead," New York Times, Wednesday, 19 May 1937, p. 23.
Rockland County Leader, 20 Thursday, May 1937, p. 1.
Estate:
Journal News, Thursday, 27 May 1937, p. 1.
Biographical information accumulated by Jole
Biographical Information:
George's parents immigrated from Bavaria and eventually settled in Rockland County, where they raised four children to adulthood. Their two oldest daughters had died in childhood before George was born. According to census records, George's parents and grandparents were all born in Bavaria (Bayern). His father opened a boot and shoe store in Piermont in 1866. George's other sisters, Minnie and Lizzy, married two Lediger brothers.
George began attending St. Joseph's Academy in Madison, N.J. about 1875. At age 12 he entered St. John's College and after seven years he had received his Artium Baccalaureus (Class of 1885) and his Magister Artium from Fordham University.
Source: "Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century in Rockland County," Edited by Arthur Sydney Tompkins, Van Deusen and Joyce, Publishers, Nyack, N.Y., 1902, pp. 88-9 (also 214, 224, 226 and 372).
George completed his medical studies at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating on March 12th, 1888. He was one of four receiving honorable mention among 144 graduates. The ceremony took place at the Carnegie Laboratory, East-twenty-sixth-street, despite the 'Great White Hurricane'.
Sources:
1. "Winning Their Diplomas," New York Times, Tuesday, 13 March 1888, p. 3;
2. "27th Annual Commencement," https://archives.med.nyu.edu/islandora/object/nyumed%3A1150/datastream/OBJ/view
3. General Alumni Catalogue of New York University, 1833-1907: Medical Alumni, p. 411
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1888
From 1888 to 1889 Dr. Leitner absolved his internship as assistant house physician at St. Francis Hospital located at 603-617 East 5th Street in Manhattan. He corrected false reports of his being an assistant surgeon at a Jersey City hospital with the same name.
Sources:
1. "Baseball Up The River," NY Times, Sunday, 1 April 1888, p. 8;
2. "Base-Ball Notes," Indianapolis Journal, Sunday, 15 April 1888, p. 11, column ii;
3. "St. Francis Hospital's Work," NY Times, Monday, 1 April 1889, p. 8
4. The Rockland County Journal of October 17th, 1891;
5. "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Dr. George A. Leitner, running on the Democratic ticket, was elected Coroner of Piermont in 1891, defeating Republican, Dr. L.B. Couch.
Source: Rockland County Journal, October 24th and 31st, 1891, p. 8, certified by Cyrus M. Crum
ST. ANN'S FAIR.
"The Last Articles Disposed of Saturday Night. The final disposition of the articles on sale at St. Ann's Church Fair occurred on Saturday night... Dr. Leitner, of Piermont, became the possessor of a beautiful silver pitcher..."
Source: Rockland County Journal, 10 September 1892, p. 1.
In October 1892, Leitner himself fell ill and was hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital. This was cause for alarm among his friends.
Source: "Personal," Rockland County Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1892, p. 4
Dr. Leitner had been surgeon of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey until January 1st of 1897.
Source: Rockland County Journal of February 27th 1897
George was elected as a delegate to the New York Democratic Convention to be held on June 5th, 1900.
Source: Rockland County Times, May 19th, 1900
Dr. Leitner was a member of the Rockland County Medical Association in affiliation with the American Medical Association (later he became president of the Rockland County Association).
Source: New York Journal of Medicine, January 18th, 1901
Dr. Leitner presided over a commission to ensure sanitary conditions for milk production in the county.
In 1904 Dr. Leitner pitched in a benefit game for Nyack Hospital. The opposing team of clergymen won against the doctors.
Source: "Still More Meanderings in Medical History: The Third of a Trilogy," by Michael Nevins, pp. 101-102
In 1906 he was quoted in the Los Angeles Herald of October 4th on page 6 as saying, "The nomination of Hearst is one of the most outrageous and disgraceful things ever perpetrated in this state (N.Y.). Last evening I was in a company of eight well known Democrats, who said they would work for Hughes (a Republican)." Most of them were not willing to be quoted publicly.
