Arthur Brown Bradsher is being placed on the Duke Hall of Fame Ballot in February 2020. The results of the vote will be announced in April 2020.·
Arthur Bradsher was “Duke Blue” through and through. He attended Trinity from 1901-1905 and four of his five children attended Duke. Bradsher was called on to speak on behalf of Trinity and returned to the University often always supporting Duke.
· Arthur Bradsher was the top student-athlete of his era. He graduated Cum Laude in 1904 and returned in 1905 to receive his Master’s degree.
· Arthur Bradsher was a leader of men and one of the most popular and trusted students ever to attend Trinity College. He shed a bright light on Trinity College and Duke University always. Arthur Bradsher was captain of the Varsity baseball team for 3 years.
· Arthur Bradsher was the principal founder of the order of the “Tombs” in 1903. The Tombs was one of the strongest organizations on campus from 1903-1942. Its purpose was to promote Varsity and class athletics (later to be called intramural sports) and to improve team sportsmanship and school spirit. Another objective was to firmly cement the relations between Trinity and other schools in the field of sports.
· Arthur Bradsher was a Christian athlete and gentleman while he played at Trinity. He often asked to speak at the Y.M.C.A, at pep rallies and at college assemblies. Large numbers came out to hear him speak. After graduation, he became an active member of the church wherever he lived. He was Superintendent of the Sunday schools in Durham, Petersburg, Va. and Montreal for over thirty years.
· Arthur Bradsher lettered five times at Trinity College. He was always a team player. He led Trinity to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (S.I.A.A.) championship in 1904. A year in which he had 13 victories in 14 games. Bradsher struck out a record of 171 batters and set a NCAA college record which may never be broken by walking only 4 batters during the season which he pitched 14 complete games.
· Arthur Bradsher holds 11 single season Duke pitching records: Most strikeouts in a single season(171), most wins in a single season(13), most innings pitched in a season(134),most games started(14), most complete games in a season(14), least hits given up per 9 innings(2.34), least walks per 9 innings(0.29), strikeout to walk ratio(42.75), whip(0.410), shutouts (5), and lowest ERA(0.0746). He holds 9 career pitching records: Career games started (59), career wins (42), complete games (57), innings pitched (513), fewest hits per 9 innings(4.28), most career strikeouts(582), most career shutouts(15), most years lettered in a single sport(5) and most years serving as a team captain(3).
· Arthur Bradsher was selected to all Southern conference teams and “best of state teams in 1904 and 1905. The notable John Heisman (Heisman Trophy) said of Arthur Bradsher after the completion of the 1905 season when he had made his final selections for all the players representing over 30 colleges in the South: “Easily the name which shines clearest and brightest in this array of exceptional talented is that of Bradsher.