Dear Hearts,
May 31st is the anniversary of the birth of John Jeremiah "Lefty" Sullivan: our patriarch, grandfather, great grandfather and great-great-grandfather. He was born in Chicago in 1893 and died on July 7, 1958.
He was the youngest of six, second brother, son of Jeremiah Barry O’Sullivan from Limerick, and Anna Meany from Clare. At 5' 10" tall and 185 lbs., John was a graceful athlete who was awarded a scholarship to play football at Notre Dame as a split end--today's wide receiver. John turned it down to sign with the White Sox in about 1911. He played in the minor league system until WWI broke out.
He was the first generation of us born here, and the first of us to go into the U.S. Army. Three generations of his descendants have since served in that same Army. John was in a cavalry unit and shortly after he reported to the front line the Armistice was signed.
Back home, his rookie year in the big leagues was 1919, the year of the Black Sox scandal. He appeared four times. After that, the Sox were busted up and Lefty pitched semi-pro ball for 25 more years. You can read an extensive article about Lefty on the Society of American Baseball Research website here.
He met and married Anna Conick--who we called Booma or Mom--and started their family. Although they lived in Chicago, my dad, James P. Sullivan Sr., was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, as Left was playing up there when Booma went into labor unexpectedly.
After baseball, he worked selling insurance in Chicago, playing pool in the summers to feed the family and ran unsuccessfully for alderman. He always wore a white shirt and a tie, shined his shoes and sported clean fingernails.
He died on July 7, 1958 of a heart attack in Chicago a man loved by many and missed by all. God bless you, Lefty. Please keep on eye on us all until we meet, God willing, in heaven.
God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.
Love, Patty
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