| Chub Sullivan | |
| Position: | First baseman |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 12 January 1856 |
| Birth Place: | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Death Place: | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 24 |
| Debutyear: | 1877 |
| Debutteam: | Cincinnati Reds |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | July 17 |
| Finalyear: | 1880 |
| Finalteam: | Worcester Worcesters |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .258 |
| Stat2label: | Runs scored |
| Stat2value: | 55 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 24 |
| Teams: | |
| Highlights: |
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John Frank "Chub" Sullivan (January12, 1856September12, 1881) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman who played for three seasons: two with the Cincinnati Reds (1877 - 1878) and one with the Worcester Worcesters (1880).[1] He was nicknamed "Chub", but was 6 feet tall and weighed a mere 164 pounds.[1] During his career, he was a popular player, sometimes known as a clown for his antics, and an early pioneer of the slide.[2]
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Sullivan, as a 21-year-old rookie in 1877, was the tenth-youngest player to appear in a National League game during that season,[3] replacing Charlie Gould at first base.[4] Joining the team late in the season, he played in only eight games, and batted .250.[1] He stayed on with the Reds for the 1878 season, leading the league in games played, assists by a first baseman, and fielding percentage (.975).[1] A tough hitter to strike out, Chub also finished seventh in at bat to strikeout ratio (27.1 to 1).[3]
Sullivan joined the Worcester minor league club for the 1879 season,[2] and the team did very well in a championship tournament following the season, and decided to apply as a replacement team in the National League, when the Syracuse Stars folded following the 1879 season. The team was accepted, and joined the League for the 1880 season.[5] Sullivan played in 43 games, the last season of his career, batted .259, and is credited with zero RBIs.[1] Sullivan's career totals include 112 games played, 114 hits, 55 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and a batting average of .258.[1]
Sullivan became ill before the next season began, and eventually died on September 12 in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 25[1] of consumption, later known as tuberculosis.[6] His Worcester teammates wore a black crêpe on their jersey sleeves in his memory, for the 1881 season.[7]