Art Bramhall
Art Bramhall at WIBA radio, 1941
Shortstop, Third baseman
Born: (1909-02-22)February 22, 1909
Oak Park, Illinois
Died: September 4, 1985(1985-09-04) (aged 76)
Madison, Wisconsin
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 18, 1935, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
April 26, 1935, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Teams

Arthur Washington Bramhall (February 22, 1909 – September 4, 1985) was an American baseball, basketball, and American football player. He played minor league baseball from 1930 to 1935 and in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1935. He also played professional basketball and football. After his playing career ended, he worked as a sportscaster for radio stations in Wisconsin.

Early years

Bramhall was born in 1909 in Oak Park, Illinois, and attended Oak Park High School and St. Mel High School.[1] He was the star forward of the 1929 St. Mel's basketball team that was coached by football great Paddy Driscoll.[2] He then attended DePaul University.[1]

Professional athlete

Baseball

He played professional baseball from 1930 to 1935, including two games in Major League Baseball with the 1935 Philadelphia Phillies.[1] He was known for his fielding, rather than batting. At the time of his promotion to the Phillies, The Capital Times wrote: "Bramhall is a fine fielder, fast and possesses a splendid throwing arm, and if he can hit at a .250 clip he will remain with the Phils all season."[3] His major-league career began and ended in April 1935.[1]

His minor league baseball career included stints with the Springfield Senators (1930),[1] Nashville Vols,[4][5] Reading Keys (1932), Harrisburg Senators (1932),[1] Binghamton Triplets (1932),[1] and Madison Blues (1933–1934).[6][7]

Basketball and football

Bramhall also played professional basketball and football, making him one of the few athletes who ever played at the professional level in all three sports.[8] For three seasons from approximately 1930 to 1932, he played professional basketball as a forward for the Chicago Bruins of the American Basketball League.[4][9][10] In 1931, he was described as "one of the best basketball players in the game", the "life of the party" and the Bruins' "super-showman."[9] He also reportedly "travelled on the stage with a basketball act."[4][8] In 1934, he played for the Chicago Circus Clowns, a traveling basketball team that played in full clown suits against local teams.[10]

Bramhall's professional football career is not as well documented, but some sources assert that he played, at least briefly, with the Chicago Bears in the early 1930s.[4][8] The football Bears and basketball Bruins were under the common ownership of George Halas.

Later years

After his career as an athlete ended, Bramhall and his wife operated a restaurant and bar, Justo's, in Madison, Wisconsin, from 1939 to 1971.[8] He was also a sports broadcaster on Wisconsin radio stations in the late 1930s and 1940s.[4][11] Beginning in 1942, his broadcasting career included radio play-by-play for Wisconsin Badgers football games.[12] Bramhall died in 1985 at age 76 in Madison.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Art Bramhall Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ "St. Mel's Seven-Point Lead Defeats La Salle, 30-20". The Minneapolis Morning Tribune. April 2, 1929. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Hank Casserly (April 14, 1935). "Lenahan at Schedule Meet, Seeks Players". The Capital Times. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Art Bramhall, Football Coaches on Air Monday". The Capital Times. September 14, 1941. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Buck Cagers Learn How: Art Bramhall, Pro Basketball Star, Giving the Boys a Few Pointers on Game". Nashville Banner. April 10, 1931. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Hank Casserly (June 8, 1933). "Logan Squares Blast Blues, 8-3". The Capital Times. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Art Bramhall To Join Phils Next Spring: Blues Shortstop Signs After Workout in Chicago". Wisconsin State Journal. August 20, 1934. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Art Bramhall dies at 76". The Capital Times. September 5, 1985. p. 24.
  9. 1 2 "Chicago Bruins, Thrice Conquerors of Celtics, to Appear Here Next Friday". The Chattanooga News. February 7, 1931. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 1 2 "Circus Clowns Battle Servel Five Monday Night". Evansville Press. December 30, 1934. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Redskins' Game Tonight To Be Thriller For WHBL Fans". The Sheboygan Press. February 22, 1940. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Grid Broadcasts Start Saturday Over WIBA: Art Bramhall Begins Previews This Monday". The Capital Times. September 13, 1942. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.


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