Billy Sullivan
Born: 2/1/1875 in Oakland, WI, USA
Died: 1/28/1965 in Newberg, OR, USA
MLB Debut: 1899-09-13 | Final Game: 1916-04-15
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'9" | Weight: 155 lbs
Full name: William Joseph Sullivan
Biography
Billy Sullivan was a professional baseball player born in 1875, who made significant contributions to the game during the early 20th century. His career spanned from 1899 to 1916, a period marked by the transition from the deadball era to a time when the sport began to embrace more dynamic styles of play. Over his career, Sullivan played in 1,147 games, accumulating 777 hits, 21 home runs, and 378 RBIs. His batting average settled at .213, reflective of the offensive struggles many players faced in that era, where pitching often dominated the game.
Primarily known for his versatility as a position player, Sullivan also showcased notable speed on the bases, finishing his career with 98 stolen bases. While not a superstar in terms of offensive prowess, his consistent presence in the lineup and ability to contribute in various ways made him a valuable asset to his teams. Sullivan's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball history, and he played a role in shaping the game as it evolved into the modern era.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1147 | 3647 | 363 | 777 | 119 | 33 | 21 | 378 | 98 | 170 | 502 | 0.213 | 0.254 | 0.281 | 0.535 | -11384.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | BSN | NL | 22 | 74 | 10 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0.270 | -48.6 |
| 1900 | BSN | NL | 72 | 238 | 36 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 41 | 4 | 9 | 33 | 0.273 | -83.8 |
| 1901 | CHW | AL | 98 | 367 | 54 | 90 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 56 | 12 | 10 | 38 | 0.245 | -757.7 |
| 1902 | CHW | AL | 76 | 263 | 36 | 64 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 32 | 0.243 | -579.6 |
| 1903 | CHW | AL | 32 | 111 | 10 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 0.189 | -505.1 |
| 1904 | CHW | AL | 108 | 371 | 29 | 85 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 44 | 11 | 12 | 50 | 0.229 | -729.9 |
| 1905 | CHW | AL | 98 | 323 | 25 | 65 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 26 | 14 | 13 | 54 | 0.201 | -1131.5 |
| 1906 | CHW | AL | 118 | 387 | 37 | 83 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 33 | 10 | 22 | 67 | 0.214 | -763.6 |
| 1907 | CHW | AL | 112 | 329 | 30 | 59 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 6 | 21 | 69 | 0.179 | -1407.3 |
| 1908 | CHW | AL | 137 | 430 | 40 | 82 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 15 | 22 | 62 | 0.191 | -1761.0 |
| 1909 | CHW | AL | 97 | 265 | 11 | 43 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 50 | 0.162 | -1513.7 |
| 1910 | CHW | AL | 45 | 142 | 10 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 0.183 | -690.3 |
| 1911 | CHW | AL | 89 | 256 | 26 | 55 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0.215 | -1082.2 |
| 1912 | CHW | AL | 41 | 91 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.209 | -330.4 |
| 1914 | CHW | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1916 | DET | AL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | WS | CHA | 6 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 4 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2B | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| C | 1122 | 683 | 4776 | 1314 | 148 | 111 |
| OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 | BSN | C | 22 | 0 | 94 | 26 | 6 | 3 |
| 1900 | BSN | C | 66 | 0 | 227 | 71 | 8 | 10 |
| 1900 | BSN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 1900 | BSN | SS | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1901 | CHA | C | 97 | 0 | 396 | 104 | 17 | 13 |
| 1901 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1902 | CHA | C | 70 | 0 | 242 | 81 | 11 | 8 |
| 1902 | CHA | 1B | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1902 | CHA | OF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1903 | CHA | C | 31 | 0 | 123 | 35 | 2 | 1 |
| 1904 | CHA | C | 107 | 107 | 463 | 130 | 22 | 10 |
| 1905 | CHA | C | 92 | 89 | 389 | 104 | 13 | 8 |
| 1905 | CHA | 1B | 2 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1905 | CHA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | CHA | C | 118 | 116 | 475 | 134 | 16 | 7 |
| 1907 | CHA | C | 108 | 106 | 477 | 117 | 10 | 12 |
| 1907 | CHA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 1908 | CHA | C | 137 | 133 | 553 | 156 | 11 | 11 |
| 1909 | CHA | C | 97 | 90 | 452 | 119 | 10 | 6 |
| 1910 | CHA | C | 45 | 42 | 290 | 71 | 9 | 5 |
| 1911 | CHA | C | 89 | 0 | 447 | 114 | 8 | 13 |
| 1912 | CHA | C | 41 | 0 | 147 | 52 | 5 | 4 |
| 1914 | CHA | C | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1916 | DET | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 1119 |
| First Base | 6 |
| Second Base | 2 |
| Third Base | 2 |
| Shortstop | 1 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C2 |
| 1908 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | C |