Billy Sunday’s Early Life

Billy Sunday is a living testimony of the typical American dream. He is a rags to riches story.

He was born in a log cabin near Ames, Iowa in 1862. His father died in the Civil War when Billy was a year old. His mother was left destitute with no money to provide for her family so she decided to send Billy to a Soldiers’ Orphans Home near Glenwood, Iowa. As a teenager he moved to Nevada and began to play baseball and realized he had the qualities of an exceptional athlete.

It was in Marshalltown, Iowa he was recruited by future hall of famer Cap Anson and played for the champion Chicago White Stockings from 1883 to 1888. Billy was believed to be the fastest man and could circle the bases in less than 14 seconds. He was so trustworthy that Cap had him handle all the team’s money.