View source for Nate Fish

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox MLB player
|name=Nate Fish
|team=
|number=
|position=[[Utility Player]] / [[Coach (sport)|Coach]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right 
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1980|1|2}} 
|birth_place=[[Hanover, New Hampshire]]
|teams=
*[[Tel Aviv Lightning]] ({{by|2007}})
*[[Haar Disciples]] ({{by|2008}})
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{ISR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[European Baseball Championship]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[2021 European Baseball Championship|2021 Israel]] | [[Israel national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}

'''Nate Fish''' (born January 2, 1980) is an [[American–Israeli]] writer, artist, baseball player, and coach. He is the  CEO of Israel Baseball America,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/18/sports/team-israel-is-launching-an-american-organization-to-support-baseballs-growth-in-israel|title=Team Israel is launching an American organization to support baseball’s growth in Israel|work=JTA|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> manager of the Israel National Team, and manager of the Savannah Bananas. 
  
Previously, he was the first base coach for [[Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic|Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]],  bullpen coach at 2023 World Baseball Classic, an assistant coach for the YD Red Sox in the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]], and worked as a minor league coach for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]].<ref name=DBV />

Fish played shortstop, third base, outfield, and catcher.<ref name=backto /> He won three medals at the [[Maccabiah Games]]. He played for the [[Tel Aviv Lightning]] in the only year of the [[Israel Baseball League]]. He served as national director for the [[Israel Association of Baseball]] (IAB). Fish coached for the [[Israel national baseball team]], in the 2013 and 2017 qualifiers for the [[World Baseball Classic]], and was Team Israel's first base coach in the [[2017 World Baseball Classic]] in South Korea and Japan. In 2017 and 2018, Fish was an assistant coach for the YD Red Sox in the CCBL. In 2019, he worked as a minor league coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fish was the bullpen coach for Team Israel in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]].

Fish has published a number of magazine features and poems, and has had [https://natefishart.tumblr.com/ two solo exhibitions] of [[visual art]] in New York City. He was inducted into the [[Shaker Heights High School]] Alumni Hall of Fame in 2016.<ref name=shak>[http://www.shaker.org/hof_fish.aspx "Nate Fish '08,"] Shaker Heights Hall of Fame.</ref>

==Early life==

Fish was born in [[Hanover, New Hampshire]], and is Jewish.<ref>Yardena Schwartz (October 6, 2013). [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/.premium-1.550355 "Why Nate Fish made aliyah: To play baseball; Even though, admits the 'king of Jewish baseball,' nobody even knows the game's played in Israel,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''[[Haaretz]]''.</ref><ref name=haar /><ref name=brooklyneagle />  He moved to [[Cleveland, Ohio]], when he was 12 and grew up there.<ref name=haar /><ref name=brooklyneagle /><ref name="jpost1">Elli Wohlgelernter (September 15, 2016). [http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Israeli-baseball-in-Brooklyn-467826 "Israeli baseball in Brooklyn!; Next week Israel’s international baseball team will be playing in the World Baseball Classic’s qualifying tournament",<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''.</ref>

==Baseball==

===United States===

Fish attended [[Shaker Heights High School]] from 1994 to 1998. He was a high school teammate of [[Matt Guerrier]], who went on to play for the [[Minnesota Twins]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref name=shak/><ref name=bbil /> Fish played for the school's varsity baseball team for three years, earning all-region honors each year, and served as team captain his senior year.<ref name=shak/>

From 1998 to 2002, Fish played baseball at the [[University of Cincinnati]] with his close friend—the only other Jewish player on the team—future [[Boston Red Sox]] star [[Kevin Youkilis]].<ref name=brooklyneagle>Raanan Geberer (October 10, 2013). [http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/nate-fish-brooklyn-artist-leader-israeli-baseball-2013-10-10-200000 "Nate Fish: From Brooklyn artist to a leader of Israeli baseball,"] ''[[Brooklyn Daily Eagle]]''.</ref><ref name=haar /><ref name="jpost1"/> While playing for the [[Cincinnati Bearcats]], Fish appeared in 181 games, batting .249 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, and 71 RBIs.<ref>[http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/090106aab.html "Former Bearcat Fish Trying For Pro Career"], gobearcats.com, September 1, 2006.</ref> As a senior, Fish was the captain of the Bearcats, hit .287 with seven home runs, and set the Conference USA record with six hits in a game.<ref name=haar /><ref>Justin Berg (March 18, 2016). [http://www.americanisraelite.com/arts_and_entertainment/sports/article_42833626-ed3b-11e5-b5ad-2fa528bac768.html "Baseball blossoming in Israel,"] ''The American Israelite''.</ref>

