Billy Sullivan
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Sullivan, Sr. (February 1, 1875 – January 28, 1965) was an American professional
baseball
player. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
for 16 seasons, most notably for the Chicago White Sox
. Although he was a relatively weak hitter, he was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
, to Irish
immigrant farmers. He attended Fort Atkinson
High School, where he played mainly as an infielder
until their regular catcher
couldn't play due to an injury. Sullivan substituted and excelled; so much so that he began being scouted
by a local amateur team.
After his graduation from High School, Sullivan played for an independent team located in Edgewater, Wisconsin
. He played on his first professional team in for the Cedar Rapids Bunnies
of the Western Association
, a Class-B minor league
. He stayed in the Western Association for the season, playing for the Dubuque, Iowa
representative. In 124 games played that season, he batted
just .216, but did hit seven home run
s and stole
27 bases.
Sullivan then transferred to the Class-A Western League
in to play for the Columbus Buckeyes
, also referred to as the Senators, and had a .276 batting average in 68 games played. He stayed with the Buckeyes to begin the season, though he later moved with the team to Grand Rapids, Michigan
; they then became known as the Furniture Makers. He was hitting .306 after 83 games when he was sold to the Boston Beaneaters
of the National League
for $1000.
; a three-run home run
in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Bill Magee
. In , Sullivan hit 8 home runs, the fifth highest total in the National League.
Sullivan then joined the Chicago White Sox of the American League
in . He played as catcher in the American League's first game as a major league, an 8-2 Chicago victory over Cleveland on April 24, 1901. He helped guide the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest team earned run average
in the league as they went on to win the American League championship. Sullivan's pitch-calling skills were evident in as the White Sox led the league with 26 shutout
s. He caught for two twenty-game winning pitchers in , with Nick Altrock
winning 23 games and Frank Owen winning 21 games. Frank Smith
added 19 wins and Doc White
provided another 17 victories as the White Sox once again led the league in earned run average. The team battled the Philadelphia Athletics
in a tight pennant race and were tied for first place with 11 games left in the season before faltering to finish the season in second place.
Sullivan was a member of the White Sox team that became known as the Hitless Wonders when they won the American League pennant despite posting the lowest team batting average in the league. The team had been in fourth place by the end of July, 7½ games behind the defending champion Athletics, when they went on a 19 game winning streak that drove them into first place. No American League team would surpass the 19 game winning streak for almost 100 years until the 2002 Oakland Athletics
won 20 consecutive games. The team made up for their lack of hitting prowess by leading the league in walks
, hit batsmen and sacrifice hits. Sullivan tied for the team lead in home runs with two. He led American League catchers in baserunners caught stealing, finished second in putout
s and assists
and guided the White Sox pitching staff to a league-leading 32 shutouts and the second lowest earned run average in the league. The White Sox then defeated their cross-town rivals, the heavily-favored Chicago Cubs
in the 1906 World Series
.
In , Sullivan caught for three twenty-game winning pitchers, as Doc White won 27 games, Ed Walsh
won 24 games and Frank Smith won 23 games. The White Sox once again led the league in earned run average, however, they fell to third in the season standings. Sullivan's catching credentials were embellished by his association with future Baseball Hall of Fame member, Walsh, who would win 40 games in , as the White Sox once again led the league in shutouts. The White Sox were in contention until losing the final game of the season to the eventual American League champions, the Detroit Tigers
. He served as a player-manager for the White Sox in , guiding the team to a fourth place finish. The following season, Hugh Duffy
took over as manager and Sullivan returned to catching.
Sullivan was the White Sox catcher on July 1, , when the team inaugurated their new stadium, Comiskey Park
, named after the team owner, Charles Comiskey
. On August 24, 1910, Sullivan caught three baseballs thrown by Ed Walsh from a window at the top of the Washington Monument
as a publicity stunt, matching the feat by Washington catcher Gabby Street
two years earlier. By , the 37-year old Sullivan's performance began to decline as future Hall of Fame member, Ray Schalk
, emerged as his successor. He spent the and seasons as a coach, tutoring Schalk before being given his unconditional release on February 15, .
Sullivan returned to the minor leagues in , playing one season for the Minneapolis Millers
, helping them win the American Association
pennant. He rejoined the major leagues in for one final season with the Detroit Tigers
, appearing in one game before retiring as a player at the age of 41.
While Sullivan was not a very good hitter, it was his performance as a fielder that garnered him high praise from his peers. Ty Cobb
, Hall of Fame outfielder of the Detroit Tigers and former all-time major league leader in stolen bases, once described him as the hardest catcher on which to attempt a steal. Sullivan's reputation as a defensive stand out is enhanced because of the era in which he played. In the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. He had to catch every type of pitch
imaginable, such as shine balls, spitballs, knuckleball
s, and emory balls.
, accumulating 777 hits
in 3,647 at bats for a .213 career batting average along with 21 home runs, 378 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .254. He led American League catchers three times in fielding percentage
and ended his career with a .976 average, which was 12 points above the league average during his playing career. Sullivan also led American League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
and caught stealing percentage, and once in assists
. His 952 baserunners caught stealing ranks him 11th on the all-time list for major league catchers. He was also durable, leading league catchers in games played
three times, while consistently within the top three most of his career.
native retired in Newberg, Oregon
where he farmed twenty acres of land and became the president of a local fruit growers' association. In , Sullivan was presented with a plaque at Milwaukee County Stadium
upon his induction to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
. He died of a heart ailment on January 28, at the age of 89. Although news reports at the time of Sullivan's death credited him as the inventor of the catcher's chest protector, this was disputed by author Peter Morris in his book, Catcher, in which he states that catchers first began using chest protectors during the 1880s. He did however, receive a United States patent in 1908 for an inflatable, contoured chest protector, which protected his body better and, thanks to hinging, allowed more freedom of movement than the normal model.
His son, Billy Sullivan, Jr.
, also became a major league catcher. When Billy Sullivan Jr. caught for the Detroit Tigers in the 1940 World Series
, the Sullivans became the first father and son to have played in the World Series.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in 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...
for 16 seasons, most notably for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Although he was a relatively weak hitter, he was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Early life
William Joseph Sullivan was born on February 1, 1875 in the town of Oakland, WisconsinOakland, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Oakland is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,135 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Oakland and Sylvan Mounds are located in the town.-Geography:...
, to Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
immigrant farmers. He attended Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Rock River, a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. In 1996, Money Magazine named Fort Atkinson "One of America's Hottest Little Boomtowns." The population was 11,621 at the 2000 census.- History :Fort...
High School, where he played mainly as an 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...
until their regular catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
couldn't play due to an injury. Sullivan substituted and excelled; so much so that he began being scouted
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
by a local amateur team.
After his graduation from High School, Sullivan played for an independent team located in Edgewater, Wisconsin
Edgewater, Wisconsin
Edgewater is a town in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 586 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Edgewater is located in the town...
. He played on his first professional team in for the Cedar Rapids Bunnies
Cedar Rapids Kernels
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. It is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and plays in the Midwest League.-Franchise history:...
of the Western Association
Western Association
The Western Association was the name of five different leagues in American minor league baseball during the 19th and 20th centuries.The oldest league, originally established as the Northwestern League in 1883, was refounded as the Western Association on October 28, 1887...
, a Class-B minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. He stayed in the Western Association for the season, playing for the Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
representative. In 124 games played that season, he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
just .216, but did hit seven home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and stole
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
27 bases.
Sullivan then transferred to the Class-A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
in to play for the Columbus Buckeyes
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, also referred to as the Senators, and had a .276 batting average in 68 games played. He stayed with the Buckeyes to begin the season, though he later moved with the team to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
; they then became known as the Furniture Makers. He was hitting .306 after 83 games when he was sold to the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
for $1000.
Major-league career
Sullivan made his major league debut with the Beaneaters on September 13, at the age of 24, and became their regular catcher, appearing 22 games the rest of season. On September 27, against the Washington Senators, he hit his first major league home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
; a three-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Bill Magee
Bill Magee
William J. Magee was a Major League Baseball pitcher.A right-handed pitcher for the 1898 Louisville Colonels, Magee had a record of 16-15. He then continued his career with five National League teams in four more seasons. He walked more than twice as many batters as he struck out.-External links:*...
. In , Sullivan hit 8 home runs, the fifth highest total in the National League.
Sullivan then joined the Chicago White Sox of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in . He played as catcher in the American League's first game as a major league, an 8-2 Chicago victory over Cleveland on April 24, 1901. He helped guide the White Sox pitching staff to the lowest team 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...
in the league as they went on to win the American League championship. Sullivan's pitch-calling skills were evident in as the White Sox led the league with 26 shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. He caught for two twenty-game winning pitchers in , with Nick Altrock
Nick Altrock
Nicholas Altrock was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Altrock was one of the better pitchers in baseball for a brief period from to with the Chicago White Sox...
winning 23 games and Frank Owen winning 21 games. Frank Smith
Frank Smith (1900s pitcher)
Frank Elmer Smith was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1904 to 1915. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Terrapins, and Brooklyn Tip-Tops. Nicknamed "Piano Mover" because that was his offseason job, Smith was a mainstay of the White...
added 19 wins and Doc White
Doc White
Guy Harris "Doc" White was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for two teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox, during his career which lasted from 1901 to 1913....
provided another 17 victories as the White Sox once again led the league in earned run average. The team battled the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in a tight pennant race and were tied for first place with 11 games left in the season before faltering to finish the season in second place.
