John Sullivan

Who is John Sullivan?

John Peter Sullivan is a retired American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. A left-handed batter who threw right-handed, Sullivan stood 6' tall and weighed 195 pounds as an active player.

After graduating from Bernards High School, Sullivan signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1959 and made his debut with them in the waning days of the 1963 season. He played in five major league seasons with Detroit, the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, appearing in 116 games, with 59 hits in 259 at bats, batting .228 with two home runs and 18 runs batted in. His only substantial terms of MLB service were as a reserve catcher for the 1965 Tigers and 1967 Mets, for whom he played his only full season in MLB. He played eight years at the Triple-A level.

Sullivan began managing in minor league baseball in 1973 in the Kansas City Royals' farm system. During six seasons, he rose from Rookie ball to Triple-A, winning four league championships and compiling a stellar .601 winning percentage. His only under .500 club, the 1978 Omaha Royals, who finished 66–69, nevertheless topped their division and defeated the Indianapolis Indians for the American Association championship.