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Billy Sunday or
William Ashley Sunday (November 19, 1862 – November 6, 1935)
was a American athlete and religious figure who, after being
a popular outfielder in baseball's National League during
the 1880s, became the most celebrated and influential
American evangelist during the first two decades of the 20th
century.
He played baseball in the major leagues for eight years. He
was known for his daring base-running and dramatic outfield
play, but he was only an average hitter.
Converted to evangelical Christianity in the 1880s, Sunday
left baseball for the Christian ministry. He gradually
developed his skills as a pulpit evangelist in the Midwest
and then, during the early 20th century, he became the
nation's most famous evangelist with his colloquial sermons
and frenetic delivery.
Sunday held heavily reported campaigns in America's largest
cities, and was welcomed into the homes of the wealthy and
influential. Perhaps more than a million people came forward
at his invitations, and he may have personally preached the
gospel of Jesus Christ to more people than any other person
in history up to that time. Sunday was a strong supporter of
Prohibition, and his preaching almost certainly played a
significant role in the adoption of the Eighteenth Amendment
in 1919..
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This is a short 5 minute excerpt of Billy Sunday preaching and open air meeting later in his ministry. Its the only known video recording known to be in existence.
You may need to adjust your volume after hitting play.