At the [[2005 Maccabiah Games]] Fish played for Team USA, and won a [[gold medal]].<ref name=haar /> Fish later was the head coach of the United States Junior National Team for the [[2013 Maccabiah Games]]. The team won a gold medal in 2013 Maccabiah Games boys' baseball.<ref>[http://www.maccabiusa.com/professional-baseball-alumni-to-coach-usa-juniors-boys-baseball-team "Professional Baseball Alumni to Coach USA Juniors Boys Baseball Team,"] Maccabi USA, May 11, 2012.</ref>

In 2010, Fish co-founded and managed the Yorkville Baseball Academy in New York City.<ref name=bbil>[http://www.baseball.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=139:introducing%E2%80%A6nate-fish&catid=22&lang=en&Itemid=992 "Introducing… Nate Fish,"] Israel Baseball, April 8, 2011.</ref>

In 2017, he was Assistant Coach of the [[Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]].<ref>[http://ydredsox.pointstreaksites.com/view/ydredsox/coaches-2/nate-fish-bio "Nate Fish Bio,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.</ref><ref>Jon Mettus (June 13, 2017). [http://www.capecodtimes.com/sports/20170613/y-d-red-sox-seek-4th-straight-cape-league-championship "Y-D Red Sox seek 4th straight Cape League championship,"<!-- Bot generated title -->] ''Cape Cod Times''.</ref>

In 2021, Fish was announced as manager of the [[Savannah_Bananas#Bananas_Premier/Pro_Team|Savannah Bananas Premier Pro Team]]
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesavannahbananas.com/modern-renaissance-man-to-coach-bananas-premier-team/|title=Modern Renaissance Man To Coach Bananas Premier Team|work=Savannah Bananas|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

===Israel===
The Israel Association of Baseball appointed Nate Fish as the manager for the senior national team in August 2021.<ref>{{Citation|title=Nate Fish appointed Team Israel manager|date=September 19, 2021|url=http://www.baseball.org.il/english-news/592-nate-fish-appointed-team-israel-manager}}</ref> Prior to that he served a number of positions including player and coach.

====European Baseball Championship====
{{see also|Israel at the European Baseball Championship}}
Fish was the starting shortstop for Israel in the 2014 and 2015 qualifying rounds for the [[2016 European Baseball Championship]]. The team won the C Pool in 2014, and finished third in the B Pool in 2015, behind Sweden and Austria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mister-baseball.com/qualifier-european-championship-cpool-ljubljana-final-day-august-2-2014/|title=Qualifier European Championship C-Pool in Ljubljana: Final Day, August 2, 2014 « Mister Baseball}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://baseballeurope.com/post/groups_announced_for_2015_national_team_competitio|title=Groups announced for 2015 National Team Competitions in European Baseball &#124; CEB|website=baseballeurope.com}}</ref>

In the C-Level qualifier in 2014, Fish was the starting shortstop in all five games, and batted third. During the opening game against Finland, Fish went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, 2 RBIs, and a run scored.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2014/ljubljana/games/03.htm|title=ISRAEL vs FINLAND (Jul 29, 2014)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the second game, against Slovenia, Fish went 0-for-4 and was hit by a pitch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2014/ljubljana/games/08.htm|title=SLOVENIA vs ISRAEL (Jul 30, 2014)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the third game, against Latvia, Fish went 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2014/ljubljana/games/11.htm|title=LATVIA vs ISRAEL (Jul 31, 2014)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> In the semifinals game against Romania, Fish went 2-for-5 with a home run and a strikeout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2014/ljubljana/games/15.htm|title=ROMANIA vs ISRAEL (Aug 01, 2014)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> In the finals, against Slovenia, Fish went 1-for-5 with a run scored, as Israel went on to win 14-0 and moved on to the B-Level qualifier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2014/ljubljana/games/20.htm|title=SLOVENIA vs ISRAEL (Aug 02, 2014)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref>

In the B-Level qualifier in 2015, Fish was once the starting shortstop in all five games, and batted fifth. During the opening game against Belarus, Fish went 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, and a run scored.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2015/vienna/games/01.htm|title=Israel vs Belarus (Jul 27, 2015)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the second game, against Poland, Fish went 1-for-3 with a walk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2015/vienna/games/05.htm|title=Poland vs Israel (Jul 28, 2015)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the third game, against Austria, Fish went 2-for-4 with a RBI, a run, and was hit by a pitch twice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2015/vienna/games/09.htm|title=Israel vs Austria (Jul 29, 2015)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the fourth game, against Lithuania, Fish got a walk and a double in four at-bats, and struck out once.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2015/vienna/games/11.htm|title=Israel vs Lithuania (Jul 30, 2015)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref> During the final game against Sweden, Fish went 2-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballstats.eu/2015/vienna/games/14.htm|title=Sweden vs Israel (Jul 31, 2015)|website=www.baseballstats.eu}}</ref>

