Vincent Borleske

Vincent Borleske
Biographical details
Born(1887-01-08)January 8, 1887
Albert Lea, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedJanuary 2, 1957(1957-01-02) (aged 69)
Walla Walla, Washington, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1907–1909Whitman
Baseball
1911Brandon Angels
1912Edmonton Grey Birds
Position(s)Halfback
Pitcher (baseball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1915–1946Whitman

Raymond Vincent "Nig" Borleske (January 8, 1887 – January 2, 1957) was an American professional baseball player and college football player and coach.[1] Borleske was one of a number of American athletes in the first half of the 20th century to be nicknamed "Nig", being referred to as such in newspaper reports as early as September 1907.[2]

Borleske was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He played college football for the Fighting Missionaries of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, from 1907 to 1909. He played in minor league baseball from 1910 to 1912, pitching for two teams in the Western Canada League.[3] He served as the head football coach at Whitman College from 1915 to 1946.

Borleske was the mayor of Walla Walla from 1948 to 1954. He died in Walla Walla on January 2, 1957, of a heart attack. He was the manager of the Marcus Whitman Hotel there at the time of his death.[4] Borleske's brother, Stanley Borleske, was also a college athlete and coach.[5]

  1. ^ "Vincent Borleske". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "Missionaries Will Be Strong". The Evening Statesman. Walla Walla, Washington. September 3, 1907. p. 1. Retrieved May 9, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Vincent Borleske Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "Death Claims Nig Borleske". The Capital Journal. Salem, Oregon. Associated Press. January 3, 1957. p. 15. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ "It's Mayor Borleske". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. December 5, 1947. p. 22. Retrieved July 29, 2018 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.