At a charter members' luncheon of the Rockland County Society of the State of New York at the Hotel Astor in NYC on January 15th, 1913, Dr. Leitner was elected Vice-President. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/1579/filename/1565.pdfpage/page/6
Dr. Leitner relied on a Ford to tend to patients. Doctors in Nyack were referred to as "shoe town pill providers".
Source: "Doctors Know Good Thing," Rockland County Times, 19 September 1914, p. 1.
G. A. Leitner was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1915. In the Convention Manual (Cornell Library), a small biography can be found:
"HON. GEORGE A. LEITNER
(Democrat — Twenty-Third Senate District Delegate)
Mr. Leitner was born in Piermont in 1865. At the age of thirteen he entered Fordham Preparatory School and in 1881 entered the college, from which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of A.B. Later he was given an A.M. degree by the college. He is also a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He has served as house surgeon in the St. Francis Hospital, Nyack, and is now surgeon in the Nyack Hospital, where he has met with remarkable success. He is a trustee of Piermont Village and a member of the school board."
Dr. Leitner is recorded as having attended second year courses in public health at New York University Medical College in 1916/17.
Source: "Announcements For The Year 1917-18," New York University Bulletin, University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, Vol. XVII, 26 June 1917, No. 6, p. 101.
In an article on page 11 of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from November 1st, 1918, it was reported that Dr. Leitner attended a gathering of Democrats at the Biltmore Hotel who supported the candidate, Alfred E. Smith (aka Al Smith), for Governor of New York. On January 11th, 1926 Smith sent names of new appointees to the Senate Chamber. Among these 13 persons was G. A. Leitner who was reappointed as manager of the New York State Orthopedic Hospital for Children. Mr. Smith ran for President in 1928 as a Democrat.
In September of 1926 Doc was on a banquet committee to Honor Justice Arthur Tompkins upon his 81st birthday.
Source: "To Honor Tompkins on 81st Birthday," NY Times, Sunday, 12 September 1926, p. 30.
In 1928 Dr. Leitner was awarded the Degree of Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons at a conference in Chicago. It was not required for him to take the exam.
Source: "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
At the annual meeting of the Medical Society of New York State in April 1936, Dr. Leitner was designated to the standing committee for Trends in Medical Practice and as Delegate to the American Medical Association for 1936 and 1937.
In addition to serving the community as a surgeon and attending physician at Nyack Hospital, George was also attending physician at St. Agnes' and St. Joseph's Asylums in Sparkill and Blauvelt respectively. For further reading Michael Nevin's "Still More Meanderings in Medical History," pages 101-103, is recommended.
George A. Leitner was a golden jubilee graduate of Fordham College in 1935. He received a gold medal from Cardinal Hayes during the Fordham commencement on that occassion.
Source: New York Times, Wednesday, June 12th, 1935, page 16
Memberships included the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Royal Arearum, the Foresters of America, the Golf Club of Rockland, and Rockland, New York (state) and the American Medical Associations. Leitner was director of the Nyack National Bank and the Closter National Bank (See Tribute of 31 October 1914 below).
Dr. Leitner died at the Harkness Pavilion of the New York-Presbytarian Columbia University Medical Center.
On November 29th, 1938, upon the death of his widow, the NY Times referred to Dr. George A. Leitner as "a leader in State Democratic politics."
Examples of Medical Cases:
"Shooting Affray At Nyack," NY Times, Monday, 23 December 1895, p. 5;
"Woman Hurt by Train," Rockland County Journal, 2 May 1908, p. 1;
"Shot In Brain, Lives; Silent On Assailant," NY Times, Tuesday, 22 December 1925, pp. 1 & 3;
"Man Still Lives With Shot In Brain," NY Times, Wednesday, 23 December 1925, p. 20;
"Widowed Just A Year, A Woman Falls From the Pier...," NY Times, Tuesday, 7 April 1925, p. 23;
"Motorist Arrested For Friend's Death," NY Times, Tuesday, 10 August 1926, p. 23;
"Former District Attorney To Undergo Operation..." Journal News, Wednesday, 25 January 1933, p. 2.
In 1915, Tom Kelly was born at 4:40 A.M. at the two-story Piermont train depot, 20 minutes before Dr. Leitner could reach and assist Tom's mother.
Source: "Our Towns," NY Times (Metropolitan), Friday, 19 April 1991, p. 31 (B3).
