Joe Sullivan (September 26, 1910 – April 8, 1985), was a left-handed American
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
.
Sullivan played professional baseball from 1931 to 1949, including five seasons in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
with the
Detroit Tigers (1935–36),
Boston Bees
The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta.
During ...
/
Braves (1939–41), and
Pittsburgh Pirates (1941). In five major league seasons, he compiled a record of 30–37 with a 4.01
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA). A
knuckleball
A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from laminar to turbulent flow. This cha ...
specialist, Sullivan once pitched 12 straight scoreless innings as a
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weat ...
.
Early years
Sullivan was born in 1910 in
Mason City, Illinois
Mason City is a city in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,343 at the 2010 census, and 2,155 at a 2018 estimate. Mason City was established in 1857.
History
The city took its name from Mason County.
Geography
Mason City ...
.
His family moved west, initially to
Twin Falls, Idaho
Twin Falls is the county seat and largest city of Twin Falls County, Idaho, United States. The city had a population of 51,807 as of the 2020 census. In the Magic Valley region, Twin Falls is the largest city in a radius, and is the regiona ...
, and then to
Tracyton, Washington
Tracyton is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. Its population was 5,233 at the 2010 census. It was named for 19th century Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy.
Geography
Tracyton is located in centra ...
, where his father went to work in the shipyards.
Sullivan was a three-sport athlete, playing football, baseball, and basketball, at
Silverdale High School where he graduated in 1928.
[
After high school, Sullivan played semi-pro ball for the Bremerton Cruisers of the Northwest League. In 1929, he played for New Westminster of the Vancouver City League.][
]
Professional baseball
Minor leagues (1930–34)
In 1930, Sullivan signed with a scout for the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
and was assigned to the Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a Minor League Baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early- and mid-20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles-based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.
Hollywood Stars (192 ...
of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He was then released and played for the Tucson Missions of the Arizona State League
The Arizona State League was a minor league baseball league that existed from 1928 to 1930. It operated as a six–team Class D-level league, and consisted of teams based in Arizona and Texas, evolving into the Arizona-Texas League in 1931.
His ...
. He compiled a 12–3 record in 1931.[
In June 1931, the ]Beaumont Exporters
The Beaumont Exporters was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team located in Beaumont, Texas that played between 1920 and 1957 in the Texas League and the Big State League. Beaumont rejoined the Class AA Texas League (1983-1986) and ...
of the Texas League
The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...
, purchased Sullivan from Tucson for $1,500. He remained with Beaumont from the end of the 1931 season through the 1933 season.[
In 1934, he returned to the Hollywood Stars and compiled a 25–11 season with a 2.88 ]earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA).[
]
Detroit Tigers (1935–36)
With his strong performance in 1934, Sullivan was promoted to the Detroit Tigers in 1935. In his first start on April 28, he pitched a complete game victory and had two RBIs against the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
. He followed with two more complete game victories over the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
on May 4 and the Washington Senators on May 10 to extend his record to 3–0.
Sullivan declined after his first three starts, ultimately appearing in 25 games for the 1935 Tigers with a 6–6 record and a 3.51 ERA.[ The Tigers won the American League pennant, but Sullivan did not play in the ]1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1935 season. The 32nd edition of the World Series, it matched the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won in six games for their first championship i ...
.
In 1936, Sullivan appeared in 26 games, four as a starter, and compiled 2–5 record with a 6.78 ERA.[
]
Minor leagues (1937–38)
In 1937, Sullivan returned to the minor leagues, appearing in 37 games, 29 as a starter, for the Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Toledo, Ohio, and play their home games at Fifth Third Field. A Mud Hens team has played in ...
. He compiled a 14–14 record with a 4.66 ERA.[
In 1938, he joined the ]Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...
of the International League. He appeared in 37 games, 29 as a starter, and compiled an 18–10 record with a 3.76 ERA.[
]
Boston and Pittsburgh (1939–41)
In 1939, Sullivan was given a second chance by the Boston Braves. In 1939, he appeared in 31 games, 11 as a starter, and compiled a 6–9 record with a 3.64 ERA in 125 innings. In 1940, he appeared in 36 games, 22 as a starter, and compiled a 10–14 record with a 3.55 ERA in 177 innings.[
Sullivan began the 1941 season with the Braves, but was sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June. During the complete season, he appeared in 32 games, six as a starter, and compiled a 6–3 record with a 3.63 ERA. In the last half of the season, he went 4–1 with a 2.97 ERA for the Pirates.][ Despite having his first winning record and his lowest ERA, Sullivan never played another game in the major leagues.
]
Minor leagues (1942–49)
Sullivan played for Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League (1942–1944), Oakland Oaks and Portland Beavers
The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL.
Franchise history
Many baseball teams ...
of the PCL (1944), Bremerton Bluejackets of the Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level minor league baseball circuit in the Pacific Northwest United States and western Canada that operated in 1922, 1937 to 1942 and 1946 to 1954. In 1955, the Western International Leagu ...
(1946–1949). He compiled identical 13–5 records in 1947 and 1948 with ERAs of 2.68 and 2.86.[
]
Family and later years
Sullivan married Maxyne Whitaker in 1928. They had a son, Jackie, in 1930. Maxyne died in 1968, and he was later married to his second wife, Marge.[
In 1945, he began a career with the ]Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, officially Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF), is a United States Navy shipyard covering 179 acres (0.7 km2) on Puget Sound at Bremerton, Washington in uninterrupted ...
, where he eventually became fire chief and worked until 1970.
Sullivan died in 1985 at age 74 in Sequim, Washington
Sequim ( ) is a city in Clallam County, Washington, United States. It is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains. The 2010 census counted a population of 6,606.
Sequim lies within the rain shadow of the Olympic ...
, after a long battle with lung cancer.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Joe
Major League Baseball pitchers
Boston Braves players
Detroit Tigers players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Knuckleball pitchers
Baseball players from Illinois
Baseball players from Washington (state)
People from Kitsap County, Washington
1910 births
1985 deaths
Tucson Cowboys players
Tucson Missions players
Beaumont Exporters players
Hollywood Stars players
Toledo Mud Hens players
Toronto Maple Leafs (International League) players
Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
Portland Beavers players
Bremerton Bluejackets players
People from Mason City, Illinois