Lefty Topel

Harry "Lefty" Topel
born Harry Isador Natapow


Born:
March 25, 1896
Russia

Died:
March 29, 1943
Rochester, NY


Career
1919-20 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1920-21 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1921-22 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1922-23 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1923-24 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1924-25 Rochester Centrals (Independent)
1925-26 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1926-27 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1927-28 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1928-29 Chicago Bruins (ABL)
1928-29 New York Hakoahs (ABL)
1928-29 Paterson Whirlwinds (ABL)
1929-30 Fort Wayne Hoosiers (ABL)
1929-30 Rochester Centrals (ABL)
1930-31 Rochester Centrals (ABL)

Born in Russia, Natapow (largely under the name "Topel") played with the Rochester Centrals through the 1920's and as the team joined the ABL. He bounced to a few other teams for a bit before returning to Rochester in 1929.

Despondent over the fatal illness of a close family member, Lefty committed suicide in 1943 by carbon monoxide poisoning.

He and his wife, Mollie, had one daughter.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=topel-001har

Source:
Obituary, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, March 30, 1943

Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/Lefty-Topel/