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Billy Sunday

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: White Stockings
  • League: National League

William Ashley Sunday (1862-1935) was born into extreme poverty and rose to become a beloved pro player making a handsome salary. In 1891 he gave that all up to pursue Christian ministry, cutting his income by two-thirds. Al Spalding had signed Sunday to his Chicago White Stockings on the recommendation of Cap Anson in 1883. His speed was his greatest asset.

  • In ’85 Chicago held an exhibition with Sunday racing the speediest AA player. Billy won easily.
  • His integrity and popularity led Anson to name Sunday the team’s business manager
  • Sunday was recruited for the Players’ League in 1890, but remained loyal to his employer

Auction History

Marty Sullivan

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: White Stockings
  • League: National League

Martin C. Sullivan (1862-1894) played outfield for four teams over five years from 1887-91. His first two seasons were with the Chicago White Stockings where he got into 190 games and even pitched in relief in one. He moved on to the Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1889, spent part of the next two seasons with the Beaneaters before ending his ML tenure with one game for the Cleveland Spiders.

  • His lifetime BA is variously reported as .256, .273 and .288 showing the variance in data in that era

Auction History

Chick Stahl

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Boston
  • Team: Beaneaters
  • League: National League

Charles Sylvester Stahl (1873-1907) was “the game’s most outstanding frosh hitter” in 1897 with the Boston Beaneaters. He led all rookies that year in 11 categories and still holds the Boston franchise record for 1st-yr players with a .354 BA. By 1904 he had been part of 4 champions in 7 years. His inexplicable suicide left his players in shock and grief.

  • Succeeded as mgr by Cy Young who said “Players may come and go, but there are few Chick Stahls.”

Auction History

General Stafford

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Worcester
  • Team: Grays (ATLA)
  • League: Atlantic Association

James Joseph Stafford (1868-1923) was a versatile defensive player at OF, 2B and SS breaking into MLB in the Players’ League in 1890, then with the Giants, Colonels, Beaneaters and Senators from 1893-99. His one league championship was with Boston in ’98. Stafford’s brother John played for the Cleveland Spiders in 1893.

  • Stafford’s career BA was .274
  • Best output came in Louisville in 1897 when he had the NL’s 6th best HR total with 7

Auction History

Albert Goodwill Spalding

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: White Stockings
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Albert Goodwill Spalding (1850-1915) was an elite pitcher who retired at age 27 and proceeded to influence the game as few others have. He helped organize the NL, co-founded A.G. Spalding sporting goods, published the game’s first official rules, traveled the world to promote baseball, owned the White Stockings and led an Olympics, leaving one of the great legacies in sport.

  • Was a five-time pennant winner with the Boston Red Stockings and Chicago White Stockings
  • Career 252-65 record with a .796 winning percentage
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1939

Auction History