George Bradley
Encyclopedia
George Washington Bradley (July 13, 1852 – October 2, 1931), nicknamed "Grin", was an American
Major League Baseball
player who was a pitcher
and infielder
. He was 5'10.5" and weighed 175 lbs. Bradley was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
.
, no-run game in major league history. He pitched for the St. Louis Brown Stockings
in the club's victory over the Hartford Dark Blues
on July 15, 1876. The score ended 2-0 without a hit being allowed by Bradley. That year, he completed 63 of St. Louis' 64 games, winning 45 and leading the league with a 1.23 earned run average
. He also threw 16 shutouts
, setting a record that has not been broken.
After 1876, Bradley was not as effective as a pitcher and played mostly other positions after 1879. He was involved in professional baseball for 30 years, 19 of them with the Philadelphia Athletics
. In 1883, he was the team's regular third baseman
and also went 16-7 on the mound to help the A's win the American Association
championship.
In 1887, he served as a player-manager for the Nashville Blues
of the Southern League
.
following his baseball career. He died in Philadelphia at his home. At the time of his death, he was retired on a pension from the police department which he had received beginning in September 1931. Bradley was interred at the Northwood Cemetery
in Philadelphia.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who was a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
and infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He was 5'10.5" and weighed 175 lbs. Bradley was born in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
.
Baseball career
Bradley threw the first official no-hitNo-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, no-run game in major league history. He pitched for the St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Brown Stockings
The St. Louis Brown Stockings were a professional baseball club based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1875 to 1877.-History:Joining the National Association in the final season of that league, the Brown Stockings were the first team to represent St. Louis in a professional baseball association . The...
in the club's victory over the Hartford Dark Blues
Hartford Dark Blues
The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century baseball team. The team was based in Hartford, Connecticut.-History:They were a member of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1874 and 1875 and the National League in 1876 and 1877...
on July 15, 1876. The score ended 2-0 without a hit being allowed by Bradley. That year, he completed 63 of St. Louis' 64 games, winning 45 and leading the league with a 1.23 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. He also threw 16 shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
, setting a record that has not been broken.
After 1876, Bradley was not as effective as a pitcher and played mostly other positions after 1879. He was involved in professional baseball for 30 years, 19 of them with the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (American Association)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional baseball team, one of six charter members of the American Association, a 19th-century major league, which began play in 1882 as a rival to the National League. The other teams were the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Red Stockings, Eclipse of...
. In 1883, he was the team's regular third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and also went 16-7 on the mound to help the A's win the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
championship.
In 1887, he served as a player-manager for the Nashville Blues
Nashville Blues
The Nashville Blues were a minor league baseball team of the Southern League in 1887. They were located in Nashville, Tennessee and played home games at Athletic Park, which was opened in 1885. Preceded by the Nashville Americans, the Blues were Nashville's second professional baseball team...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
.
Later life
Bradley became a Philadelphia police officerPolice officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
following his baseball career. He died in Philadelphia at his home. At the time of his death, he was retired on a pension from the police department which he had received beginning in September 1931. Bradley was interred at the Northwood Cemetery
Northwood Cemetery
Northwood Cemetery is a cemetery located in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It was established in 1878.-Notable interments:* George Bradley Major League Baseball player....
in Philadelphia.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball ERA champions
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters