Chub Sullivan
Encyclopedia
John Frank "Chub" Sullivan (January 12, 1856 – September 12, 1881), was an American
Major League Baseball
first baseman
who played for three seasons; two with the Cincinnati Reds
(-) and one with the Worcester Ruby Legs . He was nicknamed "Chub", but was 6 feet tall and weighed a mere 164 pounds. During his career, he was a popular player, sometimes known as a clown
for his antics, and an early pioneer of the slide
.
in , was the tenth-youngest player to appear in a National League
game during that season, replacing Charlie Gould
at first base. Joining the team late in the season, he played in only eight games
, and batted
.250. He stayed on with the Reds for the season, leading the league in games played, assists
by a first baseman, and fielding percentage
(.975). A tough hitter to strike out, Chub also finished seventh in at bat
to strikeout
ratio (27.1 to 1).
Sullivan joined the Worcester minor league
club for the season, and the team did very well in a championship tournament following the season, and decided to apply as a replacement team in the National League
, when the Syracuse Stars
folded following the 1879 season. The team was accepted, and joined the League for the season. Sullivan played in 43 games, the last season of his career, and batted .259, and is credited with zero RBIs
. Sullivan's career totals include 112 games played, 114 hits
, 24 RBIs, 55 runs scored
, and a batting average of .258.
, later known as tuberculosis
. His Worcester teammates wore a black crêpe
on their jersey sleeves in his memory, for the season.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
who played for three seasons; two with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds (1876-1880)
The Cincinnati Reds, also known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings, were a professional baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio that played from 1876–1880. The Reds were a charter member of the National League.-History:...
(-) and one with the Worcester Ruby Legs . He was nicknamed "Chub", but was 6 feet tall and weighed a mere 164 pounds. During his career, he was a popular player, sometimes known as a clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
for his antics, and an early pioneer of the slide
Slide (baseball)
In baseball, a slide is when a player, acting as a baserunner, drops his body to the ground once he is very close to the base he is approaching and slides along the ground to reach the base....
.
Career
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Sullivan, as a 21-year-old rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in , was the tenth-youngest player to appear in a 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...
game during that season, replacing Charlie Gould
Charlie Gould
Charles Harvey Gould , nicknamed "The Bushel Basket", was an American Major League Baseball player during the 1860s and 1870s. He was the first baseman for the original Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869 and 1870, the first team consisting entirely of professional players...
at first base. Joining the team late in the season, he played in only eight games
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,...
, and 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 :...
.250. He stayed on with the Reds for the season, leading the league in games played, 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...
by a first baseman, and 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...
(.975). A tough hitter to strike out, Chub also finished seventh in at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
to strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
ratio (27.1 to 1).
Sullivan joined the Worcester 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...
club for the season, and the team did very well in a championship tournament following the season, and decided to apply as a replacement team in 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...
, when the Syracuse Stars
Syracuse Stars (National League)
The Syracuse Stars was an American baseball team 19th century, as well as the name of the minor league baseball teams which preceded it, based in Syracuse, New York. They played their home games at Newell Park...
folded following the 1879 season. The team was accepted, and joined the League for the season. Sullivan played in 43 games, the last season of his career, and batted .259, and is credited with zero RBIs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. Sullivan's career totals include 112 games played, 114 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....
, 24 RBIs, 55 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and a batting average of .258.
Post-career
Sullivan became ill before the next season began, and eventually died on September 12 in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 25 of consumptionTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, later known as tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. His Worcester teammates wore a black crêpe
Crape
Crape is a silk, wool, or polyester fabric of a gauzy texture, having a peculiar crisp or crimpy appearance....
on their jersey sleeves in his memory, for the season.