Joe Magidsohn
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| Michigan Wolverines | |
|---|---|
| Position | Halfback |
| Career history | |
| College | Michigan (1909–1910) |
| Personal information | |
| Date of birth | December 20, 1888 |
| Place of birth | Tukums, Russian Empire (now Latvia) |
| Date of death | February 14, 1969 (aged 80) |
| Place of death | Oak Park, Michigan |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Joseph "Joe" Magidsohn (December 20, 1888 – February 14, 1969) was an American football player and official. He played halfback for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1909 and 1910 and was selected as a second-team All-American by Walter Camp in 1909 and a first-team All-American in 1910. He was the first Jewish athlete to win a varsity "M" at the University of Michigan and is the first athlete known to have refused to compete on the Jewish High Holy Days.
In 1888, Magidsohn was born in Tukums, a town that was then part of the Russian Empire, but which is now part of Latvia. He was the son of Herman Magidsohn, a merchant born in Russia in July 1863, and Bessie Magidsohn, born in August 1864 in Russia. His father immigrated to the United States in 1889, and his mother followed in 1892 with two sons, Joe and Sam. At the time of the 1900 U.S. Census, the family had grown to four children and was living in Oliver Township in The Thumb region of Michigan. Magidsohn attended high school in Elkton, Michigan. After graduating from high school, Magidsohn enrolled at Alma College. He had never played football before and took up the sport at Alma.
In 1907, Magidsohn transferred to the University of Michigan where he played two years of varsity football (1909–10) under head coach Fielding H. Yost. Magidsohn was 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighed 163 pounds when he played football at Michigan. Magidsohn and Dave Allerdice were the starting halfbacks for the 1909 Michigan football team that finished the season with a 6–1 record and outscored its opponents 116–34. In Michigan's 15–6 win over Minnesota in 1909, Magidsohn scored both of Michigan's touchdowns, including a run for a touchdown in the first half and a 35-yard (32 m) interception return for a touchdown in the second half.
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