Fish was manager of the Israel team that came second at the 2021 European Championships. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchbaseballhangout.blog/2021/09/17/2021-european-championship-israel-advances-to-final-after-convincing-win/|title=2021 European Championship: Israel Advances to Final After Convincing Win|work=Dutch Baseball Hangout|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

====World Baseball Classic====
{{see also|Israel at the World Baseball Classic}}
Fish was the bullpen catcher and coach for Team [[Israel at the World Baseball Classic#2013 tournament|Israel at the 2013 World Baseball Classic]] in [[Jupiter, Florida]].<ref>Hillel Kuttler (January 1, 2016). [http://www.timesofisrael.com/for-ex-baseball-players-israel-pitched-as-next-career-step/ "For ex-baseball players, Israel pitched as next career step,"] ''[[The Times of Israel]]''.</ref> Team Israel beat [[Spain national baseball team|Spain]] and [[South Africa national baseball team|South Africa]], but lost in the finals to Spain and did not qualify for the 2013 WBC.<ref>Adam Berry (September 23, 2012). [http://mlb.mlb.com/wbc/2013/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_09_23_espint_isrint_1&mode=recap "Spain tops Israel in extras to advance to Classic"], mlb.com.</ref>

In 2016, Fish was on the coaching staff for [[Israel at the World Baseball Classic#2017 tournament|Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic]] qualifier in [[Brooklyn, New York]]. Team Israel beat [[Great Britain national baseball team|Great Britain]] and [[Brazil national baseball team|Brazil]] to qualify for the [[2017 World Baseball Classic]].<ref name="jpost1"/> In March 2017 he returned in the same role in the main tournament.<ref>[http://www.baseball.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380%3Ateam-israel-announces-coaching-staff-for-world-baseball-classic&catid=22%3Anews-english&Itemid=992&lang=en "Team Israel Announces Coaching Staff for World Baseball Classic"], baseball.org.il.</ref> He was Team Israel's first base coach in the [[2017 World Baseball Classic]] in South Korea and Japan.

====2020 Olympic Games====
Fish was 3rd base coach of the Israel team that [[Baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics#Final standings|finished 5th]] at the [[Baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics|2020 Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2021-baseball-olympic-games/news/nate-fish-to-manage-israel-in-the-baseball-european-championship|title=2021 European Championship: Israel Advances to Final After Convincing Nate Fish to manage Israel in European Baseball CWin|work=WBSC|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> 

====Other Israel activities====
In 2007, Fish played third base for the [[Tel Aviv Lightning]] in the only year of the [[Israel Baseball League]]. He hit .347 and won the gold glove award for the best defensive infielder in the league.<ref name=haar /> He was also one of the subjects of the award-winning film ''[[Holy Land Hardball]]'', about the league.

From 2013 to 2016, Fish lived in Israel and worked as the national director for the Israel Association of Baseball.<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/1.732697 "Israeli Baseball Says Goodbye to Head Coach Nate Fish; National team’s head coach to step down three years after 'baseballiah' and plans to return to U.S."], ''Haaretz'', July 21, 2016.</ref> He made [[aliyah]] in 2013 to accept the position, and spent his time visiting Israeli schools to introduce kids to baseball.<ref>[http://www.jnf.org/about-jnf/news/jnf-wire/jnf-wire-rounding-the-bases.html "Rounding the Bases with Israeli Baseball,"] Jewish National Fund.</ref>

While serving as director for Israel Baseball, Fish co-founded the program Baseball Le’Kulam (Baseball for All) to bring Arab and Jewish kids in Israel together.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spY3G9kr5yc "Baseball le'Kulam"], Israel Baseball, March 18, 2015.</ref> Baseball Le'Kulam was featured during the 2016 [[AIPAC]] conference in Washington DC.<ref>Steven Klein (March 25, 2016). [http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/sports/.premium-1.710874 "Coexistence Baseball Shares the Limelight With Donald Trump at AIPAC Conference; Fadi Abu Swees of Ramle and Niv Eytan of Modi'in make a presentation about Israel's inclusive baseball program after Trump's speech,"] ''Haaretz''.</ref>

