Player in the Pulpit
He went from stealing bases to stealing souls
Olde-tyme baseball by C. Philip Francis – July 15, 1905
Part 1
One day the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers saw about 15 of his players kneeling in the right field corner. It was before a game, and thought that one of his men might be injured, perhaps even seriously. But no, all of the Brewers were fine, they were simply holding hands in prayer. They were not asking for victories, just affirming their faith as Christian athletes.
While many would find it surprising, more and more players in all sports have joined a movement to prayer. A Milwaukee catcher said, “I think there’s a lot of bad examples in sports as well as in all walks of life, and we’re trying to set a good example.”
Baseball has had an association with religion for over 100 years. Well-known evangelist Billy Graham was on his high school baseball team in Charlotte, North Carolina dreaming of becoming the first basement on the Philadelphia A’s. He did play semi-pro making $5 if his team won, $2 if they lost. “It was my goal in life to be a good ballplayer, but the problem was that I could not hit the ball well.” He even met Babe Ruth when the Yankees were on a barnstorming tour, and Graham says in awe, “I’ll never forget meeting him. He put his hand on my shoulder.”
Graham also met another ballplayer who left the game for the pulpit, and went on to become another evangelist who reportedly converted some 100,000 souls in New York City while at the height of his preaching career. His name was Billy Sunday, and along with Billy Graham the two helped bring together Christianity and the national pastime.
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During baseball’s early years times were much worse than any sport today. Gambling, fighting, boozing, and umpire intimidation was the rule of the day. One summer afternoon in 1886 four members the Chicago White Stockings had visited too many taverns, and were now sitting on the curb at the corner of State Street and Van Buren before going on the next bar. They were Frank “Silver” Flint, Ned Williamson, Mike “King” Kelly and Billy Sunday. Although Kelly is in the Hall of Fame, he was a notorious drunk of his time, and one of those who began the tradition of ballplayers being heavy drinkers.
As they sat there with their feet in the gutter, a Salvation Army wagon, also called a “gospel wagon”, came by, stopped, and began a service by singing hymns, urging people to stay away from strong drink, and give their lives to God. Sunday recognized many of the songs that were sung by his mother in their small Methodist Iowan church. He was so moved that Billy put his face in his hands, thought for a time, and then finally stood up and told his teammates, “Fellows, we have come to where the roads part. I bid the old life good-bye.” He had decided to leave baseball, and reform drunks and sinners. Sunday continued to play ball for the next four years, but eventually turned his life to fighting the devil.
William Ashley “Billy” Sunday was born on November 19, 1862 in Ames, Iowa. The Civil War was raging at that time, and his father died fighting for the Union cause. Billy was a sickly child, and had to be carried around on a pillow for the next two years. When his widowed mother realized that she could not take care of William and his two brothers the future ballplayer was sent to the Soldier’s Orphan Home, and then on to a series of orphanages and foster homes. Billy loved and played baseball, and his body became stronger, faster and more agile. In the Baseball Encyclopedia Sunday is listed as 5 feet, 10 inches, and 160 pounds, a good size for a ballplayer of that time.
Adrian Constantine “Cap” Anson was the player/manager of the White Stockings team during much of the 1880’s and 1890’s, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939. He was the “foremost onfield figure of the 19th century,” and his influence went far beyond the playing field.” Anson is thought to be the force that kept the Afro-American players from playing in the major leagues until Jackie Robinson broke through with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Anson was also an Iowan coming from Marshalltown that was about 40 miles east of Ames. On his aunt’s recommendation Anson went to see Billy play ball in a fireman’s tournament at Ames, and immediately asked Sunday to join the White Stockings. Manager Anson said of Sunday, “He was, in my opinion, the fastest man…on his feet in the profession, and one who could run like a scared deer.” Although stolen bases were not recorded in some of those early years, the “scared deer” did have 238 pilfered bases in his eight-year career with 86 in 1890, and became the first baseball player to run the bases in 14 seconds
With no stops in the minor leagues, the fleet outfielder began his life in the big leagues in 1883 by playing 14 games with Anson’s Chicago team hitting .241. In the next four years Billy became a part-time player for the Stockings before putting three years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies.
Although the highly regarded Baseball Magazine once called Sunday, “One of the greatest player of the game,” that might have been somewhat exaggerated. Sunday left the game after the 1890 season finishing with a .248 batting average and 12 home runs. Billy could run, but he could not hit.
During his years with the Chicago team Billy attended Northwestern University on the off seasons, and coached baseball and football. With his religious disposition he would not play or attend any games on Sundays.
Next: Part 2 – Famous baseball player Billy Sunday becomes a colorful and bombastic preaching star.