Sullivan was a member of the White Sox team that became known as the Hitless Wonders when they won the American League pennant despite posting the lowest team batting average in the league. The team had been in fourth place by the end of July, 7½ games behind the defending champion Athletics, when they went on a 19 game winning streak that drove them into first place. No American League team would surpass the 19 game winning streak for almost 100 years until the 2002 Oakland Athletics
2002 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 2002 season involved the A's finishing 1st in the American League West with a record of 103 wins and 59 losses, despite losing three key players to larger market teams: 2000 AL MVP Jason Giambi to the New York Yankees, outfielder Johnny Damon to the Boston Red Sox, and closer...
won 20 consecutive games. The team made up for their lack of hitting prowess by leading the league in walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, hit batsmen and sacrifice hits. Sullivan tied for the team lead in home runs with two. He led American League catchers in baserunners caught stealing, finished second in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s and assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and guided the White Sox pitching staff to a league-leading 32 shutouts and the second lowest earned run average in the league. The White Sox then defeated their cross-town rivals, the heavily-favored Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 1906 World Series
1906 World Series
- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 9, 1906 at West Side Grounds in Chicago, IllinoisCubs hurler Mordecai Brown was sent to continue the dominance against Nick Altrock. Both pitchers pitched a perfect game through three innings. The Cubs had a runner at second, but couldn't score in the fourth...
.
In , Sullivan caught for three twenty-game winning pitchers, as Doc White won 27 games, Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.-Baseball career:Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career...
won 24 games and Frank Smith won 23 games. The White Sox once again led the league in earned run average, however, they fell to third in the season standings. Sullivan's catching credentials were embellished by his association with future Baseball Hall of Fame member, Walsh, who would win 40 games in , as the White Sox once again led the league in shutouts. The White Sox were in contention until losing the final game of the season to the eventual American League champions, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. He served as a player-manager for the White Sox in , guiding the team to a fourth place finish. The following season, Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.-Career:...
took over as manager and Sullivan returned to catching.
Sullivan was the White Sox catcher on July 1, , when the team inaugurated their new stadium, Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, named after the team owner, Charles Comiskey
Charles Comiskey
Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey was a Major League Baseball player, manager and team owner. He was a key person in the formation of the American League and later owned the Chicago White Sox...
. On August 24, 1910, Sullivan caught three baseballs thrown by Ed Walsh from a window at the top of the Washington Monument
Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
as a publicity stunt, matching the feat by Washington catcher Gabby Street
Gabby Street
Charles Evard “Gabby” Street , also nicknamed "The Old Sarge", was an American catcher, manager, coach and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 20th century. As a catcher, he participated in one of the most publicized baseball stunts of the century's first decade....
two years earlier. By , the 37-year old Sullivan's performance began to decline as future Hall of Fame member, Ray Schalk
Ray Schalk
Raymond William Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitchers and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the...
, emerged as his successor. He spent the and seasons as a coach, tutoring Schalk before being given his unconditional release on February 15, .
Sullivan returned to the minor leagues in , playing one season for the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, helping them win the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
pennant. He rejoined the major leagues in for one final season with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, appearing in one game before retiring as a player at the age of 41.
While Sullivan was not a very good hitter, it was his performance as a fielder that garnered him high praise from his peers. Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...
, Hall of Fame outfielder of the Detroit Tigers and former all-time major league leader in stolen bases, once described him as the hardest catcher on which to attempt a steal. Sullivan's reputation as a defensive stand out is enhanced because of the era in which he played. In the Deadball Era, catchers played a huge defensive role, given the large number of bunts and stolen base attempts, as well as the difficulty of handling the spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
pitchers who dominated pitching staffs. He had to catch every type of pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
imaginable, such as shine balls, spitballs, knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
s, and emory balls.
Career statistics
In a sixteen-year major league career, Sullivan played in 1,147 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 777 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 3,647 at bats for a .213 career batting average along with 21 home runs, 378 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .254. He led American League catchers three times in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
and ended his career with a .976 average, which was 12 points above the league average during his playing career. Sullivan also led American League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
and caught stealing percentage, and once in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
. His 952 baserunners caught stealing ranks him 11th on the all-time list for major league catchers. He was also durable, leading league catchers in games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
three times, while consistently within the top three most of his career.
Later life
After his retirement from baseball, the Jefferson County, WisconsinJefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
native retired in Newberg, Oregon
Newberg, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 18,064 people, 6,099 households, and 4,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,599.4 people per square mile . There were 6,435 housing units at an average density of 1,282.2 per square mile...
where he farmed twenty acres of land and became the president of a local fruit growers' association. In , Sullivan was presented with a plaque at Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
upon his induction to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
. He died of a heart ailment on January 28, at the age of 89. Although news reports at the time of Sullivan's death credited him as the inventor of the catcher's chest protector, this was disputed by author Peter Morris in his book, Catcher, in which he states that catchers first began using chest protectors during the 1880s. He did however, receive a United States patent in 1908 for an inflatable, contoured chest protector, which protected his body better and, thanks to hinging, allowed more freedom of movement than the normal model.
His son, Billy Sullivan, Jr.
Billy Sullivan, Jr.
William Joseph Sullivan, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois was a catcher, first baseman and third baseman for the Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds , Cleveland Indians , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, also became a major league catcher. When Billy Sullivan Jr. caught for the Detroit Tigers in the 1940 World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
, the Sullivans became the first father and son to have played in the World Series.