- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Detroit
- Team: Wolverines
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
“Big Sam” (1860-1922). An outfielder over 15 seasons for 3 different teams, Thompson was one of the great hitters of the 19th century. Sam was the 1st player with 20 steals & 20 HRs in a season. In 1894, he was one of 4 Philly OFs to hit over .400.
- His 61 RBI in 1 month is a record
- Only 19th c. player to amass 150 RBI in a season & he did it 2x
- .923 RBI/AB ranks 1st all-time
- Back problems shortened career; returned after 10 yrs to play 8 gms for Detroit in 1906
- Elected to hall of Fame: 1974
- 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
- 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
- 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.”
- 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
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