Another patient who had had a difficult delivery was reported to have named her son after Doc Leitner in 1930. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/5362/filename/5360.pdfpage/page/30
Baseball:
In addition to playing baseball for the Nyacks, George pitched for Fordham University and was drafted by the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League (under manager Horace Fogel) in 1887, which Leitner agreed to in order to finance his education. He later turned down a professional baseball career and went on to become one of the first physicians of Nyack Hospital, being instrumental in its founding.
See diverse articles regarding GAL's baseball setbacks and accomplishments:
"Notes of the Game," New York Times, Sunday, 31 July 1887, p. 3;
"Lost by the New-Yorks; Outplayed by the Indianapolis Team. Two new players help the home team to turn the tables on the New York Giants from New-York.," New York Times, Thursday, 11 August 1887, p. 3;
"Other Games," New York Times, Thursday, 25 August 1887, p. 3;
"Base Ball Enthusiasts," Philadelphia Times, August 27, 1887, p. 6;
"They Drew Nine Blanks; Bad Luck of the Indianapolis Ballplayers," New York Times, Wednesday, 31 August 1887, p. 2;
"New York Wins Once More," Indianapolis Journal, 31 August 1887, p. 3;
"A New Baseball Scheme," Indianapolis Journal, 11 December 1887, p. 12;
"Baseball Up The River," NY Times, 1 April 1888, p. 8.
Additional statistical information is provided at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Leitner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887_Indianapolis_Hoosiers_season
The only known photograph accurately identifying Doc Leitner as a baseball player and his Nyack teammates was taken in 1886 and reprinted in the Journal News on March 17th, 1934 (p. 3), and September 30th 1972.
Source:
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4302/rec/6
The newspaper may have a better copy of this photograph in its archives.
A comparison of this photograph with a studio photograph of a Nyack team referred to as "Leitner's Nyack Ball Club" on page 121 of a book entitled "The Nyacks" shows the same players at approximately the same age as in the first photograph. Unfortunately no one is identified, however, the studio photograph can not be from 1880 as recorded in Nyack Library's collection, when Doc would have only been about 15 years old. The man with the black hat is also not Doc Leitner.
A direct descendant identified the third man from the left in the back row of the studio photo as being the only Leitner in the photograph. It is either GAL or his father, John. The man in front holding the ball is not Leitner, as can be ascertained by comparing the two team photographs.
"Leitner's Nyack Ball Club":
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5286/rec/4
In an article entitled „BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYED IN NORTH ROCKLAND" (See the Historical Society of Rockland County's publication, "South of the Mountains", p. 15, Vol. 20, No. 2, April - June 1976) Daniel deNoyelles notes that Leitner's decision to become a physician despite a promising future in baseball was advantageous to the Nyack team's opponent, Haverstraw.
G.A. Leitner should not be confused with George Michael Leitner who was born in 1871 and known as "Dummy Leitner".
Photographs taken during his medical career include but are not limited to the following:
1910 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4954/rec/2
1929 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5168/rec/6
ca. 1930 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/6151/rec/1
Tributes:
Rockland County Times, 24 October 1914, p. 6 (campaign article);
"A Character Sketch," Rockland County Times, 31 October 1914, p. 7;
"Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Journal News, Monday, 16 September 1935, pp. 1 and 2;
Journal News, Thursday, 20 May 1937, p. 1;
Journal News, Friday, 21 May 1937, pp. 1-3;
Journal News, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1, 6 and 10 (poem);
Rockland County Times, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1 and 4;
The Rockland County Times, 29 May, 1937, p. 1;
Rockland County Leader, Thursday, 10 June 1937, p. 6;
Rockland County Times, 23 October 1937, pp. 1 and 4.
Obituaries:
Journal News, Tuesday, 18 May 1937, pp. 1 and 10.
"Dr. G. A. Leitner, Surgeon, Is Dead," New York Times, Wednesday, 19 May 1937, p. 23.
Rockland County Leader, 20 Thursday, May 1937, p. 1.
Estate:
Journal News, Thursday, 27 May 1937, p. 1.
