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Leo Fischer (D. 1970) was a sports writer for the Chicago Examiner, the Herald Examiner, Chicago Journal, and the Chicago's American. He began his news career as editor of the Great Lakes Bulletin in 1918.

For more than 25 years, he was the sports editor for Chicago's American (from 1943–1969). In 1969, he continued as sports editor when the American was converted into a tabloid known as Chicago Today.

Fischer was president of the National Basketball League from 1940 to 1944.

About the NBL

The NBL – per nbahoopsonline.com

"Twelve years prior to the introduction of the NBA, a little basketball league sprang up in the Midwest in 1937. The league was a rather informal endeavor despite having sponsorship from three elite US corporations, namely General Electric, Firestone and Goodyear. In the early years, there were 13 teams that were required to play at least 10 games, including road games.

In 1940, the league appointed its first president in the person of Chicago newspaper sports editor Leo Fischer, whose primary responsibility was to bring structure to the league. He immediately instituted a formal schedule, adding as many games as he could. He also actively sought out other teams and players to join the league. Without any meaningful competition, the best basketball players in the land were joining the NBL as a means to fulfil their dreams of playing professional basketball."

Fischer was also a key contributor to integrating professional basketball in its’ early days.

Offered is a 5.75” x 3.5” custom linen heavy stock card signed by Fischer in blue ink.

He is a super tough autograph to find.  This comes out of a long time in the mail collection.  The collector notated when they obtained the autograph on the back in pencil (1/65).