===Other===
In 2008, Fish played for the [[Haar Disciples]] in Germany’s [[Bundesliga (baseball)|Bundesliga]].<ref name=haar>[http://www.mister-baseball.com/disciples-replace-injured-alexis-hernandez-with-nate-fish/ "Disciples replace injured Alexis Hernandez with Nate Fish,"] April 8, 2003.</ref> He hit .320 while fielding .947 while playing third base and catching.<ref name=DBV /> He was Haar's #2 offensive producer, and was second in the league in fielding among starting third basemen.<ref name=DBV>[http://stats.baseball-softball.de/players/?f=51522 "Nate Fish,"] DBV Onlinestats Spielerübersicht.</ref>

Fish has also played baseball professionally in [[Argentina]], [[Puerto Rico]], and the [[Dominican Republic]].<ref name=bbil />

===Israel Baseball Americas===
In March 2024, Fish was the  inaugural CEO of Israel Baseball America, an organization that represents Israel Baseball in the States and the rest of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/2024/03/18/sports/team-israel-is-launching-an-american-organization-to-support-baseballs-growth-in-israel|title=Team Israel is launching an American organization to support baseball’s growth in Israel|work=JTA|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

==Other ventures==

===Writing===
Fish has a degree from the [[New School University]] in New York with a focus on creative writing.<ref name=backto>Jerry Crasnick. [http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=crasnick/060830 "Pro Baseball is coming back to Israel,"] ESPN.</ref> He has published features in ''[[Heeb Magazine]]'' and ''Leveled Magazine''.<ref>[http://leveledmag.com/2012/04/76-seconds-to-newcastle/ "76 Seconds to Newcastle"], leveledmag.com.</ref> In 2012, he created the blog [http://www.kingofjewishbaseball.com King of Jewish Baseball]. In 2016, he established the Brick of Gold Publishing Company. Fish's first book was ''[[Israelis Drive Anything]]'', a photo series of Israelis driving homemade vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesavannahbananas.com/modern-renaissance-man-to-coach-bananas-premier-team/|title=Modern Renaissance Man To Coach Bananas Premier Team|work=Savannah Bananas|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> He has since released two collections of poetry, [https://www.amazon.com/98-6-Poems-Nate-Fish/dp/0692901809/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=98.6+poems&qid=1590156647&s=books&sr=1-1 98.6 Poems], and [https://www.amazon.com/Poems-My-Wife-Love-Non-Romantics/dp/0578654911/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=poems+for+my+wife&qid=1590156673&s=books&sr=1-1 Poems for My Wife: Love Poems for Non-Romantics]. The Brick of Gold Publishing Company has also released two books of writing from California State Prisons edited by Fish, [https://www.amazon.com/Man-Wish-Would-Have-Known/dp/069210612X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=man+i+wish+we+would&qid=1590156772&s=books&sr=1-2 Man, I Wish We Would Have Known: Letters from Calipatria State Prison], and [https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bidhan-Chandra-Roy/dp/0692131981/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=disconnected+reconnected&qid=1590156799&s=books&sr=1-1 Disconnected/Reconnected: Writing from Lancaster State Prison].
He is the Author and publisher of You're A Racist: Thoughts on Race in America<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Racist-Thoughts-Race-America/dp/0578835274|title=You're A Racist: Thoughts on Race in America|work=Amazon|access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref> and 128-G.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thebrickofgold.com/shop/p/8cz2mny4aljdmjmtti3p3vpr2p33pq|title=128-G|work=Brick of Gold|access-date=16 March 2023}}</ref>

===Art===
In 2002 Fish moved to Brooklyn in order to focus on visual arts.<ref name=brooklyneagle /> He is a self-taught artist. He had solo exhibitions in 2011 (Jellybeans) at Gallery Bar in Manhattan’s [[Lower East Side]], and in 2013 (Natureficial) at the Red Door Gallery in [[Chelsea, Manhattan|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thesavannahbananas.com/modern-renaissance-man-to-coach-bananas-premier-team/|title=Modern Renaissance Man To Coach Bananas Premier Team|work=Savannah Bananas|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.kingofjewishbaseball.com King of Jewish Baseball]
*[https://twitter.com/kingofJbaseball Twitter]

{{Israel roster 2017 World Baseball Classic}}
{{Israel baseball roster 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{Israel roster 2023 World Baseball Classic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish, Nate}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century American artists]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:American male bloggers]]
[[Category:Baseball catchers]]
[[Category:Baseball outfielders]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Ohio]]
[[Category:Baseball shortstops]]
[[Category:Baseball third basemen]]
[[Category:Cape Cod Baseball League coaches]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bearcats baseball players]]
[[Category:Israeli male bloggers]]
[[Category:Jewish American baseball coaches]]
[[Category:Israeli baseball players]]
[[Category:Israeli Jews]]
[[Category:Jewish American baseball players]]
[[Category:People from Hanover, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Tel Aviv Lightning players]]
[[Category:The New School alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Shaker Heights, Ohio]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]