Billy Sullivan
Born: 10/23/1910 in Chicago, IL, USA
Died: 1/4/1994 in Sarasota, FL, USA
MLB Debut: 1931-06-09 | Final Game: 1947-09-03
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 170 lbs
Full name: William Joseph Sullivan
Biography
Billy Sullivan, born in 1910, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball whose career spanned from 1931 to 1947. Over the course of 962 games, Sullivan established himself as a reliable hitter, accumulating 820 hits and maintaining a batting average of .289. His offensive contributions included 29 home runs and 388 RBIs, showcasing his ability to drive in runs and provide consistent production at the plate. Additionally, he displayed speed on the bases, recording 30 stolen bases during his career, which was particularly noteworthy in an era that valued both power and speed.
Sullivan's playing style was characterized by his versatility and tenacity, traits that endeared him to fans and teammates alike. He played during a transformative period in baseball, navigating the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II while continuing to perform at a high level. His contributions were especially significant as he helped to pave the way for future generations of players. Sullivan's legacy is remembered not only in the context of his personal achievements but also as part of the rich tapestry of baseball history during the mid-20th century.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 962 | 2840 | 347 | 820 | 152 | 32 | 29 | 388 | 30 | 240 | 119 | 0.289 | 0.346 | 0.395 | 0.742 | 736.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | CHW | AL | 92 | 363 | 48 | 100 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 33 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 0.275 | -535.0 |
| 1932 | CHW | AL | 93 | 307 | 31 | 97 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 20 | 9 | 0.316 | 74.4 |
| 1933 | CHW | AL | 54 | 125 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 0.192 | -733.6 |
| 1935 | CIN | NL | 85 | 241 | 29 | 64 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 36 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 0.266 | -328.9 |
| 1936 | CLE | AL | 93 | 319 | 39 | 112 | 32 | 6 | 2 | 48 | 5 | 16 | 9 | 0.351 | 994.1 |
| 1937 | CLE | AL | 72 | 168 | 26 | 48 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 17 | 7 | 0.286 | 228.3 |
| 1938 | SLA | AL | 111 | 375 | 35 | 104 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 49 | 8 | 20 | 10 | 0.277 | -480.4 |
| 1939 | SLA | AL | 118 | 332 | 53 | 96 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 50 | 3 | 34 | 18 | 0.289 | 359.5 |
| 1940 | DET | AL | 78 | 220 | 36 | 68 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 41 | 2 | 31 | 11 | 0.309 | 765.4 |
| 1941 | DET | AL | 85 | 234 | 29 | 66 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 29 | 0 | 35 | 11 | 0.282 | 442.3 |
| 1942 | BRO | NL | 43 | 101 | 11 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 0.267 | 42.8 |
| 1947 | PIT | NL | 38 | 55 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0.255 | -92.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0.154 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | WS | DET | 5 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0.154 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 133 | 0 | 1196 | 88 | 13 | 119 |
| 2B | 6 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| 3B | 127 | 0 | 139 | 237 | 33 | 20 |
| C | 414 | 0 | 1845 | 216 | 59 | 37 |
| OF | 65 | 0 | 144 | 7 | 9 | 3 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | CHA | 1B | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1931 | CHA | 3B | 83 | 0 | 96 | 152 | 24 | 9 |
| 1931 | CHA | OF | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1932 | CHA | C | 5 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1932 | CHA | 1B | 52 | 0 | 485 | 35 | 5 | 42 |
| 1932 | CHA | 3B | 17 | 0 | 14 | 30 | 6 | 4 |
| 1932 | CHA | OF | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1933 | CHA | C | 8 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1933 | CHA | 1B | 22 | 0 | 211 | 12 | 4 | 22 |
| 1935 | CIN | 1B | 40 | 0 | 350 | 31 | 3 | 35 |
| 1935 | CIN | 2B | 6 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 4 | 1 |
| 1935 | CIN | 3B | 15 | 0 | 18 | 30 | 1 | 5 |
| 1936 | CLE | C | 72 | 0 | 324 | 40 | 12 | 8 |
| 1936 | CLE | 1B | 3 | 0 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 1936 | CLE | 3B | 5 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| 1936 | CLE | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1937 | CLE | C | 38 | 0 | 146 | 20 | 9 | 1 |
| 1937 | CLE | 1B | 5 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1937 | CLE | 3B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1938 | SLA | C | 99 | 0 | 441 | 65 | 5 | 10 |
| 1938 | SLA | 1B | 6 | 0 | 43 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 1939 | SLA | C | 19 | 0 | 88 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| 1939 | SLA | 1B | 4 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 1939 | SLA | OF | 59 | 0 | 139 | 7 | 7 | 3 |
| 1940 | DET | C | 57 | 0 | 292 | 29 | 8 | 4 |
| 1940 | DET | 3B | 6 | 0 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 1 |
| 1941 | DET | C | 63 | 0 | 339 | 33 | 9 | 7 |
| 1942 | BRO | C | 41 | 0 | 140 | 13 | 6 | 2 |
| 1947 | PIT | C | 12 | 0 | 42 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 415 |
| First Base | 132 |
| Second Base | 6 |
| Third Base | 127 |
| Left Field | 32 |
| Right Field | 34 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | South Bend | IN | 1930, 1931 |
| University of Portland | Portland | OR | 1928 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |