William Ashley “Billy” Sunday (November 19, 1862 - November 6, 1935) spent several years as a popular member of the Chicago White Stockings (later renamed the Chicago Cubs), but primarily gained famed as perhaps the most memorable and influential evangelist of the early 20th century. Future Hall of Famer and White Stockings’ Cap Anson vouched for Sunday’s on-the-field talents to team president A.G Spalding, who agreed to sign him to the American Association team (1883-1887) as a part-time player. Sunday hit a career high .291 in 1887, but the following season his contract was sold to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1888-1890) where he became the squad’s full-time regular centerfielder and once again a fan favorite. He was among the league leaders in stolen bases in 1888 (71) and in 1890 was named the Alleghenys’ team captain. During the season, however, the cash-poor team was forced to sell his contract to the Philadelphia Phillies (1890), playing in 31 games for the team. Sunday had gained a reputation as a fleet-footed base runner – with some observers dubbing him the 19thcentury’s fastest ballplayer. According to baseball legend, he once stole second, third, and home on consecutive pitches to win a game. Sunday, however, felt a caller higher than baseball. Having converted to Christianity in 1887, he retired from the diamond after the 1890 season to devote himself exclusively to religion. (Baseball was never entirely out of his blood, however, as Sunday would often begin his lectures by executing a perfect hook slide onto the stage.) The New York Times declared upon his 1935 death that Sunday was “the greatest high-pressure and mass-conversion Christian evangelist that America has ever known.” As a ballplayer, Sunday amassed a .248 batting average with 12 home runs, 170 RBI, and 246 stolen bases.
