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'''Billy Sunday''' (full name: ''William Ashley Sunday'') (1862-1935) was, during his heyday—roughly 1910-20—the most famous evangelist in America. In his revival meetings hundreds of thousands of people accepted his invitation to come forward and "hit the sawdust trail" (publicly declare their commitment to Christ).

'''Billy Sunday''' (full name: ''William Ashley Sunday'') (1862-1935) was, during his heyday—roughly 1910-20—the most famous evangelist in America. In his revival meetings hundreds of thousands of people accepted his invitation to come forward and "hit the sawdust trail" (publicly declare their commitment to Christ).

He played baseball with the Chicago White Sox from 1883-7, the Pittsburgh Alleghenies in 1888-90, and briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sundabi01.shtml Billy Sunday statistics], baseballreference.com</ref> As a player he was notable (though not stellar). He set a baseball record by rounding the bases in fourteen seconds, and in 1891 he set another by stealing 90 bases in 116 games. That year, the Philadelphia Phillies offered Sunday $400/month, but he turned them down to accept an $83/month job as "Secretary of the Religious Department" at a YMCA. He hosted his first revival meeting in Iowa in 1897 and became an ordained Presbyterian minister in 1903.<ref name=billysundayorg>[http://billysunday.org/ Billy Sunday Remembered]: ran bases in 14 seconds. [http://billysunday.org/timeline.php3 Billy Sunday timeline]: birth-death dates, base-stealing, turned down Phillies for YMCA, first revival meeting in 1897, ordained 1903, 98,000 accepted Christ in 1917 New York campaign.</ref>

He played baseball with the Chicago White Sox from 1883-7, the Pittsburgh Alleghenies in 1888-90, and briefly with the Philadelphia Phillies.<ref>[http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sundabi01.shtml Billy Sunday statistics], baseballreference.com</ref> As a player he was notable (though not stellar). He set a baseball record by rounding the bases in fourteen seconds, and stole 96 bases in one season, a record second only to Ty Cobb's 98.<ref name=ames/> That year, the Philadelphia Phillies offered Sunday $400/month, but he turned them down to accept an $83/month job as "Secretary of the Religious Department" at a YMCA. He hosted his first revival meeting in Iowa in 1897 and became an ordained Presbyterian minister in 1903.<ref name=billysundayorg>[http://billysunday.org/ Billy Sunday Remembered]: ran bases in 14 seconds. [http://billysunday.org/timeline.php3 Billy Sunday timeline]: birth-death dates, base-stealing, turned down Phillies for YMCA, first revival meeting in 1897, ordained 1903, 98,000 accepted Christ in 1917 New York campaign.</ref>

By 1914, he was a national celebrity, conducting campaigns in big cities which lasted many weeks and attracted tens of thousands of people.  In 1917, he conducted a ten-week campaign in New York in which 98,000 people accepted Christ.<ref name=billysundayorg/>. Gale's ''American Decades'' says that by 1920 he was the best-known evangelist in America.  

By 1914, he was a national celebrity, conducting campaigns in big cities which lasted many weeks and attracted tens of thousands of people.  In 1917, he conducted a ten-week campaign in New York in which 98,000 people accepted Christ.<ref name=billysundayorg/>. Gale's ''American Decades'' says that by 1920 he was the best-known evangelist in America.  

He was inclusive toward "Negroes" (African-Americans), welcoming them to his services. In 1918 he supported "industrial equality," stating that "If the Negro is good enough to fight in the trenches and to buy Liberty bonds, his girl is good enough to work alongside any white girl in the munitions factories."<ref>[http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page1.cfm?ItemID=2568 Billy Sunday for Industrial Equality for Negro Citizens], Ohio History Society</ref>

He was inclusive toward "Negroes" (African-Americans), welcoming them to his services. In 1918 he supported "industrial equality," stating that "If the Negro is good enough to fight in the trenches and to buy Liberty bonds, his girl is good enough to work alongside any white girl in the munitions factories."<ref>[http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/africanam/page1.cfm?ItemID=2568 Billy Sunday for Industrial Equality for Negro Citizens], Ohio History Society</ref>

He favored women's right to vote, labor unions, and sex education:<ref>[http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/residents_sunday.htm Famous Ames Residents: Billy Sunday], Ames Historical Society</ref> ("Prudery is no more a sign of virtue than a wig is of hair").

He favored women's right to vote, labor unions, and sex education:<ref name=ames>[http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/residents_sunday.htm Famous Ames Residents: Billy Sunday], Ames Historical Society</ref> ("Prudery is no more a sign of virtue than a wig is of hair").

==Converts and financial success==

==Converts and financial success==