Leland "Lou" Brissie was born in Anderson, S.C., and attended P.C. until he entered the army in 1943.  On December 2, 1944, while serving with the 88th Infantry Division in Italy, Brissie's left leg was shatteed into 30 pieces by an artillery shell, an injury which required 23 operations and earned him two purple hearts and a Bronze Star. Determined to have a career in professional baseball, Lou Brissie triumphed over his injury and made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1947.  He played for both the Athletics and the Cleveland Indians. According to Rich Westcott of the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society, Brissie won 30 games over a two-year period in the big leagues and at one point was considered one of the top southpaws in the American League. After retiring in 1953, he served for a time as National Commissioner of American Legion Baseball.  He later entered a career in business.