Billy Sunday
Born: 11/19/1862 in Ames, IA, USA
Died: 11/6/1935 in Chicago, IL, USA
MLB Debut: 1883-05-22 | Final Game: 1890-10-04
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: William Ashley Sunday
Biography
Billy Sunday, born in 1862, was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1883 to 1905. Primarily known as a position player, Sunday played a total of 499 games in Major League Baseball, where he made a significant impact with his dynamic playing style. Over the course of his career, he recorded 498 hits, 12 home runs, and 170 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .248. Notably, he was also an exceptional base stealer, amassing 246 stolen bases, which showcased his speed and agility on the field.
Sunday's career unfolded during a transformative era in baseball, marked by the transition from the deadball era to the more power-focused approach of the 20th century. His playing style was characterized by aggressive base running and a keen ability to generate offense, contributing to the evolving strategies of the game. After retiring from baseball, Billy Sunday became a prominent evangelist, using his platform to influence and inspire many, thus leaving an enduring legacy that extended beyond the baseball diamond.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 499 | 2007 | 339 | 498 | 55 | 24 | 12 | 170 | 246 | 134 | 229 | 0.248 | 0.300 | 0.317 | 0.617 | -2019.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | CHC | NL | 14 | 54 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0.241 | -79.1 |
| 1884 | CHC | NL | 43 | 176 | 25 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 36 | 0.222 | -207.9 |
| 1885 | CHC | NL | 46 | 172 | 36 | 44 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 12 | 33 | 0.256 | 156.2 |
| 1886 | CHC | NL | 28 | 103 | 16 | 25 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 26 | 0.243 | -104.3 |
| 1887 | CHC | NL | 50 | 199 | 41 | 58 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 34 | 21 | 20 | 0.291 | 414.6 |
| 1888 | PIT | NL | 120 | 505 | 69 | 119 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 71 | 12 | 36 | 0.236 | -1190.7 |
| 1889 | PIT | NL | 81 | 321 | 62 | 77 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 25 | 47 | 27 | 33 | 0.240 | -513.4 |
| 1890 | PHI | NL | 31 | 119 | 26 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 0.261 | 15.9 |
| 1890 | PIT | NL | 86 | 358 | 58 | 92 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 56 | 32 | 20 | 0.257 | 15.9 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | PIT | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.273 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | WS | CHN | 7 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.273 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF | 499 | 0 | 933 | 96 | 136 | 23 |
| P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1883 | CHN | OF | 14 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 1884 | CHN | OF | 43 | 0 | 45 | 8 | 27 | 1 |
| 1885 | CHN | OF | 46 | 0 | 46 | 6 | 11 | 2 |
| 1886 | CHN | OF | 28 | 0 | 50 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 1887 | CHN | OF | 50 | 0 | 78 | 4 | 25 | 2 |
| 1888 | PIT | OF | 120 | 0 | 297 | 27 | 21 | 5 |
| 1889 | PIT | OF | 81 | 0 | 157 | 17 | 10 | 2 |
| 1890 | PHI | OF | 31 | 0 | 69 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| 1890 | PIT | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1890 | PIT | OF | 86 | 0 | 181 | 23 | 27 | 9 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 |
| Left Field | 7 |
| Center Field | 235 |
| Right Field | 260 |