Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-09
SULLY LOYAL TO SOX
Veteran Catcher Says the
Feds Cannot Tempt Him.
ONCE AN OUTLAW HIMSELF
Great Backstop Became Member of
Comiskey's Base Ball Squad
in 1901.
ONCE AN OUTLAW HIMSELF

CHICAGO, January 9.-Billy Sullivan.
veteran White Sox catcher, who helped
make Ed Walsh famous. today admitted
he had not signed to play for Comiskey
in 1914. He also said the Federal
Leaguers had not tempted him to stray
from the fold of the old Roman. and
that in any event he would probably
remain loyal to the south side team.
Sullivan was once an OUTLAW himself,
and sympathizes with the new league,
than a decade ago. and says he wouldn I
than that of the Sox.
When Sully was dispatched on a scout
ing expedition on orders of Comiskey last
summer he was accosted by Trainer
Buckner, guardian of the Sox wardrobe.
on his return: z
Where is your uniform, Sully?' asked
Buckner. I've hunted high and low
for it.
'.Why, you lobster, l took it with me.
You don't suppose l was going to leave II
around here. do you. with all these young
sters breaking in and eager to wear 1t:
Sullivan Honor to Game.
Players like Sullivan and Lajoie, who
deserted the National League in the
war days of 1901 and 1902. represent
type of ball player who is an honor
to the game and extremely loyal when
done favor. Federal Leaguers OF TINS
type probably will stick.
In the case of Sullivan, the Boston
club was paying him $1,000 year In
his last season as a National Lacquer.
Other salaries were correspondlngly
low. Sully became an outlaw and
loyal American Lacquer because he
was i'll treated and he never forgot the
good turn Comiskey did him. Sully
was promised raise Of a few hun
dred dollars and gently reminded the
Boston management of it. Imagine his
chagrin when he was turned down cold.
Manager Selee wanted Suily and Sc
cured promise that he would be
given the boost.
When Sully Joined Sox.
Joe Cantillon. an agent of Charles A.
Comiskey. visited Sullivan at his home
in Fort Atkinson, Wis, and interested
him in the new league. While in Chi
cago some time later Sullivan met Ban
Johnson and President Comiskey in
the corridor of loop office building.
Comiskey asked Sullivan If certain
salary would suit him.
catcher, who had been receiving only
fraction of this amount with Boston
in the National League. Sullivan signed
contract to play with the White SoX.
That was in 1901 and Sullivan later de-
velOped into one of the greatest catch
ers the old game has ever seen. He
has had several substantial boosts in
salary. He always has been loyal to
Comiskey, despite the fact he has been
offered more money to play elsewhere.
frio har I'd ~ fnd
Sully to remain loyal to the National
League 1t promised him a raise in sal
airy and even up to the time for spring
training made overtures for him to re-
turn to the Hub.
Il wasn't, worth the money to you
when you had me. Now l guess you can
paddle along without me-" was Sully's
reply.
Lajoie Also Tempted.
to have offered Lajoie a contract calling
for $4,000 per season. but this money
failed to tempt the great batter to join
the Pirates.
In 1901 fifty-hve players deserted the
National League for the new :'outlaw''
body known as the American League.
Among these were Fielder Jones. Billy
Sullivan, Larry Lajoie, Clark Griffith,
Jimmie Callahan and Kid Gleason.
Forty more were added to the black
list of the National League in the fol-
lowing year. Among these were George
Davis, Dummy Taylor, Addie Joss and
Rube Waddell.
It is said of the Federal League that it
has no such array of talent, but that it
has an imposing list of deserters from the
National and American Leagues. 1t is
promised that the rosters of the outlaw
organization to be announced soon will
furnish one of the surprises of the win
ter league season.