Billy Sunday

Date of Birth: November 19, 1862

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: November 6, 1935

Biography

Billy Sunday, born William Ashley Sunday, was an American clergyman, evangelist, and former professional baseball player. He was born on November 19, 1862, in Ames, Iowa, and passed away on November 6, 1935. Renowned for his dynamic preaching style and fiery sermons, Sunday became one of the most influential evangelists in the early 20th century. Before his career in ministry, he played professional baseball for teams like the Chicago White Stockings (now the Chicago Cubs) and the Philadelphia Phillies. Sunday’s athletic background lent a unique vigor to his preaching, attracting large crowds across the United States. Sunday’s conversion to Christianity occurred in the mid-1880s, and he was subsequently mentored by J. Wilbur Chapman, another prominent evangelist. By the early 1900s, he had launched his own revival meetings, which drew thousands of attendees and had a significant impact on American Protestantism.

5 Interesting Facts about Billy Sunday

1. Billy Sunday was known for his theatrical preaching style, which often included dramatic gestures and impassioned oratory.

2. Before becoming a preacher, Billy Sunday played Major League Baseball and was known for his speed, stealing 84 bases in one season.

3. He often spoke out against the consumption of alcohol and was a strong supporter of the Prohibition movement.

4. Sunday’s revivals were highly successful, and it is estimated that he preached to over 100 million people during his career.

5. He is credited with helping to popularize the “sawdust trail” concept, where individuals would walk down a sawdust-covered path to the altar to publicly declare their conversion.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Billy Sunday

1. “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.”

2. “The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn’t hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.”

3. “The world is wrong side up. It needs to be turned upside down in order to be right side up.”

4. “I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth.”

5. “If you live wrong you can’t die right.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Billy Sunday was reported to have amassed a significant amount of money from his revival meetings, with estimates suggesting he earned over $100,000 per year at the peak of his career, equivalent to several million dollars today.

Children

Billy Sunday and his wife, Helen “Nell” Thompson Sunday, had four children: Helen Edith Sunday, George Marquis Sunday, William Ashley Sunday Jr., and Paul Thompson Sunday. Tragically, two of his sons, George and William Jr., led troubled lives and died young.