Researching George Bradley

Bradley was born in Derby and became a house painter living in Derby. He played one match for Derbyshire in the 1875 season against Nottinghamshire. Bradley was a right-handed batsman and made one run in his two innings. He was a right-arm bowler and bowled economically during the game, though he failed to take any wickets for 17 runs.

Bradley died in Litchurch, Derby shortly before his 37th birthday.

Bradley was elected to the position of Speaker Pro Tem of the Minnesota House of Representatives on December 22, 1857, when then-Speaker John S. Watrous took leave to attend to personal business. When, due to Watrous' prolonged absence, the Speaker's chair was declared vacant on March 12, 1858, Bradley was elected Speaker in his own right. In 1860 he was appointed Receiver of the U. S. Land Office in St. Paul. Lincoln's call for volunteers prompted him to volunteer as a Major in the 7th Minnesota Infantry. He saw action in Minnesota during the Sioux Uprising and then in Missouri, the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee. and the Battle of Tupelo. By the end of the Civil War he had been made a Lt. Colonel.

Overall, Bradley had an 11-year career (1936–1942) and 1944–1947) in professional baseball, and spent all but one of those seasons as a member of the Browns' organization. His MLB trial came at the age of 32 during the first post-World War II campaign. He collected his only two hits in his debut game on Sunday, April 28, 1946, against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in the nightcap of a doubleheader. In his first big league at bat, he singled off Eddie Smith as part of a nine-run first inning to drive in two runs. When St. Louis batted around, Bradley came to the plate again in that frame and he made the last out. Later in the game, in the fourth, Bradley doubled off Len Perme to extend the Brownie lead to 11–3. St. Louis would hold on to win 11–8 in a contest that featured 29 hits and a combined five errors committed by both teams.

Bradley started two other games in centerfield for the Browns, and had one pinch-hitting opportunity, but went hitless. In his four games, he batted .167 (two for 12), with three total runs batted in.

Bradley was born at Whitby in Yorkshire in 1816, and apprenticed to a firm of printers in his native town. After working for several years as a reporter on the York Herald he was appointed editor of the Sunderland and Durham County Herald, and about 1848 became editor and one of the proprietors of the Newcastle Guardian. He resided at Newcastle until his death on 14 October 1863, being greatly respected, and for a considerable period an influential member of the town council. Bradley published A Concise and Practical System of Short-hand Writing, with a brief History of the Progress of the Art. Illustrated by sixteen engraved lessons and exercises, London, 1843, 12mo. The system is a variation of Dr. Mavor's.