Biographical information accumulated by Jole
George's parents immigrated from Bavaria and eventually settled in Rockland County, where they raised four children to adulthood. Their two oldest daughters had died in childhood before George was born. According to census records, George's parents and grandparents were all born in Bavaria (Bayern). His father opened a boot and shoe store in Piermont in 1866. George's other sisters, Minnie and Lizzy, married two Lediger brothers.
George began attending St. Joseph's Academy in Madison, N.J. about 1875. At age 12 he entered St. John's College and after seven years he had received his Artium Baccalaureus (Class of 1885) and his Magister Artium from Fordham University.
Source: "Historical Record to the Close of the Nineteenth Century in Rockland County," Edited by Arthur Sydney Tompkins, Van Deusen and Joyce, Publishers, Nyack, N.Y., 1902, pp. 88-9 (also 214, 224, 226 and 372).
George completed his medical studies at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, graduating on March 12th, 1888. He was one of four receiving honorable mention among 144 graduates. The ceremony took place at the Carnegie Laboratory, East-twenty-sixth-street, despite the 'Great White Hurricane'.
Sources:
1. "Winning Their Diplomas," New York Times, Tuesday, 13 March 1888, p. 3;
2. "27th Annual Commencement," https://archives.med.nyu.edu/islandora/object/nyumed%3A1150/datastream/OBJ/view
3. General Alumni Catalogue of New York University, 1833-1907: Medical Alumni, p. 411
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1888
From 1888 to 1889 Dr. Leitner absolved his internship as assistant house physician at St. Francis Hospital located at 603-617 East 5th Street in Manhattan. He corrected false reports of his being an assistant surgeon at a Jersey City hospital with the same name.
Sources:
1. "Baseball Up The River," NY Times, Sunday, 1 April 1888, p. 8;
2. "Base-Ball Notes," Indianapolis Journal, Sunday, 15 April 1888, p. 11, column ii;
3. "St. Francis Hospital's Work," NY Times, Monday, 1 April 1889, p. 8
4. The Rockland County Journal of October 17th, 1891;
5. "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Dr. George A. Leitner, running on the Democratic ticket, was elected Coroner of Piermont in 1891, defeating Republican, Dr. L.B. Couch.
Source: Rockland County Journal, October 24th and 31st, 1891, p. 8, certified by Cyrus M. Crum
ST. ANN'S FAIR.
"The Last Articles Disposed of Saturday Night. The final disposition of the articles on sale at St. Ann's Church Fair occurred on Saturday night... Dr. Leitner, of Piermont, became the possessor of a beautiful silver pitcher..."
Source: Rockland County Journal, 10 September 1892, p. 1.
In October 1892, Leitner himself fell ill and was hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital. This was cause for alarm among his friends.
Source: "Personal," Rockland County Journal, Saturday, 29 October 1892, p. 4
Dr. Leitner had been surgeon of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey until January 1st of 1897.
Source: Rockland County Journal of February 27th 1897
George was elected as a delegate to the New York Democratic Convention to be held on June 5th, 1900.
Source: Rockland County Times, May 19th, 1900
Dr. Leitner was a member of the Rockland County Medical Association in affiliation with the American Medical Association (later he became president of the Rockland County Association).
Source: New York Journal of Medicine, January 18th, 1901
Dr. Leitner presided over a commission to ensure sanitary conditions for milk production in the county.
In 1904 Dr. Leitner pitched in a benefit game for Nyack Hospital. The opposing team of clergymen won against the doctors.
Source: "Still More Meanderings in Medical History: The Third of a Trilogy," by Michael Nevins, pp. 101-102
In 1906 he was quoted in the Los Angeles Herald of October 4th on page 6 as saying, "The nomination of Hearst is one of the most outrageous and disgraceful things ever perpetrated in this state (N.Y.). Last evening I was in a company of eight well known Democrats, who said they would work for Hughes (a Republican)." Most of them were not willing to be quoted publicly.
At a charter members' luncheon of the Rockland County Society of the State of New York at the Hotel Astor in NYC on January 15th, 1913, Dr. Leitner was elected Vice-President. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/1579/filename/1565.pdfpage/page/6
Dr. Leitner relied on a Ford to tend to patients. Doctors in Nyack were referred to as "shoe town pill providers".
Source: "Doctors Know Good Thing," Rockland County Times, 19 September 1914, p. 1.
G. A. Leitner was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1915. In the Convention Manual (Cornell Library), a small biography can be found:
"HON. GEORGE A. LEITNER
(Democrat — Twenty-Third Senate District Delegate)
Mr. Leitner was born in Piermont in 1865. At the age of thirteen he entered Fordham Preparatory School and in 1881 entered the college, from which he graduated in 1885, with the degree of A.B. Later he was given an A.M. degree by the college. He is also a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He has served as house surgeon in the St. Francis Hospital, Nyack, and is now surgeon in the Nyack Hospital, where he has met with remarkable success. He is a trustee of Piermont Village and a member of the school board."
Dr. Leitner is recorded as having attended second year courses in public health at New York University Medical College in 1916/17.
Source: "Announcements For The Year 1917-18," New York University Bulletin, University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, Vol. XVII, 26 June 1917, No. 6, p. 101.
In an article on page 11 of The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from November 1st, 1918, it was reported that Dr. Leitner attended a gathering of Democrats at the Biltmore Hotel who supported the candidate, Alfred E. Smith (aka Al Smith), for Governor of New York. On January 11th, 1926 Smith sent names of new appointees to the Senate Chamber. Among these 13 persons was G. A. Leitner who was reappointed as manager of the New York State Orthopedic Hospital for Children. Mr. Smith ran for President in 1928 as a Democrat.
In September of 1926 Doc was on a banquet committee to Honor Justice Arthur Tompkins upon his 81st birthday.
Source: "To Honor Tompkins on 81st Birthday," NY Times, Sunday, 12 September 1926, p. 30.
In 1928 Dr. Leitner was awarded the Degree of Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons at a conference in Chicago. It was not required for him to take the exam.
Source: "Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
At the annual meeting of the Medical Society of New York State in April 1936, Dr. Leitner was designated to the standing committee for Trends in Medical Practice and as Delegate to the American Medical Association for 1936 and 1937.
In addition to serving the community as a surgeon and attending physician at Nyack Hospital, George was also attending physician at St. Agnes' and St. Joseph's Asylums in Sparkill and Blauvelt respectively. For further reading Michael Nevin's "Still More Meanderings in Medical History," pages 101-103, is recommended.
George A. Leitner was a golden jubilee graduate of Fordham College in 1935. He received a gold medal from Cardinal Hayes during the Fordham commencement on that occassion.
Source: New York Times, Wednesday, June 12th, 1935, page 16
Memberships included the Knights of Columbus, the Elks, the Royal Arearum, the Foresters of America, the Golf Club of Rockland, and Rockland, New York (state) and the American Medical Associations. Leitner was director of the Nyack National Bank and the Closter National Bank (See Tribute of 31 October 1914 below).
Dr. Leitner died at the Harkness Pavilion of the New York-Presbytarian Columbia University Medical Center.
On November 29th, 1938, upon the death of his widow, the NY Times referred to Dr. George A. Leitner as "a leader in State Democratic politics."
Examples of Medical Cases:
"Shooting Affray At Nyack," NY Times, Monday, 23 December 1895, p. 5;
"Woman Hurt by Train," Rockland County Journal, 2 May 1908, p. 1;
"Shot In Brain, Lives; Silent On Assailant," NY Times, Tuesday, 22 December 1925, pp. 1 & 3;
"Man Still Lives With Shot In Brain," NY Times, Wednesday, 23 December 1925, p. 20;
"Widowed Just A Year, A Woman Falls From the Pier...," NY Times, Tuesday, 7 April 1925, p. 23;
"Motorist Arrested For Friend's Death," NY Times, Tuesday, 10 August 1926, p. 23;
"Former District Attorney To Undergo Operation..." Journal News, Wednesday, 25 January 1933, p. 2.
In 1915, Tom Kelly was born at 4:40 A.M. at the two-story Piermont train depot, 20 minutes before Dr. Leitner could reach and assist Tom's mother.
Source: "Our Towns," NY Times (Metropolitan), Friday, 19 April 1991, p. 31 (B3).
