Major League Baseball Player. An infielder, he played six seasons in the Major Leagues, primarily with the Washington Senators. Born on Chicago's South Side, as a teenager he played on a team in the Roseland section that won a city championship. An excellent football player as well, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a football scholarship, but only stayed one year before joining organized baseball, where he played for the famous minor league Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. He made his Major League debut with the Senators on June 7, 1942, playing 94 games at shortstop that season, while batting 235. The Senators starting shortstop in both 1943 and 1944, he became known more for his glove than his hitting, although he did mange to raise his average up to .251 in 1944. Joining the Army before the 1945 season, he served in the Pacific Theater as a supply sergeant. After hostilities ended, he was involved in a horrific auto accident in Japan. While driving along a winding mountain road, he plummeted over a cliff. He suffered severe injuries including a fractured back, which would keep him in traction for several months. Through hard work and determination, he made it back to the Senators lineup in 1947. Over the next two seasons he was used primarily as the back up for starting shortstop Mark Christman. He was traded on October 4, 1948, along with Tom Ferrick and $25,000 to the St. Louis Browns for Sam Dente. During his stay with the Browns he was used as a utility infielder, playing Shortstop, 3rd Base and 2nd Base. Though 1949 would prove to be his last season in the majors, he continued his love of the game by playing and later managing minor leagues teams in San Antonio and Lynchburg, Virginia. He later founded two semi-pro leagues, most notably the John Sullivan Baseball League, which was used to help young players develop their skills. Over the course of his Major League career, he accrued a .230 lifetime average with 1 homer and 162 RBI in 605 games. He died from lung and liver cancer.