Another patient who had had a difficult delivery was reported to have named her son after Doc Leitner in 1930. Source:
https://www.hrvh.org/utils/getfile/collection/hsrc/id/5362/filename/5360.pdfpage/page/30
Baseball:
In addition to playing baseball for the Nyacks, George pitched for Fordham University and was drafted by the Indianapolis Hoosiers of the National League (under manager Horace Fogel) in 1887, which Leitner agreed to in order to finance his education. He later turned down a professional baseball career and went on to become one of the first physicians of Nyack Hospital, being instrumental in its founding.
See diverse articles regarding GAL's baseball setbacks and accomplishments:
"Notes of the Game," New York Times, Sunday, 31 July 1887, p. 3;
"Lost by the New-Yorks; Outplayed by the Indianapolis Team. Two new players help the home team to turn the tables on the New York Giants from New-York.," New York Times, Thursday, 11 August 1887, p. 3;
"Other Games," New York Times, Thursday, 25 August 1887, p. 3;
"Base Ball Enthusiasts," Philadelphia Times, August 27, 1887, p. 6;
"They Drew Nine Blanks; Bad Luck of the Indianapolis Ballplayers," New York Times, Wednesday, 31 August 1887, p. 2;
"New York Wins Once More," Indianapolis Journal, 31 August 1887, p. 3;
"A New Baseball Scheme," Indianapolis Journal, 11 December 1887, p. 12;
"Baseball Up The River," NY Times, 1 April 1888, p. 8.
Additional statistical information is provided at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Leitner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1887_Indianapolis_Hoosiers_season
The only known photograph accurately identifying Doc Leitner as a baseball player and his Nyack teammates was taken in 1886 and reprinted in the Journal News on March 17th, 1934 (p. 3), and September 30th 1972.
Source:
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4302/rec/6
The newspaper may have a better copy of this photograph in its archives.
A comparison of this photograph with a studio photograph of a Nyack team referred to as "Leitner's Nyack Ball Club" on page 121 of a book entitled "The Nyacks" shows the same players at approximately the same age as in the first photograph. Unfortunately no one is identified, however, the studio photograph can not be from 1880 as recorded in Nyack Library's collection, when Doc would have only been about 15 years old. The man with the black hat is also not Doc Leitner.
A direct descendant identified the third man from the left in the back row of the studio photo as being the only Leitner in the photograph. It is either GAL or his father, John. The man in front holding the ball is not Leitner, as can be ascertained by comparing the two team photographs.
"Leitner's Nyack Ball Club":
https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5286/rec/4
In an article entitled „BIG LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYED IN NORTH ROCKLAND" (See the Historical Society of Rockland County's publication, "South of the Mountains", p. 15, Vol. 20, No. 2, April - June 1976) Daniel deNoyelles notes that Leitner's decision to become a physician despite a promising future in baseball was advantageous to the Nyack team's opponent, Haverstraw.
G.A. Leitner should not be confused with George Michael Leitner who was born in 1871 and known as "Dummy Leitner".
Photographs taken during his medical career include but are not limited to the following:
1910 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/4954/rec/2
1929 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/5168/rec/6
ca. 1930 https://cdm16694.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/nyacklib/id/6151/rec/1
Tributes:
Rockland County Times, 24 October 1914, p. 6 (campaign article);
"A Character Sketch," Rockland County Times, 31 October 1914, p. 7;
"Dr. Leitner, Shockabsorber of the Community, Old Diamond Star," Journal News, 17 March 1934, p. 3;
Journal News, Monday, 16 September 1935, pp. 1 and 2;
Journal News, Thursday, 20 May 1937, p. 1;
Journal News, Friday, 21 May 1937, pp. 1-3;
Journal News, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1, 6 and 10 (poem);
Rockland County Times, Saturday, 22 May 1937, pp. 1 and 4;
The Rockland County Times, 29 May, 1937, p. 1;
Rockland County Leader, Thursday, 10 June 1937, p. 6;
Rockland County Times, 23 October 1937, pp. 1 and 4.
Obituaries:
Journal News, Tuesday, 18 May 1937, pp. 1 and 10.
"Dr. G. A. Leitner, Surgeon, Is Dead," New York Times, Wednesday, 19 May 1937, p. 23.
Rockland County Leader, 20 Thursday, May 1937, p. 1.
Estate:
Journal News, Thursday, 27 May 1937, p. 1.
Biographical information accumulated by Jole
Family Members
Siblings
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